Croyde is one of those places where the coastline feels endless, and every beach has its own personality.
From iconic surf breaks to calm sandy stretches and tucked-away coves, the area is packed with incredible spots to explore. These beaches near Croyde show off the best of North Devon’s coastline and give you plenty of ways to shape your perfect beach day.
This guide takes you through the best beaches near Croyde so you can plan days filled with sunshine, sea air, slow living, and plenty of time by the water.
Why the Croyde Area Has Some of North Devon’s Best Beaches
The coastline around Croyde is known for its variety. You can spend the morning surfing strong, playful waves, enjoy an afternoon wandering along long sandy stretches, then finish the day at a quiet cove watching the sun drop over the cliffs.
A Coastline Packed With Variety
Croyde sits in the heart of a coastal stretch that offers everything from dramatic cliff views to calm beaches for swimming. Each spot offers something different, making it easy and rewarding to explore multiple beaches during your stay.
Surf Culture Meets Laid-Back Beach Days
The surf scene is a big part of the area’s identity. You can rent boards and wetsuits through the Surf Hire page, enjoy big beach days with friends, or take slower moments walking the shoreline. You might be here for surf or simply to enjoy the scenic calm, and the beaches around Croyde cater to both.
Croyde Bay: The Iconic Surf Beach on Your Doorstep
Croyde Bay is the beating heart of the area’s surf culture and one of the most recognisable beaches in the UK. Golden sand, rolling waves, and dramatic headlands create an enclosed, scenic atmosphere that feels lively and energetic.
It is an excellent choice for surfers, active travellers, and couples who want classic beach days close to Ocean Pitch. The tide changes the shape and power of the waves throughout the day, so planning your session around tide times can make it even better.
Early mornings and late afternoons are quieter, and the sunsets here are some of the best on the coastline.
Saunton Sands: A Long, Calm Stretch Perfect for Relaxed Days
Saunton Sands has an entirely different feel from Croyde. Its long, open shoreline creates a calm, spacious atmosphere, making it ideal for swimming, paddling, gentle walks, and slower-paced days by the sea.
Families and walkers love the space, and longboarders enjoy the smooth, mellow waves.
The dunes behind the beach are great for exploring and add to the relaxed coastal setting. Sunsets here are wide and golden, especially in summer, and early mornings or midweek visits offer the quietest moments.
Woolacombe Beach: One of the UK’s Best-Loved Beaches
Woolacombe is often listed among the best beaches in the UK, and it is easy to see why.
The vast, scenic stretch offers plenty of room even on busy days, and the beach is kept clean, bright, and welcoming. It is great for families and groups thanks to its lifeguarded zones, soft waves, nearby food stops, and easy facilities.
The surf here is consistent but usually gentler than at Croyde, making Woolacombe a solid choice for beginners or anyone looking for a relaxed session on the water.
Putsborough Sands: A Quiet Hideaway Between Croyde and Woolacombe
Putsborough sits tucked between two of the area’s most popular beaches, creating a peaceful spot that feels like an escape from the crowds. The surrounding cliffs offer shelter from the wind, which creates calm conditions and beautiful scenery on clear days.
It’s a good choice for reading, sunbathing, gentle swims, or simply slowing down after more energetic beach days elsewhere.
The small café overlooking the beach serves simple food and drinks with impressive views of the coastline, making it a perfect place to pause between coastal walks.
Hidden and Lesser-Known Beaches Near Croyde
If you prefer quieter spots, these lesser-known beaches offer a different kind of coastal escape. These hidden stretches of the coastline give you space to slow down, take in the scenery, and enjoy peaceful moments without the busier beach crowds.
They are perfect for peaceful walks, tucked-away swims, and moments where you want the coast to yourself.
Broadsands Cove
Broadsands Cove feels like a secret. The steep steps lead you down to a small, turquoise cove that looks almost Mediterranean on clear days. Its hidden setting keeps crowds away, making it ideal for quiet swims, reading on the rocks, or escaping the busier beaches nearby.
The surrounding cliffs create a dramatic backdrop, and at low tide, the water is calm and clear.
Barricane Beach
Barricane Beach is tucked at the far end of Woolacombe and has a unique character thanks to its shell-lined sand and sheltered position. It is a brilliant place for rock pooling, exploring with friends, or watching the sun dip behind the headland.
During summer, it becomes famous for its Sri Lankan curries served from the beach café, which adds a relaxed holiday feel to warm evenings. It is gorgeous at golden hour when the light hits the rocks.
Rockham Beach
Rockham Beach is rugged, wild, and incredibly rewarding for those who make the walk.
The path leads you along dramatic cliffs before dropping to a tide-dependent beach filled with rock pools and striking viewpoints. At low tide, you can explore exposed rocks and quiet sandy patches, while at high tide, the space transforms entirely.
It is a brilliant spot for photography, coastal exploration, and a peaceful time by the water.
How to Choose the Right Beach for Your Day
Each beach offers something different, so choosing depends on the type of day you want.
Best for Surfing
If your day revolves around catching waves, the beaches around Croyde offer something for every level.
Croyde Bay delivers the most powerful and consistent surf, making it a favourite for experienced surfers wanting a challenge. Woolacombe’s gentler waves are ideal for beginners or anyone wanting to build confidence, while Saunton Sands is a dream for longboarders thanks to its smooth, rolling waves and forgiving breaks.
With so many options close together, it is easy to choose the right spot or move between beaches as conditions change. Boards, wetsuits, and gear can all be sorted through the Surf Hire page, so you can focus on enjoying the water.
Best for Families
Families have plenty of choices along this stretch of coast, with beaches that offer soft waves, wide-open sand, and easy facilities. Woolacombe is often the top pick thanks to its lifeguarded zones, food spots, toilets, and gentle surf that suits children and mixed-age groups.
Saunton Sands is another great option for relaxed family days, with lots of space to spread out, calm shallows for paddling, and long, safe stretches for beach games and walks.
Both beaches also have convenient parking and clear access points, making them stress-free and straightforward choices when travelling with little ones.
Best for Quiet Escapes
For slow days, reading spots, or peaceful swims, the quieter beaches near Croyde offer the perfect escape.
Putsborough Sands has a calm, sheltered feel that suits relaxed afternoons and gentle swims, while Broadsands Cove gives you a tucked-away corner of the coastline where you can enjoy the scenery with very few people around.
Rockham Beach is ideal if you enjoy walking to more remote places and want a sense of discovery. Each of these beaches offers space, stillness, and a more personal connection to the coast.
Make the Most of Your Beach Day From Ocean Pitch
Staying at Ocean Pitch gives you an easy starting point for exploring the coastline.
Easy Access to Multiple Beaches
Most beaches around Croyde are only a short drive away, and some can be reached on foot along scenic coastal routes. This makes it easy to shape your day around the weather, tide times, or the kind of atmosphere you want.
You can start the morning at a lively surf beach, wander to a quieter cove in the afternoon, then finish your day watching the sunset from somewhere peaceful. Being based at Ocean Pitch keeps everything flexible and simple.
Eat Well Before or After You Explore
Fuel is always important on beach days, and staying close to great food options makes it even easier. Biffen’s Kitchen serves surf-inspired dishes that work perfectly before a day in the water or after long walks on the coast.
Waves & Waffles offers a sweet option: waffles and ice cream, ideal for an afternoon treat. If you feel like exploring further, Croyde village, Georgeham, and Braunton all offer cafés and pubs within a short drive.
Set Yourself Up for Relaxed Evenings Back at the Pod
One of the best parts about staying at Ocean Pitch is how easy it is to settle back into the calm of your pod after a full beach day.
You can hang up your wetsuit, warm up with a hot drink, and let the sound of the coast slow everything down. Evenings here often become the highlight of the trip, with simple routines, comfortable spaces, and the coastline just steps away.
Plan Your Croyde Beach Adventures
Croyde makes a brilliant base for exploring the coastline, giving you quick access to surf beaches, scenic coves, and everything in between. Each spot has something different to offer, so you can shape your plans around the weather, the waves, or the kind of day you want.
With so many beaches near Croyde to explore, every visit feels a little different and full of new favourites to discover, and what better way to enjoy this experience than a weekend at Ocean Pitch?
