North Devon Beaches

The closest beach to the cottage is lnstow about 20 drive minutes away. Take the Barnstaple Road until you reach the first roundabout (about 6 miles) turn left and drive for about 5 miles until signpost to lnstow on right. Turn right and then right again alongside the estuary. This is next to a super walk along the old railway line that goes from Barnstaple to Bideford and then onto Torrington. It is part of the Tarka Trail and is well worth walking or cycling. When you reach lnstow turn left along the beach road, either park on the road, or in the car park at the far end of the beach. The Boathouse pub and Instow Arms have good views of the Estuary and across to Appledore. The Westleigh Inn, only half a mile away, is also very good with facilities for children; it also has super views of the estuary. 

Appledore looking across the Estuary

The popular surfing beaches with their vast expanses of sand are located about 20 minutes the other side of Barnstaple. There are several large beaches such as Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe. Our favourite however, is the southern end of Woolacombe called Putsborough.

Beach huts at Woolacombe Beach

If you want secluded beaches all to yourselves then there are plenty but they all involve a long walk to get to them. Some have over 500 steps to get down to them! Lee Bay near Ilfracombe is worth visiting particularly if you can find the secret passage through to the sandy beach to the south.

Lee Bay near Ilfracombe

Westward Ho! is probably the easiest beach to get to and has good cheap parking and plenty of sand when the tide goes out. Its 25 minutes’ drive away. It avoids going through Barnstaple. It can be as good for surfing as Croyde and Woolacombe and probably safer.

If you want a bleak wild stony wreck strewn beach then Greencliff in Abbotsham is worth a visit. Further along is the fantastic Hartland Quay with an amazing walk to a small waterfall. It probably ranks amongst the most spectacular coastlines in the British Isles.