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Welcome to the Itinerary Planner. Use this tool to build your own journey or choose from an exciting range of specially selected tours.

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You are here > Things to do > Attractions > Beaches

Saunton Beach

Saunton Beach

Saunton

The Red Lion

The Red Lion

A lovely AA 4 star inn, built in the 18th century.  It lies astride the 14th century quay with…

Clovelly Court Gardens

Clovelly Court Gardens

Clovelly Court Gardens are a classic example of a Victorian walled kitchen garden to visit in North…

The Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel

​​​​​​The Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple is a flagship of Brend Hotels, the leader in West Country…

Dining at The Royal Hotel

This luxury Bideford hotel is steeped in history. The Royal Hotel dates back to the 17th century…

Seasons Brasserie, Park Hotel

Choose between fine dining in their Seasons Brasserie restaurant, more relaxed dining in their…

Dining at Highbullen

Dine in style in North Devon at the Highbullen Hotel. At Highbullen Hotel, we can offer a…

Weddings at The Imperial Hotel

The Imperial Hotel in Barnstaple is the ultimate dream wedding venue. With the picturesque…

Ilfracombe Holiday Park

Our Location: Ilfracombe Holiday Park is situated at the highest point in Ilfracombe, just a…

Lord Fortescues Restaurant

Their mouth watering menus are complemented by personal attentive service and the impressive…

The Arlington Restaurant - Imperial Hotel

The Arlington Restaurant in Barnstaple has a reputation as one of the best restaurants in North…

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park

Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park is a premium seaside Park with the beach on its doorstep and…

Highbullen Hotel Golf and Country Club

Highbullen Hotel Golf and Country Club has been providing high quality accommodation in North Devon…

The Milky Way Adventure Park

Don’t miss out on this multi award winning day out for the whole family. The Milky Way has won a…

The Queens Theatre

The best live entertainment in North Devon. The Queen’s Theatre in the heart of Barnstaple.…

Conferences at The Barnstaple Hotel

The Barnstaple Hotel is a great place to do business. With its convenient location, ample…

Markets in Torridge

Holsworthy: Holsworthy market is every Wednesday 9am – 2pm. There is a range of local produce…

Dining at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel

At the Royal & Fortescue Hotel, you have the choice between elegant dining in the Lord Fortescue…

Weddings at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel

Based in a central location in the heart of Barnstaple, the elegant Georgian surroundings of the…

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  • 1The Red Lion
  • 2Clovelly Court Gardens
  • 3The Imperial Hotel
  • 4Dining at The Royal Hotel
  • 5Seasons Brasserie, Park Hotel
  • 6Dining at Highbullen
  • 7Weddings at The Imperial Hotel
  • 8Ilfracombe Holiday Park
  • 9Lord Fortescues Restaurant
  • 10The Arlington Restaurant - Imperial Hotel
  • 11Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park
  • 12Highbullen Hotel Golf and Country Club
  • 13The Milky Way Adventure Park
  • 14The Queens Theatre
  • 15Conferences at The Barnstaple Hotel
  • 16Markets in Torridge
  • 17Dining at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
  • 18Weddings at The Royal & Fortescue Hotel
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Beaches in North Devon

North Devon’s beaches are some of the largest, unspoilt and memorable in the UK.

Because many of the beaches in this part of Devon fall under an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, they offer up stunning scenery and enjoyable days out all year around. If you’re someone that enjoys long walks on golden sand, dramatic cliff faces, clear blue water and the perfect conditions for getting on a surf board, these are the beaches for you.

Award-winning beaches

A number of the coastal resorts in North Devon continuously win awards for their cleanliness among other things. These beaches are highlighted by the iconic blue flag symbols, making them a wonderful place to visit during your trip to North Devon.

Alongside the photogenic and award winning Woolacombe, Saunton Sands and world-famous Croyde beaches, there are many others that are postcard perfect found in plain view or hidden amongst the dramatic North Devon coastline, so whether you want to join in with the family friendly fun on one of the larger beaches or go somewhere a little more secluded off the beaten track, you’ll find the perfect spot for your coastal excursion.  

Dog friendly

Several of the beaches in North Devon welcome dogs onto the sand all year around, while others have designated areas for pups to play and a few more have restrictions during certain months of the year. As a rule though, this is one of the most dog friendly areas of Devon, with beaches like Saunton Sands and the one at Instow welcoming dogs all year around, which is lucky really, both beaches have sand dunes and we all know that dogs love exploring the dunes and digging in the golden sand.

Watersports galore

North Devon is famous for being the surfing capital of the UK and with the ideal conditions for a whole range of watersports, the beaches are the ideal spot for anyone who wants to get involved. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, there are plenty of organisations and businesses dotted all along the sea front offering everything from training sessions to guided tours to equipment hire, so you can really get challenge yourself. Croyde Bay is the most famous surfing beach and is hugely popular with watersport enthusiasts, but some of the waves can be a bit big for the inexperienced. For those of you who aren’t particularly confident, test the waters by heading to Woolacombe’s beach, Putsborough Beach is another good choice for beginners or casual suffers, it’s sheltered environment means that the waves aren’t as wild as those in other parts of Devon.

If walking and simply enjoying the scenery is more your thing, the beaches in North Devon are daisy chained together by the South West Coast Path offering breathtaking views for mile after mile.

Plus, there are a wealth of traditional pubs, cafes and restaurants all along the coast that provide a place to relax in after a day in the sun! When it comes to beaches, no one doubts that North Devon leads the way in quality and quantity!

So, whether you’re looking for a great day out with the family or are looking for an adventure, North Devon beaches tick all the right boxes. With most beaches easily accessed by car and with plenty of nearby hotels, North Devon is perfect for anyone looking for a coastal holiday.

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Number of results: 17

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  1. Saunton Sands

    Add Saunton Sands to your Itinerary

    Saunton Sands

    Saunton

    Another key component of North Devon's golden coast Saunton Sands is a long straight
    sandy beach backed by the impressive Braunton Burrows a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

  2. woolacombe beach and beach huts

    Add Woolacombe Beach to your Itinerary

    Woolacombe Beach

    Woolacombe

    Woolacombe is one of the finest beaches in the West Country, and it is easy to see why it has won numerous awards.

  3. Westward Ho! Beach

    Add Westward Ho! Beach to your Itinerary

    Westward Ho! Beach

    Bideford

    Westward Ho! is a beach geared up to cater for every tourist's needs. With seaside shops, toilets and a range of food outlets, Westward Ho! is a popular family beach.

  4. Croyde Beach

    Add Croyde Beach to your Itinerary

    Croyde Beach

    Braunton

    Croyde Bay is a sandy beach backed by sand dunes and situated in a small bay on the North Devon Coast.

  5. Putsborough Sands

    Add Putsborough Sands to your Itinerary

    Putsborough Sands

    Georgeham, Braunton

    Three miles of golden sands stretching north towards Woolacombe and Morte Point and south
    towards Baggy Point make up Putsborough.

  6. Combe Martin Beach

    Add Combe Martin Beach to your Itinerary

    Combe Martin Beach

    Combe Martin

    Nestled on the edge of Exmoor, Combe Martin offers beautiful rolling scenery from the highest point on the Coast Path to the lapping water’s edge of the Bristol Channel.

  7. Wildersmouth Beach

    Add Wildersmouth Beach to your Itinerary

    Wildersmouth Beach

    Ilfracombe

    This ancient cove was a popular bay for smugglers.

  8. Rockham Beach (Mortehoe)

    Add Rockham Beach (Mortehoe) to your Itinerary

    Rockham Beach (Mortehoe)

    Woolacombe

    A small secluded bay with good rock pools is a good way to describe Mortehoe.

  9. Barricane Beach

    Add Barricane Beach to your Itinerary

    Barricane Beach

    Woolacombe

    Barricane is a picturesque cove tucked in between the rocks, famous for cowries and other exotic sea shells.

  10. Combesgate Beach

    Add Combesgate Beach to your Itinerary

    Combesgate Beach

    Woolacombe

    Combesgate is a lovely secluded beach located approximately 600 metres north of Woolacombe beach with some attractive rock pools ideal for children to explore. 

  11. Bucks Mills Beach

    Add Bucks Mills Beach to your Itinerary

    Bucks Mills Beach

    Nr Clovelly

    Bucks Mills is a rocky secluded cove at the bottom end of the picturesque village. It is quite popular for fishing but limited access means it is quite most of the time.

  12. Instow Beach

    Add Instow Beach to your Itinerary

    Instow Beach

    Bideford

    A wheelchair accessible sandy beach set where the Torridge River meets the Taw estuary. This is an attractive area and has always been popular with artists.

  13. Wild Pear Beach

    Add Wild Pear Beach to your Itinerary

    Wild Pear Beach

    Ilfracombe

    After completing the testing and steep walk of approximately 2kms you are free to enjoy what
    is a wonderfully quiet and peaceful little beach.

  14. Lynmouth Beach

    Add Lynmouth Beach to your Itinerary

    Lynmouth Beach

    Lynmouth

    Surrounded by the spectacular wooded hills of Exmoor National Park Lynmouth offers some of the best cliff top drives and walks around leaving the pebbled beach more often…

  15. braunton burrows

    Add Braunton Burrows to your Itinerary

    Braunton Burrows

    Braunton

    Braunton Burrows, is one of the largest sand dune systems in the British Isles. At the heart of the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) it is a UNESCO…

  16. Watermouth Bay

    Add Watermouth Bay to your Itinerary

    Watermouth Bay

    Ilfracombe

    Watermouth cove offers a very sheltered secluded harbour shielded by the natural breakwater
    of Sexton's Burrows as well as picture-perfect views.

  17. Lee Bay Beach

    Add Lee Bay Beach to your Itinerary

    Lee Bay Beach

    Ilfracombe

    This wonderfully secluded beach regarded by some as 'the jewel in the crown of Lee' is located 2 miles West of Ilfracombe a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

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