As home to the beach voted number one in the UK and having a huge choice of accommodation, a wide range of activities and plenty of family friendly attractions, it is no wonder that Woolacombe is one of North Devon’s best loved holiday destinations.
Woolacombe Beach
The multi award-winning Woolacombe Beach is nothing short of idyllic! The beach frequently tops polls as the best beach in Britain and has received various awards over the years for everything from its water quality, the sand and the view. Stretching over three mile, the golden sand of Woolacombe can be found between the headlands of Baggy Point and Morte Point, backed by sand dunes and with views across the ocean to Lundy Island. Having won both the Blue Flag and Premier Seaside Beach awards for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities, the resort is popular with locals and visitors alike, not least for its dog-friendly approach.
It isn’t just the main beach either, you’ll also find Barricaine Beach, Combesgate Beach and Grunta, the smaller beach, which are all perfect for rockpooling, surfing, swimming and generally just taking in the atmosphere.
Surfing at Woolacombe
Though the beach is an incredible part of Woolacombe, a visit to the town can encompass a huge range of activities; equine enthusiasts may wish to visit Woolacombe Riding Stables to experience a unique beach ride, whilst body boarders and surfers tackle the incredible waves with lifeguard presence in the summer season.
On a flat day, you can try your hand at sea kayaking, or even take to the skies with a tandem hang gliding experience! If you prefer to remain on land, the stretches of the coastal path here offer interesting terrain and hugely rewarding views, or simply set-up camp on the beach and relax! The village itself offers a friendly, lively atmosphere with several local pubs, restaurants, and cafes to choose from, whilst the café at Putsborough offers views across the sea to reward the walk to the other end of the beach.
Being such a picturesque part of North Devon, you won’t be surprised to find that the Woolacombe area is a haven for wildlife. Lundy Island which can be seen across the sea is a protected site and is home to Devon’s puffin population as well as being frequented by seals, dolphins, porpoises and small sharks. The bird population in and around Woolacombe is also impressive with a wide variety of migrating sea birds returning to the town every year for breeding season.
Places to stay in Woolacombe
Because of its popularity as a family friendly holiday destination, there are a whole host of wonderful accommodation options in Woolacombe with everything from Holiday Parks to hotels to cottages and just about everything else in between.
Many of these accommodation options are geared specifically towards families with plenty of facilities onsite, but the town itself is also full of fun attractions and things to do. The village falls within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the National Trust manage large areas of the greenery, providing you with plenty of places to explore as well as a guaranteed room with a view!
