Why visit Woolacombe?
The beach
A three-mile-long stretch of sand is the main attraction on a Woolacombe camping trip – especially for surfers. But you don’t need wave-riding skills to have a memorable time in this superb seaside town: beginner-friendly watersports like standup paddleboarding are also on the agenda. Plenty of dry-land activities can be pursued too, including wanders on the South West Coast Path.
Coastal strolls
Woolacombe means ‘Wolves Valley’ in old English, but you’ll see no sign of prowling predators in the area nowadays. Instead, cast your eyes skywards to spot swooping kestrels or look down at the basking seals during a stroll from Mortehoe to the Morte Point headland. Curving around the Bull Point peninsula brings you to Rockham Bay for rockpooling, while the distinctive rocks of Bennett's Mouth cove are close by too. The Torrs Walk in nearby Ilfracombe, built in Victorian times, is also worth seeking out for spectacular coastal views.
The apres-surf scene
For such a tiny town, Woolacombe comes to life during weekends in the summertime. Start an evening off with a beer or two in a local inn and you might just end up at the longest-running nightclub in England after nightfall. For food, dig into meals made with locally sourced ingredients at the pubs or order hot, salty chips to eat with views out over the Bristol Channel.
The best things to do on a Woolacombe camping trip
* Learn to surf through one of the watersports schools in town
* Build a fortress on the sand with your bucket and spade
* Go horseback riding through the dunes
* Find a secret sunbathing spot at the nearby Lee Bay beaches
* Challenge yourself to a long-distance cycle ride on the 180-mile Tarka Trail
Attractions near Woolacombe
For the kids
Go inland on your Woolacombe camping trip for child-friendly attractions like Exmoor Zoo, The Milky Way Adventure Park and The BIG Sheep farm park. Ilfracombe Aquarium is also worth a look – this spot has 75 underwater species to stare at and a pier-side café with harbour views. Kids go mad for rides on the 39-mile Tarka Line railway too, which runs alongside the Taw and Yeo valley rivers between Barnstaple and Exeter.
Stately homes and grand gardens
Head to Hartland Abbey for walks through the leafy woodland and pristine walled gardens or check out Clovelly Court for exotic plants that flourish in the Gulf Stream’s warm air. You could also watch the bees buzz around South Molton’s Quince Honey Farm, a family-run spot with more than 1,500 hives set over over 40 acres of manicured gardens. Or make honey – and taste it – rolling a beeswax candle to take home.
Pretty villages
Woolacombe is wonderful, but there are other north Devon seaside settlements to set your sights on as well. After checking out the pretty coastal village of Combe Martin, make your way to Clovelly in the Hartland Heritage Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to tread the steep cobbled streets lined with classic cottages. Loop around Lynton and Lynmouth too – twin villages connected by a vintage clifftop railway – before wandering with the wild goats at the nearby Valley of the Rocks.
Here’s how
The family parks are fantastic in Devon – browse campsites in Woolacombe with an outdoor swimming pool and a play area or pick a kid-friendly pitch at a farm. If hygiene is your number one priority, you could make sure your site has the basics, like access to a shower or toilet block. Alternatively, go glamping in Woolacombe and stay at a bell tent or lodge.
We also have these popular options to pick from:
* Campsites in Woolacombe with electric hook-ups
* Dog-friendly camping in Woolacombe
* Woolacombe campsites with a bar or clubhouse
Other fabulous places for camping near Woolacombe on north Devon’s coast include the harbour town of Ilfracombe and the serene surfing village of Croyde.
Before you set off camping in Woolacombe, check out our camping guide for top tips on taking an outdoor holiday. Whether you want the lowdown on which tent to buy or need step-by-step advice on setting one up, we’ve got you sorted.
