BEST BEACHES IN NORTH DEVON

With the summer season upon us, Ilfracombe North Devon is the perfect base from which to visit some of the most stunning beaches in the South West and indeed the UK.  There are a few coves and beaches in Ilfracombe itself for all the family to enjoy bathing and rockpooling.  With Larkstone and Raporee Cove just a couple of hundred metres from The Collingdale and the harbour beach and Wildersmouth Beach on the seafront.   At the far end of the seafront you can of course find the famous Tunnels Beaches, a network of tunnels which were hand carved in the 1820s by Welsh Minors leading to two beaches, a ladies beach and a  gentleman’s beach to allow the Victorians to ‘take the waters’ in the tidal bathing pools.  Regularly featured on Coast and Robson Green’s Tales from the Coast, the Tunnels have been voted third best rock pooling beach in the UK.  Read the amusing and fascinating history, they really are a must for all visitors to Ilfracombe.

Hele Bay nestles the other side of Hillsborough Nature Reserve in the hamlet of Hele.  It offers safe bathing for families, rock pooling or kayaking.

 

Lee Bay Beach can be found just 2 miles to the west of Ilfracombe in the picturesque village of Lee.   A secluded beach that is perfect for rock pooling.

Woolacombe has been voted best beach in the UK by TripAdvisor for several years running and it is just on our doorstep being only 7 miles drive from Ilfracombe .   A surfers paradise it offers fun for all the family with its pristine golden sands  and sand dunes stretching for almost 3 miles.

The far end of Woolacombe beach you can find stunning Puttsborough Beach Sands which are a firm favourite of ours with its pristine sands, rocks and clear water it is a haven for surfers and bathing.

Drive a little further around the peninsular there is Croyde Beach, which is a much smaller beach and another favourite of mine as I spent many childhood holidays here with my parents.  Again this is a surfers paradise and there are many surf wear shops and places to hire equipment.   We enjoy walking out to Baggy Point from here where you can marvel at the beautiful views of Croyde to the South and Woolacombe and Putsborough to the North and also the Island of Lundy on a clear day

Just around the corner you come to Saunton Sands which is a huge expanse of almost 6 miles of sands flanked by Braunton Burrows a UNESCO Bioshere Reserve with miles of undulating grassy sand dunes.  Another surfers paradise.

North Devon truly is a beach lover’s paradise.