The Beaches
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Please check back soon to find some great ideas for your next adventure in Croyde and North Devon
There are several large, sandy beaches within easy reach of The Chalet.
Croyde Beach
A sandy beach backed by dunes and edged north and south by cliffs and rocks which are great for rock pooling. Devon’s premier surfing beach, there are numerous places offering surfing lessons and board hire. Popular for a day at the beach. Both the beach and the water can get very busy in the summer. The sea is prone to rip tides.
Distance from The Chalet The beach is only about 1km from the Chalet.
Walk down Milkaway Lane & Cloutman’s Lane towards the centre of the village. At the t-junction turn right onto the main road through Croyde, then turn left onto the track between Billy Budd’s Pub and Salt Rock Surf shop. It’s an easy, level and well-maintained path. At the end of the track keep going straight across the field (sometimes there is camping in the field), through a gate and onto a sandy path. You’ll arrive in the middle of the beach by the stream.
Parking At the south end there is Down End car park (What3words ///view.cheetahs.apes)
At the north end there is: National Trust parking at Baggy Point (north end of the beach). Free for National Trust members. (w3w ///ducks.eyeliner.images), Beach Field car park, and Croyde Bay Pay & Display.
Facilities
Lifeguard. There are RNLI lifeguards at Croyde between 10am and 6pm every day through the summer and most school holidays.
Small beach shop and take away café with ice creams, snacks and drinks etc at both ends of the beach: in Down End car park at the south of the beach (w3w ///lands.second.chatters), and at the slipway at the north of the beach (w3w ///knitted.plots.exhaling)
Toilets. At both ends of the beach (Down End car park and the slipway).
Beach toys library. Small kiosk run by Plastic Free North Devon to recycle beach toys. On the slipway.
Surf lessons and surf board / wetsuit hire. LOTS of options. See our Exploring the Outdoors section.
Best for… Surfing and surf lessons
Saunton Beach
Everyone has stopped in one of the laybys on the road between Braunton and Croyde to soak in this view, and everyone has a version of this photo! A huge expanse of sand stretching away for more than 3 miles. It’s backed by dunes and Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve (a UNESCO world heritage site). It has a massive tidal sweep that reveals wonderful rockpools as the tide goes out. A favourite with locals and great for families. It can get busy close to the carpark, but it’s easy to find space if you don’t mind walking a little way up the beach. Generally considered the safest of the beaches for swimming, but remember it doesn’t have lifeguards.
Distance from Chalet Only 1 ½ km away as the crow flies! By road it’s about 3km away.
If you’re feeling very energetic you can walk to Saunton Beach from The Chalet using one of the gorgeous footpaths right next to The Chalet. It is a stunning walk up and over the hill with gorgeous views, but it is a long way up and a long way down (in both directions!). Probably better to do the walk as a separate activity rather than incorporate it in a day at the beach (especially if you have kids and lots of stuff).
Parking. Large car park that will very occasionally fill up on the busiest, sunniest days of summer. (Access to car park is from the B3231 at W3W ///snowstorm.tipping.scratches)
"Drop off & go” period: 20 minutes free
Up to 1 hour: £1.75
Up to 2 hours: £3.50
Up to 3 hours: £6.00
Up to 4 hours: £8.50
For every hour or part of thereafter: + £1
Facilities
Seaside beach shop, licensed restaurant, takeaway drinks & snacks, beach hut & deckchair hire, surf hire, and surf lessons.
Saunton does not have lifeguards.
Best for… Rock pooling, beach games and space.