The beach in North Devon has been named one of the best in the UK by The Times
Woolacombe Beach(Image: Abigail Neep)
I paid a visit to Woolacombe beach on a hot day in July. Getting there early before the crowds descended was a wise move, as I could really take in the size of the sandy shore.
Woolacombe beach is a three-mile stretch of golden sand along the North Devon coast. The first thing that caught my eye was the Baggy Point Cliffs, a headland nestled between Croyde Bay and Woolacombe.
Despite entering the beach away from the landmark, it’s incredible to take in the scale of this part of the North Devon coastline. Just beneath was the vast blue sea which, while calm on the day I visited, Woolacombe beach is known for its surfing.
Woolacombe features a reef break, where waves crash over a rocky seabed rather than sand. This, coupled with its consistent swell, makes it a dependable spot for surfers.
The sand itself is quite unlike any other beaches I’ve visited in the area. I was immediately struck by how clean and flat it was, with no litter strewn about or cigarette butts buried in the ground, reports Devon Live. It was almost immaculate.
Chatting with locals, I learned that Woolacombe Beach and the surrounding area are owned by Parkin Estates, who work tirelessly to maintain the beach’s high standards.
The beach was initially owned by the Chichester family in 1133. Stanley Parkin later bought Woolacombe and its sister village Mortehoe.
His son, Ray Parkin, who was born in the village, took over as chairman in 1995 and propelled the Parkin Estates company forward until his death in 2021.
Barricane Beach(Image: Abigail Neep)
Woolacombe has seen significant investment, both in terms of money and time, to ensure it remains exceptionally clean, with facilities that are thoughtfully designed. The beach took pride in being the first in North Devon to receive the prestigious European Blue Flag and has now been considered by The Times as one of the best beaches in the UK.
For beach go-ers, accessible beach cleaning facilities are right there on the beach with six bins in a trailer marked ‘litter’ in big letters, so you really can’t miss it.
A noticeable feature of Woolacombe beach is its division into distinct areas. From the rear entrance, visitors can take a left to an area where dogs are welcome, or go right where they’re not allowed.
This division efficiently utilises the spaciousness of the beach. It avoid the need for a complete summer dog ban, allowing both sun-worshippers and dogs to enjoy the space.
Taking a walk, I came across several holidaymakers, and the same feeling was echoed when I enquired about their impressions of Woolacombe beach.
“It’s just a beautiful beach,” shared Lynn and Karl from Stafford.
The beach has one side that allows dogs, and one side that doesn’t(Image: Abigail Neep)
Similarly, John, who was visiting from Berkshire, said: “It’s a beautiful beach.”
From my perspective, it’s hard to disagree.
Just to the north lies Barricane Beach, a smaller, more private cove that gets entirely isolated from Woolacombe at high tide. Although the tide was low during my visit, I took a detour to admire the stunning scenery along the coast.
The rocks were jagged and stood tall. I got there by walking down some steps near the Esplanade and the Woolacombe D-Day Memorial above.
It did feel that people chose to sit there to get away from the hustle and bustle of the busy beach as the afternoon crept in.
Listening to the waves in that quiet spot was quite serene. Just remember suncream as the shade all across both Woolacombe and Barricane Beach is hard to find.
I love the beach, I love the sand, and swimming in the sea. But one thing that can get to me is other people.
The seagulls aren’t quite tourist’s favourite(Image: Abigail Neep)
There’s nothing wrong with people enjoying themselves on the beach, but in the busy tourist season I can certainly sympathise with those who prefer a more quiet day out.
It does start to fill up as the day goes on and unless you walk quite far away from the entrance, it is likely that you will hear other people’s conversations and your peaceful reading may quickly be interrupted by the screams of someone’s lunch being stolen by a seagull.
Luckily for Woolacombe, the large area means there is less chance of this so I would visit the beach for a chilled day out, as long as you’re prepared to hunt for a quiet spot.
They keep the beach incredibly clean(Image: Abigail Neep)
Will and Louise, working at Steve’s Surf Hire, informed me that in the winter, the beach can look much different to how it did during my visit.
“It’s not nice when it’s raining, no one comes down. Just dog walkers who come and have a look but then they just go,” they added.
I’m not a local to Woolacombe, but this might not be something that would bother me overly. If you fancy a peaceful stroll with your kids, or the dogs, or even a midwinter dip (It’s chilly, but I promise it’s worth it!), then perhaps a rainy day in Woolacombe could be for you.
The winter tides sometimes see the ocean travel past the entrance to the beach and up to the doors of some of the shops, wouldn’t that be cool to see!
