Which North Devon beaches should you vist?
Three popular North Devon Beaches
Saunton Sands
Saunton Sands is a stunning 3-mile golden sand beach in North Devon, famed for its long, gentle waves ideal for beginner surfers, backed by the UNESCO Braunton Burrows dunes, and is dog-friendly year-round, offering facilities like cafes and shops, though it lacks lifeguards, making it great for families, walkers, and watersports enthusiasts
Croyde Bay
Croyde Beach in North Devon, England, is a famous, scenic beach known for its excellent surfing, bodyboarding, and stunning scenery framed by sand dunes and headlands, popular with both experienced wave riders and families, offering coastal walks, nearby village amenities (pubs, shops), and family-friendly attractions in the surrounding area.
Puttsbrough Beach & Sands
Putsborough Beach (Putsborough Sands) is a beautiful, golden, sandy beach in North Devon, forming the southern end of Woolacombe Sands, known for its clean water, good surf, and quieter atmosphere, offering facilities like parking, a surf shop, café, and rock pools, making it great for families and surfers.
Seven Hidden Beaches and Coves
Interspersed between the well known surfing beaches are some truly beautiful gems worth a visit.
Broadsands – Voted “Britain’s Happiest View” in 2018, this gorgeous little cove near Combe Martin is one of the region’s prettiest hidden gems. It’s quite a walk down to the beach from the road – 200+ steps! – but it’s well worth it for the peace and quiet found on the shores. If you’d rather, hire a kayak from Combe Martin and paddle your way around
Barricane Beach – Tucked between rocks, Barricane Beach, on the outskirts of Woolacombe, harbours exotic shells carried in by the waves from the Caribbean, thousands of miles away. Visit on a fine evening between Easter and September and you may find the café serving its legendary curry to eat on the sand.
Rockham Beach in Mortehoe, near Woolacombe, is a stunning secluded bay. Although it’s a short walk from the village down to the beach, it’s well worth it for the peace and serenity on offer. Make sure you check the tide times before visiting, as access is restricted at high tide.
Speke’s Mill – Just north of the Devon/Cornwall border near Hartland lies Speke’s Mill, a tranquil, rocky beach that offers the best of both worlds – a quiet spot to reflect and some of the best surfing waves in North Devon. Make sure you visit the spectacular waterfall – and take your camera!
Lee Bay – Found in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Lee Bay is a wonderfully secluded spot near the picturesque village of Lee, between Woolacombe and Ilfracombe. Bordered on three sides by rolling Devon countryside, cliffs and hills, the bay looks out onto the Bristol Channel.
Woody Bay – A fantastic beach for wild swimming, Woody Bay, near Lynton and Lynmouth, sits at the bottom of striking cliffs covered in woodland. Found on the Exmoor coast, there’s a manmade rock pool here, accessible at low tide, while it’s also adjacent to the South West Coast Path, so you can visit while winding your way around the coast.
Crow Point – One of the prettiest and most peaceful river beaches in the South West, Crow Point. There’s a wreck out in the middle of the beach which makes a perfect photo-op, while if you follow it around you’ll find yourself on Saunton beach