North Devon accommodation
How to choose your base in North Devon, what each area offers, and why Woolacombe suits most visitors best.
Where to stay
Choosing your base in North Devon
North Devon stretches from the Somerset border and Exmoor in the east to Hartland Point in the south-west. The main holiday bases are Woolacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Lynton and Lynmouth, and Ilfracombe, with Barnstaple as the practical town centre for the whole region. Which suits you depends on whether the priority is beach, surf, walking, or access to a wide range of destinations.
The broad rule: if the beach is the main reason for the trip, Woolacombe is the right base for most families and mixed groups. If you are primarily a surfer, Croyde is smaller and more surf-focused. If Exmoor walking is the main purpose, Lynton and Lynmouth puts you directly on the moor. Ilfracombe offers a larger town with beach access nearby.
Beach holidays
Woolacombe: best for families and beach holidays
Woolacombe has three miles of continuous sand, one of the longest beaches in the South West. All accommodation types are within walking distance of the beach, and the village has enough shops, cafes, and restaurants to keep a family occupied for a week without needing a car every day. The surf suits all abilities, from beginners to experienced surfers, and the choice of accommodation is wider here than anywhere else in North Devon.
Holiday parks and self-catering book out months in advance for peak school summer weeks and half terms. Book early.
Self-catering
Cottages and holiday homes for families and groups. See Woolacombe self-catering and Woolacombe cottages.
Holiday and caravan parks
Large parks with static caravans and touring pitches close to the beach. See holiday parks and caravan parks.
Hotels
A range of hotels in and around the village. See Woolacombe hotels.
Camping and glamping
Campsites and glamping pitches near the beach. See Woolacombe camping and Woolacombe glamping.
Surf trips
Croyde: best for surfers
Croyde is a smaller village roughly 8 miles south of Woolacombe with a beach that consistently produces the best surf in North Devon. Accommodation options are more limited — mainly B&Bs, surf camps, and a small number of self-catering properties near the beach — but the atmosphere is more surf-focused than anywhere else in the region.
If surfing is the primary purpose of the trip and other activities are secondary, Croyde is the better pick. For a family where some want to surf and others want a wider range of facilities, Woolacombe is more practical. See the Croyde guide and Croyde beach pages for more.
Quiet and remote
Saunton: low density and remote
Saunton has very limited accommodation, largely self-catering properties, and a quieter character than Woolacombe or Croyde. Saunton Sands beach is wide and impressive, with year-round dog access. The area draws a specific audience: visitors who want genuine quiet, and golfers visiting Saunton Golf Club, one of the top links courses in the UK. It is not a practical base for visitors wanting restaurants, shops, or evening activities.
Exmoor and walking
Lynton and Lynmouth: best for walkers
Lynton and Lynmouth sit at the eastern end of the North Devon coast, inside Exmoor National Park. The setting is dramatic, the walking is outstanding, and the water-powered cliff railway connecting the two villages is a visitor attraction in itself. Accommodation is mainly B&Bs and small hotels in both villages.
This is the right base for a trip centred on Exmoor walking, Watersmeet, the Valley of Rocks, or the South West Coast Path. There is no accessible sandy beach for swimming at Lynmouth. For Woolacombe as a day trip from Lynton, allow about 40 minutes by car. See the Lynton and Lynmouth guide for full details.
Town base
Ilfracombe: town base with beach access
Ilfracombe is the largest town on the North Devon coast with a wider range of accommodation than the smaller beach villages, including budget options. Tunnels Beaches is a short walk from the town centre and provides safe bathing in tidal pools. The town has a harbour, independent shops, restaurants, and galleries. Woolacombe is about 9 miles south-west (20 minutes by car).
Ilfracombe suits visitors who want a town atmosphere with beach access, or those looking for budget hotel accommodation. See the Ilfracombe guide and things to do in Ilfracombe for more detail.
Gateway town
Barnstaple: practical town stay
Barnstaple is North Devon's main market town and transport hub, roughly 13 miles from Woolacombe by road. It has the widest choice of budget and mid-range hotels in the region. It is less a holiday base and more a practical stop for visitors who do not need beach proximity, or who are mixing several days of coast and inland travel across the whole region.
What is available
Types of accommodation across North Devon
The region offers the full range, with the widest variety concentrated around Woolacombe and, to a lesser extent, Croyde.
- Self-catering cottages and holiday homes are the most popular choice for families and groups. Book early for any week in the school summer holidays.
- Caravan and holiday parks are common around Woolacombe, with several large parks close to the beach. Static caravans and touring pitches both available.
- B&Bs and guest houses are found throughout the region, with a strong tradition in smaller villages like Croyde and Lynton.
- Hotels are limited but exist in Barnstaple, Ilfracombe, and Woolacombe.
- Glamping has grown significantly in recent years, with yurts, shepherd's huts, and bell tents near the coast around Woolacombe and Croyde.
- Camping is well served near Woolacombe and Croyde, with campsites ranging from basic to well-facilitated. Book early for peak weeks.
Timing
When to book
Peak weeks are the school summer holidays (late July and August), half terms in May and October, and bank holiday weekends. Self-catering properties and holiday parks around Woolacombe and Croyde fill up months in advance for these periods. If you have specific dates in the school holidays, book as early as possible, particularly for properties sleeping six or more people.
Shoulder months offer much better availability and usually lower prices. May, June, and September are warm enough for beach days, the roads are quieter, and most accommodation types have good availability with less advance notice required. See the best time to visit Woolacombe guide for a full monthly breakdown. For North Devon holidays and North Devon family holidays, the shoulder season is often the best-value option.
For the recommended base for most visitors, start with the full Woolacombe accommodation overview.