13 North Devon Beaches You Must Visit [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 8th August 2021 | Updated: 29th November 2024

Now when you think of beaches you think of pristine white sands on some Caribbean island right? Well, we are about to change that! North Devon beaches are some of the most beautiful beaches, we will argue, not only in the UK but in the world.

Having spent many summers exploring the best North Devon has to offer, from the wide expanses of golden sands with masses of sand dunes to the pebble beaches with perfect ridges, we know that North Devon beaches are incredible. So here are our 13 favourite North Devon beaches you simply must visit.

Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:

Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com

Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com

Travel Insurance: We recommend World Nomads

Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com

Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide

North Devon Beaches Map

13 North Devon Beaches You Must Visit

1. Blacklands Beach

Starting in the very north of North Devon, and within Exmoor National Park, we have Blacklands Beach in Lynmouth. This small but lovely shingle beach is situated at the mouth of the West Lyn River with easy access across the water to Lynmouth and up the Cliff Railway to Lynton. This beach is perfect for a dabble in the water, exploring rock pools at low tide or even fishing.  the area itself is a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle.

If you are looking for a sandy beach near Lynton you’ll be sadly disappointed as the beaches along the nearest stretch of coast to Lynton are all pebble beaches. That being said, there are plenty of sandy North Devon beaches to visit elsewhere.

North Devon Beaches – Blacklands Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Backlands Beach dog friendly? Dogs allowed year-round.

📍 Accessibility at Backlands Beach? Access directly from the parking onto the beach, however, the beach itself is very rocky.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Backlands Beach? Parking just above the beach, (nearest postcode is EX35 6EQ), with public toilets in the centre of Lynmouth.

🏄 Is Backlands Beach RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Backlands Beach? Lynton

🍹 Where to eat at Backlands Beach? Be sure to grab a pasty from The Bake House on Riverside Road in Lynmouth, they are delicious!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Backlands Beach? Finding out about the history of Rhenish Tower or going up the Cliff Railway to Lynton.

2. Combe Martin Beach

Want to see the highest sea cliffs in the UK? Then Combe Martin Beach is for you! Predominantly sand and rocky outcrops, this beach isn’t so great for swimming but is perfect to get out on the water with a paddle. Kayaking, canoeing, stand up paddleboarding, you name it you will probably see it. Be sure to follow the South West Coast Path up Hangman Path for a view down over the beach from the clifftop. If you want somewhere a little quieter, then you can always walk a short way along the coast path to Newberry Beach to the west.

North Devon Beaches – Combe Martin Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Combe Martin Beach dog friendly? No dogs between 1st May to 30th September. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Combe Martin Beach? Access directly from the car park to the beach via a slope.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Combe Martin Beach? Parking location and toilets – Kiln Car Park, EX34 0DN, where you will also find public toilets.

🏄 Is Combe Martin Beach RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Combe Martin Beach? Combe Martin

🍹 Where to eat at Combe Martin Beach? The Redwood Café & Ice Cream Parlour has some rather good, sweet treats!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Combe Martin Beach? The famous sea cliffs

3. Broad Sands

The name is a bit misleading for this beach but this shingle, tiny cove is the perfect place to go if you fancy exploring some caves or arriving via the sea. There is nothing to do here other than be in nature and enjoying the area, so do come prepared for that. Also, be aware that this beach will shrink massively when the tide comes in.

The only way in and out, other than by sea is via 200 steep steps from the coast path so bear that in mind too!

North Devon Beaches – Broad Sands FAQs

🐕 Is Broad Sands dog friendly? Dogs allowed 365 days a year.

📍 Accessibility at Broad Sands? Down 200 very steep steps – don’t attempt it with very small children or anything particularly large!

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Broad Sands? None

🏄 Is Broad Sands RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Broad Sands? Combe Martin

🍹 Where to eat at Broad Sands? There isn’t anything here so be sure to bring a picnic.

🌊 What you can’t miss at Broad Sands? Arriving via the sea!

4. Watermouth

More of a harbour cove than a beach, but still just as nice to sit and while away a few hours, Watermouth Bay’s sheltered shingle cove is a little piece of peace from the surrounding more well-known beaches. Be sure to walk out along the breakwater of Sextons Burrows to the old round turret building for some beautiful views along the coast and back to the cove.

North Devon Beaches – Watermouth FAQs

🐕 Is Watermouth dog friendly? Dogs allowed year-round.

📍 Accessibility at Watermouth? It’s a 5-minute flat walk from the parking to the harbourside, then a shallow walk down to the shingle beach.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Watermouth? There is a small car park near the entrance to the Holiday Park, (nearest postcode EX34 9SJ), with a short walk to the cove from there.

🏄 Is Watermouth RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Watermouth? Combe Martin

🍹 Where to eat at Watermouth? Storm in a Teacup, the apricot flapjack with a cup of tea is the perfect way to have a mid-morning snack!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Watermouth? Storm in a Teacup… if you know you know.

5. Lee Bay

A secluded beach, with miles of local walks and a tiny but incredibly picturesque village at the heart, is what makes Lee Bay so perfect. This small rocky beach isn’t the place to go if you want to build sandcastles but is full of rockpools so the perfect place to dabble in the waters. The bay is also known for strong currents so be aware if you are out in the waters.

North Devon Beaches – Lee Bay FAQs

🐕 Is Lee Bay dog friendly? Dogs allowed year-round.

📍 Accessibility at Lee Bay? Ramp down to the beach and along the stone wall but the rest of the beach is very rocky.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Lee Bay? Free parking and toilets just a short walk from the beach, (EX34 8LR).

🏄 Is Lee Bay RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Lee Bay? Ilfracombe

🍹 Where to eat at Lee Bay? There isn’t any so bring a picnic and enjoy the views.

🌊 What you can’t miss at Lee Bay? Walking out to the rock formations at low tide.

6. Barricane Beach

This tiny place is the smallest on our list of North Devon beaches you must visit, but boy is it mighty! Barricane Beach is the place to go if you love a bit of rock pooling as well as enjoying the warming golden sands. Barricane Beach requires a fairly steep walk to get down to, but it just makes the adventure more fun!

Combesgate Beach is another tiny secluded beach just off the main stretch of Woolacombe Beach, alongside Barricane Beach. It is great for rock pooling as well as some serious relaxation, although the walk down is a little steep here too.

North Devon Beaches – Barricane Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Barricane Beach dog friendly? Dogs allowed year-round but must be on a lead between May and September.

📍 Accessibility at Barricane Beach? Steep steps and ramps to get down to the sand.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Barricane Beach? No dedicated parking for the beach only, but lots of street parking along The Esplanade. No toilets.

🏄 Is Barricane Beach RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Barricane Beach? Woolacombe

🍹 Where to eat at Barricane Beach? Café on the Beach, with rather good Sri Lankan food.

🌊 What you can’t miss at Barricane Beach? Watching the beach fill up with the high tide from above, (it makes sense when you see it!).

7. Woolacombe Beach

One end of a 3-mile-long beautiful sandy beach is Woolacombe. Sand dunes, beach huts, cute cafes and a paraglider or two flying overhead, what more could you want from a beach! Well at particularly low tides or sand levels you can sometimes find washed up World War II defences, so keep an eye out for them too. We would highly recommend parking on Marine Drive and walking down to the beach through Woolacombe Warren to the beach.

North Devon Beaches – Woolacombe Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Woolacombe Beach dog friendly? Zoned beach areas, Zone A no dogs between 1st April and 1st November, Zone B dogs must be on a lead from 1st May to 30th September, Zone C no restrictions. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Woolacombe Beach? Easy gently sloped access onto the beach.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Woolacombe Beach? Multiple locations for parking just a short walk from the beach and with public toilets.

🏄 Is Woolacombe Beach RNLI patrolled? Yes

📍 Nearest town/village to Woolacombe Beach? Woolacombe

🍹 Where to eat at Woolacombe Beach? There are multiple cafes both along the beach and in the town. The Red Barn is always good for some traditional pub grub.

🌊 What you can’t miss at Woolacombe Beach? Exploring Woolacombe Warren, the sand dunes to the back of the beach.

Planning your own trip to North Devon? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

8. Putsborough Sands

The other end of the 3-mile beach mentioned above is the wonderfully quiet, and not so well known Putsborough Sands. With a beach café, surf school and within an easy walk of Croyde or Woolacombe, Putsborough Sands is a great place to spend a few days. When the tides are low, be sure to walk out along the rocks at the base of Baggy Point, to search for the long-forgotten shipwreck that lies somewhere on the beach!

North Devon Beaches – Putsborough Sands FAQs

🐕 Is Putsborough Sands dog friendly? Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach from the beach shop to the left towards Baggy Point but are allowed everywhere to the right year-round. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Putsborough Sands? There are three ways to access the beach, via a set of steps or via steep slopes.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Putsborough Sands? Parking at the beach with public toilets in the car park.

🏄 Is Putsborough Sands RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Putsborough Sands? Croyde

🍹 Where to eat at Putsborough Sands? The beach café has a rather good curry if you are there at the weekend!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Putsborough Sands? Walking up to Baggy Point for some of the best views of the beach from above.

9. Croyde Beach

It is often said that if the surf isn’t good at Putsborough, it will be great at Croyde, and boy does this beach live up to its surfing ways! Often full to the brim with surfers, Croyde Beach is the perfect place to spend the day in the water or on the golden sands before heading into the village for a bite to eat in the evening.

North Devon Beaches – Croyde Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Croyde Beach dog friendly? No dogs allowed between 1st May to 30th September. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Croyde Beach? The beach can be reached from multiple directions, the quickest has steps down to the beach but the flattest, (through Croyde Sand Dunes), is quite a walk.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Croyde Beach? Parking with toilets just a short walk from the beach, (EX33 1QE). You can also park in the centre of Croyde and walk to the beach via Sandy Lane

🏄 Is Croyde Beach RNLI patrolled? Yes

📍 Nearest town/village to Croyde Beach? Croyde

🍹 Where to eat at Croyde Beach? The Blue Groove in the centre of Croyde, the curries and mussels are delicious!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Croyde Beach? Getting out in that surf!

10. Saunton Sands

One of the most well-known North Devon beaches has to be the wide expanse of Saunton Sands. (Robbie Williams even filmed his Angles video there!). You can easily find all the space you want for a day at the beach and have no one nearby, hire a beach hut, go fishing along the coastline or walk up to the viewing points along the nearby road. Just know that the walk out to the sea at low tide can take a little while though!

North Devon Beaches – Saunton Sands FAQs

🐕 Is Saunton Sands dog friendly? Dogs allowed 365 days a year.

📍 Accessibility at Saunton Sands? Short walk down a slope to the beach.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Saunton Sands? Parking and toilets just behind the beach, (EX33 1LG).

🏄 Is Saunton Sands RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Saunton Sands? Saunton

🍹 Where to eat at Saunton Sands? There are multiple places to eat and drink near the car park overlooking the beach, but we can highly recommend the Beachside Grill – the burgers are something else!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Saunton Sands? Finding the colourful beach huts.

11. Braunton Burrows

Technically not a beach, (it’s actually at the back of Saunton Sands), Braunton Burrows is one place in North Devon that really has to be seen to be believed. From the car park walking to the biggest sand dune in the UK, is like walking on another planet! It’s so otherworldly, that a large part of the area is often used for army training, there’s even an old tank in there to find…

North Devon Beaches – Braunton Burrows FAQs

🐕 Is Braunton Burrows dog friendly? Dogs allowed year-round.

📍 Accessibility at Braunton Burrows? Not really that accessible, from the car park the pathways get sandy and rocky very quickly.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Braunton Burrows? Parking a short walk from the ‘big’ sand dune! But no toilets. (EX33 2NX).

🏄 Is Braunton Burrows RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Braunton Burrows? Braunton

🍹 Where to eat at Braunton Burrows? Nowhere to eat nearby, so bring some grub with you.

🌊 What you can’t miss at Braunton Burrows? Walking up to the highest point of the sand dunes for the incredible views or finding Matilda…

12. Instow Beach

This quaint little sandy beach, with views over neighbouring Appledore, is a great place to stop and watch the world go by. As it is located in an estuary off the coast, when the tide comes in, you will lose quite a portion of the beach, but it’s the perfect location if you have a boat! It’s also right along the Tarka Trail so great for a cycling trip.

North Devon Beaches – Instow Beach FAQs

🐕 Is Instow Beach dog friendly? Dogs not allowed between the Quay and Lane End Road from 1st May to 30th September. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Instow Beach? Multiple entrance points onto the beach, all flat, but into very soft sand.

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Instow Beach? There is parking all along the top of the beach and at two designated car parks on either end of the beach, (EX39 4JJ).

🏄 Is Instow Beach RNLI patrolled? No

📍 Nearest town/village to Instow Beach? Instow

🍹 Where to eat at Instow Beach? The Boathouse at Instow, the chips are insane!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Instow Beach? Cycling along the Tarka Trail to Bideford or taking the ferry to Appledore.

13. Westward Ho!

Westward Ho! It may be the last of our North Devon beaches, but it is most definitely one to visit! This large beach, with pebble ridge, windsurfing school and Northam Burrows Country Park is a beach like no other in North Devon. Also, a bit of trivia here, it’s the only place in the UK with an exclamation mark in its name. Be warned, it can get a little windy here though!

North Devon Beaches – Westward Ho! FAQs

🐕 Is Westward Ho! dog friendly? Dogs allowed 365 days a year, but between 1st May and 30th September only at the northern end of the beach to the right of the Pebble Ridge. Assistance dogs allowed all year.

📍 Accessibility at Westward Ho!? Steep slope down to the beach

🚗 Parking location and toilets at Westward Ho!? Multiple parking locations around Westward Ho!

🏄 Is Westward Ho! RNLI patrolled? Yes in designated locations along the beach.

📍 Nearest town/village to Westward Ho!? Westward Ho!

🍹 Where to eat at Westward Ho!? Fish and chips from Atlantic Bay, they’re great even if you get a typically British summer rain!

🌊 What you can’t miss at Westward Ho!? Exploring the country park behind the beach.

North Devon Beaches FAQs

About the North Devon Coast

The North Devon coast is unlike no other in England. It’s dramatic, full of wonderful beaches and is the one place in the UK that made our family holiday at home rather than abroad, (and still does). Covering over 170 square miles, North Devon is encompassed in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so it really is incredibly beautiful.

From Combe Martin in the north along the coastline down to Hartland and Welcombe in the south, this stretch of coast is not only home to numerous beaches, but the South West Coast Path, the Tarka Trail, and some of the highest sea cliffs in the UK. Fancy a trip there yet?

Are there any sandy beaches in North Devon?

Pretty much all the beaches in North Devon are sandy beaches. There are a few beaches that are made up of shells or pebbles instead but these are mostly around the edge of Exmoor.

What is the best beach in North Devon for sea glass?

Sheltered cove beaches tend to be the best for finding sea glass in North Devon. Beaches such as Combesgate, Hele Bay and even at Barricane Beach.

Is Woolacombe or Ilfracombe better?

They are very different in their own rights. If you want a big sandy beach and somewhere more family-friendly, then Woolacombe is the place to go. If you are after a quieter time with a few quaint shops, cliffside walks and a small harbour to watch the day go by then head to Ilfracombe.

Does Ilfracombe have a sandy beach?

Ilfracombe has a small sandy beach within the main harbour, which is accessible if the tide is out. Due to this being a live harbour however, you do need to be careful of any ropes / chains that are securing nearby boats and stay away from any boats that may be out of the water.

Is Croyde Beach safe to swim?

Yes, Croyde Beach is safe to swim at, however, you should stay between the RNLI patrolled flag area as outside of this there are often strong rip currents and hidden rocks.

Dog friendly beaches North Devon

Outside of May to September dogs are generally allowed on most beaches, however during these peak summer months often only assistance dogs are allowed. Below are all the beaches that allow dogs 365 days a year.

🐕 Backlands Beach

🐕 Broad Sands

🐕 Watermouth

🐕 Lee Bay

🐕 Barricane Beach – Dogs allowed year-round but must be on a lead between May and September.

🐕 Woolacombe Beach – Zoned beach areas = Zone B dogs must be on a lead from 1st May to 30th September, Zone C no restrictions.

🐕 Putsborough Sands – Dogs are allowed everywhere to the right of the beach shop year-round.

🐕 Saunton Sands

🐕 Braunton Burrows

🐕 Westward Ho! – Dogs allowed 365 days a year, but between 1st May and 30th September only at the northern end of the beach to the right of the Pebble Ridge.

Does Bideford have a beach?

Bideford doesn’t have a beach, infact Bideford is the bay in which there are a number of beaches located such as Westward Ho!, Saunton Sands and Croyde.

Is North or South Devon better for beaches?

Both North Devon and South Devon have good, and often vast, beaches, but North Devon is the place with the most beautiful sandy beaches backed by impressive sand dunes. South Devon is mostly pebble beaches with no sand dunes.

Conclusion: 13 North Devon Beaches You Must Visit

So now we have all agreed that North Devon beaches are some of the best worldwide, we can all get planning even more trips to them!

Why not explore North Devon over a long weekend of two taking in a few of the beaches above whilst you’re at it? We visited over 4 days during early summer and bar the odd day of rain, it was wonderful. Check out that itinerary here.

Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.