When the weather is good, there’s nothing better than a UK staycation, and Woolacombe in North Devon is a great spot. There’s plenty to do here, with a beautiful beach, shops, and cafes, plus easy access to nearby towns.
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I visited with my friends and a golden retriever in early spring and stayed at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park. We found it was the perfect place for a dog-friendly break.
Read to find out more about holidays to Woolacombe in Devon.
Where to stay in Woolacombe Bay
We stayed at the Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park. The group owns three different holiday parks, offering a range of accommodation options, including caravans and camping.
We stayed at the Woolacombe Bay location. It has an amazing setting, perched on top of a hill overlooking the stunning beach below.
There’s a path from the park down to the beach which means that in around 10 minutes, you can be walking on the golden sands.
We stayed in a dog-friendly Gold caravan. I love staying in caravans as they are super cosy – this one even had heaters in each room and a gas fire for when it dropped chilly at night time.
The caravan had three bedrooms, sleeping up to six people, so it’s perfect for families or groups of friends travelling together. We were lucky enough to have a sea view, and there was plenty of outside space around the caravan for sitting out.
Inside, the caravan has a well-equipped kitchen and open-plan living area, plus a bathroom. As we were staying with a dog, we were also provided with a dog bed, bowls, poop bags, and treats.
The dog-friendly caravans also had vinyl flooring and sofas, so cleaning up any dog hairs or unfortunate accidents would be easy. However, Archie was such a good boy during our stay that we didn’t need to!
On-site, there is a brand new swimming pool and outside bar area. The swimming pool is heated, so it’s a lovely temperature for a dip, no matter what the weather is like outside.
There are also a couple of water slides and an indoor pool, too, if the sun isn’t shining. Kids will love the SprayZone water play area.
There’s glass panelling around the edge of the swimming pool area and sun beds to relax on so you can make the most of those sea views. We had fabulous weather when we were there, so it was every bit as good as being abroad.
In addition to the pool, there are facilities like a climbing wall, playground, amusements, adventure golf, and a bar with nightly entertainment like prize bingo. There’s an entertainment programme for both day and night time if you want to do something on the park.
Things to do in and around Woolacombe
There’s plenty to keep you occupied during your holiday in Woolacombe, and if you enjoy spending time outside in the fresh air, then it’s the perfect place for you.
Segway Safari
On the Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park, they offer a Segway safari. Here the instructor teaches you how to ride the Segway on the caravan park before you head off to enjoy an off-road course at your own leisure.
We did this while we were there and really enjoyed it. It’s quite a strange sensation at first as you use your balance and body weight to move the Segway, but once you get the hang of it, you’re soon speeding around the course.
The Segway safari is an hour-long activity and is perfect for those who want to try something new during their holiday.
Enjoy the beach
I think that the best thing about Woolacombe is its long, sandy beach. The beach is three miles long and one of the most beautiful beaches in the UK, with soft sands and crystal clear waters.
There are sections of the beach that are dog friendly and sections that are dog free so everyone can enjoy it. Taking a walk from one end to the other while paddling is a great way to spend an afternoon.
Relax on the sand, soak up the sun when the weather is good, bring a picnic, or go for a dip in the sea. The beach is also a great spot to watch the sunset in the evening.
Walk the coastal path
There’s a fantastic coastal walk at Woolacombe, which sets off over the sand dunes and heads towards Baggy Point and Croyde Bay. You get amazing sea views along the way, and you can walk back along Woolacombe’s sandy beach, dipping your toes in the water as you go.
Look out for the whale bones near Croyde. The beach here is worth a look, too, although it isn’t dog friendly.
Visit Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a gorgeous little town just along the coast from Woolacombe. It takes around 15 minutes to get there, and there are plenty of central car parks to choose from.
There’s lots to see here, including the Tunnels Beaches, a series of little coves, and tidal pools accessed by hand-carved tunnels. Tunnels Beaches was a popular Victorian bathing spot and is definitely worth a visit.
You can also walk up to St Nicholas Chapel, which has served the town as both the chapel and a lighthouse. It’s free to enter, and you can find out more about its interesting history inside.
Water sports
Of course, you can’t visit a beach in North Devon without taking part in some sort of water sports. If you fancy a surfing or kayaking lesson, you can book one at the Woolacombe Surf Centre on the beach.
North Devon has recently been named the UK’s first World Surfing Reserve, meaning that the coastline and waters here are now protected from threats like overdevelopment, erosion, dredging, and pollution.
If you’re already competent at surfing or paddle boarding, you can rent boards and wetsuits from the shops just off the beach to save you from bringing your own.
If you don’t want to venture into the sea yet, there is a lake at Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park that offers activities like paddle boarding and kayaking on-site.
Combe Martin
Combe Martin is a rugged stretch of coastline in between Exmoor and North Devon. The South West Coast Path passes through the village.
Here you’ll find some of the best rock pools in the area and two sandy and stony beaches. Newberry Beach is dog friendly all year round, and dogs are allowed on the main beach between 1st October and 30th April.
Where to eat in Woolacombe
A big part of a holiday for me is the food, and we enjoyed some lovely meals and treats while we were in Woolacombe. Don’t forget to sample all of the seaside holiday favourites – fish and chips, ice cream, and a Devon cream tea!
Bait Ball, Woolacombe Bay Holiday Park
Bait Ball is the on-site restaurant and cafe at Woolacombe Bay holiday park. It’s a great easy option for the first day of your holiday or if you don’t want to cook in your caravan, and it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
A section of the restaurant is dog friendly, so you can sit in with your pooch, and there is also a large outside decking area for when the weather is fine. The terrace is a great spot to sit and enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine or a cocktail.
The outside area has amazing views over Woolacombe Beach and the Atlantic Ocean, and it’s a great spot to watch the sunset too.
We enjoyed some steaks here with chips and salad for dinner, which were yummy. It’s informal and relaxed, so you can feel at ease while you eat.
Beachcomber Cafe
This cafe, just off the beach, is a really popular spot. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, and the cafe welcomes dogs.
As well as some incredible options for brunch, they also offer fresh, locally caught seafood. I enjoyed a Devon crab sandwich here.
The food is great, and the staff are super friendly, they all made the effort to chat to us and made a fuss of Archie.
Fudgies
On a sunny day, there’s nothing better than a scoop of gelato, and Fudgies in the town centre of Woolacombe offers some delicious options. Choose from a cone or a tub and indulge in some amazing flavours like Reese’s peanut butter, pistachio, and raspberry ripple.
Stoned Pizza
Pizza is my absolute favourite food, and you can’t beat a freshly made one cooked in a pizza oven. Stoned Pizza is a food truck parked in the Esplanade car park at Woolacombe serving handmade pizzas.
They offer a variety of different toppings, including ham and pineapple, truffle and mushroom, and classic margarita. You can grab the pizzas to take away and then eat them on the beach or back at the caravan.
Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe
At the Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, there is a restaurant that also is available to hire as a wedding venue. Here you can enjoy a cocktail or a cream tea, overlooking the black sand beaches and enjoying the sea views.
We had a yummy cream tea here, which came with two scones! Just be sure to prepare your cream tea the Devon way, which is clotted cream first, and then jam on top!
The Dolphin, Ilfracombe
You’ve got to have fish and chips when you’re at the seaside. It’s a rule! We grabbed a mini fish and chips from The Dolphin and ate them on the pier at Ilfracombe, overlooking the sea.
They were absolutely delicious, with plenty of fresh fish encased in crispy batter. There was no better setting to enjoy them either!
We had a fantastic stay in Woolacombe, and I would definitely recommend this area of North Devon for an unforgettable UK staycation.
