We’re a friendly bunch down here in Devon and we love being able to welcome people to share in the beauty of our beaches. Did you know that many of our beaches in North Devon are wheelchair accessible? And you can hire beach wheelchairs for those that are a little trickier to navigate.
Here are our top selection of accessible beaches in North Devon.
Saunton Sands
It’s no surprise that Saunton is one of Britain’s best loved beaches, the beach falls within the UK Surf Reserve and is also a ecologically important, with a huge sand dune system. It’s also accessible – before you get down to the beach, you’ll find disabled friendly toilet facilities and a range of shops and food outlets, including the Saunton Beach Shop where there are a selection of beach wheelchairs and wheelchair carriages available to hire. The beach itself has a concrete ramp, but just be aware that the sand can get very soft around the ramp, which might be challenging for some mobility aids.
Woolacombe Beach
Woolacombe is three miles long and incredibly picturesque, so even though it gets busy, you can still find a spot to enjoy the beach in the summer months. You’ll find accessible toilets and a range of amenities all a short distance away, along with the town’s tourist information centre, where you can hire an all terrain mobility scooter or a beach wheelchair. The beach itself is easy accessed via one of two slopes.
There are restrictions for dogs on certain parts of the beach, so be sure to check local signage if you are visiting with a service dog.
Westward Ho!
The beach at Westward Ho! does have a pebble ridge which might be a bit more challenging to navigate, but you will also find a slipway down to the sand which is suitable for a range of mobility aids. The beachside amenities include disabled friendly toilets and there are a range of cafes and shops nearby too.
Croyde Bay
Not far from Saunton and Woolacombe is Croyde Bay. This beach in particular is a surfer’s paradise and falls within the UK Surf Reserve. Like its neighbours, it has spectacular scenery and glorious golden sands, but it is also relatively accessible. The easiest access is from the northern end where there is a carpark with a sloping path that is suitable for wheelchairs and will take you down to the sand. The beach has its own Changing Places toilet here and there is at least one surf school that offer accessible surfing experiences too.
Many of the beach wheelchairs and trampers in North Devon are provided by Countryside Mobility, so we recommend becoming a member, so you know that you can access these during your visit. Members are allowed to use the available chairs at any of their sites in the south west, so you can travel without stressing about being able to access the beach.
