Woolacombe in North Devon is a popular holiday destination for tourists, who flock to the sandy beach in the summer time. But locals say it’s a different story in the winter.
Woolacombe, located off the A316 in North Devon, isn’t the most straightforward destination to reach. It requires careful navigation along narrow, winding country lanes bordered by towering hedges, where oncoming traffic can prove challenging.
However, the journey is absolutely worthwhile. The initial panorama that greets you is merely the beginning of this magical experience. The view is simply stunning and stands apart from any other location.
Multiple car parks sit at the village’s base, with the two most popular ones charging £12 per day. Whilst this may appear costly, they’re positioned directly beside the shoreline, reports Devon Live.
One pair, Ben and Teagan, currently on holiday in North Devon, believe Woolacombe offers everything visitors could want.
“Everything you need is just down the road. Once you’ve parked, you don’t need to leave all day. It’s very small roads to get here, I can imagine it can be an issue because of all the traffic,” said Ben.
The shoreline and surrounding territory at Woolacombe initially belonged to the Chichester family in 1133. Stanley Parkin subsequently acquired Woolacombe alongside its neighbouring village Mortehoe.
His son, Ray Parkin, a village native, assumed the chairman role in 1995 and advanced the Parkin Estates company until his death in 2021.
Today, substantial investment, both financially and in terms of effort, ensures Woolacombe remains remarkably pristine with thoughtfully designed amenities. The beach, the first in North Devon to be awarded the European Blue Flag, has now been recognised by The Times as one of the UK’s top beaches.
Lynn and Karl, who travelled from Stafford, commented: “It’s just a beautiful beach, you have to travel a long way to find a beach like this.”
John, a tourist from Berkshire, shared: “This is my first visit, we’re staying in North Devon in Ilfracombe. It’s a beautiful beach, the north coast is a bit grey on sand, it’s nice to see some gold.”
The beach is divided into two sections, one permitting dogs and the other not. Parkin Estates are making excellent use of the three-mile stretch of beach.
“I love how one side of the beach doesn’t allow dogs, there’s so much space so it makes sense to do that,” remarked one holidaymaker.
“There’s so much room on the beach and so there’s space to sit. It’s not overwhelming,” added Teagan.
Woolacombe boasts a variety of amenities including pubs, restaurants and cafes, and plenty of activities such as mini golf. There are also surf hire facilities and very ‘tourist style’ shops reminiscent of those found in Europe. The single road running through the village contributes to its European vibe.
During summer months, Woolacombe gives you that Spanish beach resort sensation, yet when winter arrives, the place becomes remarkably tranquil. Will, an Ilfracombe resident employed at Steve’s Surf Hire on the seafront, explained that rainy weather leaves visitors with virtually no activities.
“It’s not nice when it’s raining, no-one comes down except dog walkers who come and have a look but then they just go,” said Will.
Louise, his colleague at the same establishment, shared this view but noted that residents take advantage of the peaceful atmosphere.
“In the winter, it’s a ghost town, the majority of pubs shut in the winter too. It’s quiet because it’s a seaside town. There’s just shops, which are closed in the winter,” she said.
“Locals make use of that, to come in the winter because there’s nobody here.”
A brief stroll from the shoreline leads to a family-run eatery called The Captain’s Table. The venue has built its reputation on hearty breakfasts whilst offering an array of seafood-based lunches and evening meals.
Patrons can also order sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and jacket potatoes, all sourced locally in Devon.
General Manager Nigel expressed his delight in welcoming both tourists and residents to the establishment, highlighting how they witness entire family lineages returning year after year.
“We have new customers but also regulars. We get some that only come here for two weeks of the year, but we know them and we quite often know what they’ll be having,” he said.
“We see generations of people coming in. We have grandparents whose parents brought them, they bring their children, who bring their children.”
Woolacombe beach boasts an excellent reputation for surfing, and its reef break delivers some fantastic waves, catering to both experienced and novice surfers.
The beach features numerous surf schools and may have inspired the name of The Surf Takeaway, a mobile food outlet positioned directly on the beach.
Paul and Teddy, who launched their business within the past year, commend the beach for its pristine condition and express their desire to serve some of Devon’s finest produce.
“Parkin Estates keep [the beach] immaculate, it’s clean, they look after it which is a big commitment,” Teddy said. “People come to Devon because they want a pasty, we have links with local suppliers and we choose the best pasties, they might not be as cheap, but it’s what we prefer.”
A holiday in Woolacombe is enchanting, though several tourists expressed concern about one particular issue.
One tourist remarked: “There are seagulls everywhere, they have the tendency to steal food.
Another, Maisie, said: “I hate them I do, it literally landed on a kid’s head to get his food. I heard someone shouting that their finger was bitten by a seagull!
Tourists can hire one of 70 beach huts along the shoreline. Parkin Estates construct a sandbank during the summer months at the rear of the beach where the huts are located. There’s a five per cent reduction available for those booking more than seven days, which includes two deckchairs, two patio chairs, a table and windbreak. Their vibrant colours make a striking statement at the rear of the beach.
Local residents and workers in Woolacombe describe it as a wonderful place to call home, praising its beauty and declaring “you can’t get a better place.”
Yet, the surge in tourism at Woolacombe is raising concerns amongst some locals.
Will explained: “Everything is expensive in Woolacombe, people aren’t down for as long as they normally would be. A lot of people are moving out of Woolacombe, rich people move here, live here for a month and then rent their place out to holiday makers.”
Louise added: “People stay for three or four days instead of for the whole week.”
Despite these issues, tourists absolutely love Woolacombe and insist it’s completely worth any minor hassles.
Ellie and Nathan, holidaying from Essex, shared their thoughts: “We’re staying in Ilfracombe and came to Woolacombe for the day. The parking is expensive, but totally worth it,” Nathan remarked.
Ellie chimed in: “It’s unlike anywhere else I’ve been, there’s loads of facilities, nice places for lunch.
Their youngsters, Jasper and Sam, were absolutely delighted. Jasper exclaimed: “[The beach] is so big, we had a race, and I won!”
Sam boasted: “We’re going in the sea later, and I’m not even going to wear a wetsuit. “.