A Perfect Summer Day in Woolacombe

There are plenty of lists telling you what to do in Woolacombe. But if you’ve only got one sunny summer day, how should you actually spend it?

The good news is that you don’t need much of a plan. One of the biggest attractions of staying in the centre of Woolacombe is how easily you can move between the beach, the village and the coast without spending half your time in the car.

Here’s our idea of a perfect summer day.

Start early on Woolacombe Beach

Summer mornings are one of the best times to see Woolacombe Beach at its most peaceful.

Before the village gets properly going, head down to the sand for a walk, a paddle or, if conditions are right, an early swim or surf. In the summer, we're talking about 6am or even earlier if you like the sunrise. Woolacombe beach gives you plenty of room to explore but at this time in the morning you needn't go far at all. Find your own patch by the rocks at the north end, stash your shoes behind a rock, and take in the morning air.

If you’re surfing, the morning can also be a good time to get in before the beach becomes busier. If you’re swimming, always pay attention to the conditions because the lifeguards won't be out yet.

Then head back into the village for breakfast or coffee. The Londis makes fresh pastries each morning and is open early as a reward for your morning alarm.

Spend the morning in the water

Woolacombe and surfing are fairly inseparable, so even complete beginners might want to give it a try.

There are surf schools and board-hire options in the village, while those of you that are more experienced can your own call based on the day’s conditions. Bodyboarding or hand-planing are easier introductions if surfing sounds suspiciously like hard work.

Alternatively, do absolutely none of that.

A couple of hours with a book, a towel and occasional trips into the sea is an entirely legitimate way to spend a Woolacombe morning. If you're going to take the reading option, our tip is to hide away up in the dunes. there are lots of cozy spots and the dunes make an excellent backrest.

The beach itself stretches for miles towards Baggy Point and in the other direction towards Morte Point, so even during the summer there’s a big difference between the busy area immediately in front of the village and the space you’ll find farther along the sand.

Retreat for lunch

By lunchtime, especially during the school holidays, Woolacombe will usually be at its busiest.

That makes this a good moment to retreat from the beach back into the apartmentt grab some food and spend an hour or two taking things slowly.

There are also plenty of places around the village to pick up lunch, or you might take some picnic food out of the fridge and head back to your 'secret spot' in the dunes.

It’s also worth remembering that a beach holiday doesn’t need to mean spending eight uninterrupted hours on the beach. Some of the nicest summer days here involve dipping in and out of it. You're never to old (or young) for an afternoon nap either!

Walk towards Morte Point

Once the hottest part of the day has passed, swap the sand for the coast path.

Head north towards Mortehoe and Morte Point and Woolacombe starts to feel very different surprisingly quickly. The South West Coast Path runs through rugged coastal heathland around Morte Point, with views back across Morte Bay towards Baggy Point.

Keep an eye on the sea as you walk. Grey seals can sometimes be spotted around the rocky coastline, with other marine wildlife also occasionally visible offshore.

You don’t need to complete a major hike either. The full Morte Point circular walk is around 4.6 miles, but it’s perfectly possible to walk as far as you fancy and turn back.

Stop at Barricane Beach

On your way back towards Woolacombe, drop down to Barricane Beach.

It’s a small cove rather than a vast sandy beach and is well known for the unusual shells that the Atlantic currents have carried onto its shoreline. The rocks also contain fossils, making it somewhere worth exploring rather than simply walking past.

Just treat the water with respect. Barricane is rocky and its currents can be very different from Woolacombe’s main beach.

By now you’ve also earned dinner.

Finish where you started

The temptation after a full day is to disappear indoors for the evening.

Don’t. At least not yet.

Grab some food, wander back towards the beach and see what the sky is doing. Woolacombe faces west over the Atlantic, which means a good summer evening can produce a spectacular sunset. And because the days are long, there’s time to eat before heading back onto the sand for the final part of the evening.

In fact you could combine the two: In some of our other blogs we explored local restaurants worth a visit, but for the ideal outdoor dinner in the summer, the Barricane Beach Curry Hut is our favourite. It's a temporary hut placed on Barricane Beach during the summer months and serves up some super-tasty Sri Lankan food right there on the beach.

Shoes off. Walk along the waterline. Maybe one last paddle?

Self-Catering Studio, Woolacombe, North Devon.

Just a stone’s throw from the award-winning golden sands of Woolacombe Beach, Westbeach One is the perfect studio getaway for couples and small families.