CROYDE Best for rock pooling

A great mix of everything – the dunes backing the beach are a haven for happy kids, there's fabulous rock pooling and kids love splashing in the stream which splits the beach in half.

The Southern end of the beach is less busy - park at Down End Pay & Display. It takes only a couple of minutes to reach the beach from the path.

There are RNLI lifeguards here until October half-term, as well as a National Trust tea room, toilets, showers and playground.

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PUTSBOROUGH SANDS Best for escaping the crowds

Putsborough and Woolacombe Sands merge into a 3 mile sweep of beautiful beach between Morte Point and Baggy Point. With less swell than Croyde, this beach is an intermediate surfer beach.

Putsborough Sands is an easy walk from the hotel - not suitable for prams - but easy enough for young children to do & varied enough to keep them amused. Alternatively there is a car park. Toilets and a cafe are available but there are no RNLI life guards so watch your little ones and don’t let them play where the waves aren’t breaking.

SAUNTON SANDS Best for little surfers

With 3.5 miles of soft sand, Saunton Sands is one of the best beaches in North Devon for families. The surf is mellow, making it the perfect spot to get kids in surfing, boogie boarding or skim boarding. It's also possible to hire beach huts for the day (although demand is high).

This beach is not RNLI patrolled so whilst it is regarded as a relatively safe beach, do keep an eye on children. There is a voluntary patrol by Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving during the Summer months. There's a pay & display car park, toilets, showers and a choice of dining options.

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BARRICANE BEACH Woolacombe

"Small but perfectly formed sunset sand cove in Woolacombe. Good swimming and jumping and a little rock island to climb. Bring a rug, your own beer, and eat home-made Sri Lankan curry from the shack"
WILD GUIDE

From Woolacombe beach simply head north along the Esplanade and the cove is on the left after 300 metres.

ROCKHAM BAY Mortehoe

A pretty 2km coastal walk from Woolacombe will bring you to this large, isolated west-facing beach. Hauntingly beautiful, this secluded bay used to be known as 'Death Point' - in times gone by the rocks and treacherous currents here caused numerous shipwrecks, five in one year in fact - one wreck can still be seen.

This is one for the mobile as there are steep steps down to the sands. The beach also needs to be visited at low tide so check tidal tables before setting out. At low tide a sandy beach with rocky areas is revealed. Take the coast path from Woolacombe or the footpath via Mortehoe (signposted Rockham Bay).

Lee Bay Ilfracombe

"Silver shingle cove with soapstone rocks, small caves and a secret route across the beach to a second cove. Rocks for jumping."
WILD GUIDE

Lee village is 3 miles west of Ilfracombe, so a short drive from Woolacombe. At low tide follow the causeway across rocks 300 metres via carved steps to a second cove on the left. Alternatively, you can take the path from the top of the hill heading west out of the village.

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COMBESGATE BEACH Woolacombe

This small beach near the wide golden sands of Woolacombe. It has lots of family-friendly rockpools where you will find treasures like crabs, starfish, sea anemones and barnacles.

POSTCODE: EX34 7BE

COMBE MARTIN Exmoor

This is a little, narrow beach with steep cliffs and not that much dry sand for spreading towels and staking windbreaks...but it has a surprising amount of rockpools! Go at low tide it is the perfect location for rockpooling - the cliffs offer shelter and the receding tide exposes numerous treasure troves (pools)!

Really deep, the pools here will afford you great views of sponges, volcano barnacles, coral weed and strawberry anemones.

POSTCODE: EX34 0DJ

BARRICANE BEACH Woolacombe

Barricane Beach faces due west and is fully exposed to the Atlantic weather, but low tide exposes deep weed-fringed pools and narrow water filled gullies.

Here, 5-bearded rocklings are very common, as are sea anemones (multiple varieties). Go after a storm and you may spot treasures like spiny starfish.

POSTCODE: EX34 7BT

WOOLACOMBE BEACH on your doorstep

Most surfers would consider a point break the perfect wave as the actual time riding the surfboard will be the longest. At our very own Woolacombe Beach, point break is to the right. Here you will find amazing conditions, but be careful of rocks.

If you don't like to paddle far to get out to the breaking waves, beach break here is known as "middle beach" - basically it's anywhere left of the stream.

SAUNTON SANDS 25 minute drive

Saunton is one of the best beaches when it comes to facilities for pre and post-surf; there's a seasonal beachside grill, as well as deck chair and beach hut hire so you can really make a day of it. It is much more suited to beginners and intermediate surfers than its neighbour, Croyde Bay.

If you're looking for point break, it's to the left at Saunton.

Little-known fact... Robbie Williams used Saunton in the video for 'Angels'.

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PUTSBOROUGH SANDS a short stroll away

Putsborough Sands is a favourite with locals. It's perfect for sunset sessions - keep an eye out for long cruisey waves - they're especially good for longboarders.

This beach has clear water, great surf and a gentler away-from-it all feel.