Putsborough or Saunton Sands?
Choose between two North Devon beach days by checking the tide, wind, walking and your group’s needs before you go.
Quick choice
Choose by the shape of the day
Putsborough and Saunton Sands can both make a brilliant North Devon beach day, but they suit different plans. Choose Putsborough if your group wants to start at the southern end of Woolacombe Bay and keep the day centred on that part of the coast. Choose Saunton Sands if a long, open beach and room to spread out are a better fit. Neither is automatically the better family beach: today’s tide, wind, walking distance and the kit everyone is carrying matter more than a blanket verdict.
Before leaving, look at the live tide times and weather, then read the signs when you arrive. Conditions can change the shape of either day more than a comparison page can.
Day shape
The difference is the shape of the day
Putsborough is at the southern end of the sandy bay that runs towards Woolacombe. It can suit a group that wants to arrive, settle into that end of the bay and keep the plan focused there, rather than make the beach itself a long wander.
Saunton Sands is a long, open strand backed by Braunton Burrows. Its operator describes a three-mile beach with a sizeable tidal range. In practical terms, the waterline may be much farther from the top of the beach at some tide states than your family expected. The space can feel wonderful, but agree how far everyone is happy to walk before unpacking.
For a fuller look at each place, see our Putsborough beach guide and Saunton Sands guide. This page is about choosing between them, not keeping score.
Decision guide
Which beach fits your group?
Choose Putsborough when you want a contained plan
Putsborough may fit a group that wants a clear base for the day and is happy to choose its spot at the southern end of Woolacombe Bay. It is worth considering when the people travelling with you would rather avoid turning the beach into a long-distance walk, or when you want the outing to feel tied to one part of the coast.
That is not a promise of a short route to the sand. It depends on where you arrive, the tide and what you are carrying. Treat it as a decision about the scale of the day: check the route and shoreline, then decide whether it still feels manageable for the youngest or least mobile person in your group.
A more tucked-away starting point may also be the right emotional fit for your party. Wind is the important qualifier. Do not assume either beach will be sheltered: check the forecast, look at conditions on arrival and change the plan if it no longer feels comfortable.
Choose Saunton Sands when space matters more
Saunton may suit a group that values a broad, open setting and does not mind more walking. The operator’s accessibility information says the beach has a gentle slope and that the sea can retreat a long way at low tide. For families who enjoy a big expanse of sand, that can be part of the appeal. For someone with a buggy, a picnic, small children or limited energy, it is a reason to check the tide before committing.
The open setting can work well when your group wants to choose its own pace. But weather is central to the decision. If wind, rain or visibility would make a long beach walk tiring rather than enjoyable, use today’s forecast and the entrance signs to decide whether to go, shorten the visit or choose another plan.
Saunton is not the “easy” choice by default, just as Putsborough is not automatically the “quiet” one. The best fit is the beach that matches your group’s energy and the conditions in front of you.
Before you go
A five-minute check before you choose
Use this checklist instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all verdict:
- Tide: Which tide state will you have for the hours you plan to be there? Check today’s tides, then assess the distance to the water and available shoreline when you arrive.
- Wind and weather: Is the forecast comfortable for the people sitting, walking or carrying kit? Check current weather and reassess on the beach.
- Walking: Who is likely to find a long stretch of soft sand or a changing waterline hard work? Keep the whole group’s return journey realistic.
- Group needs: Are you planning a short, contained session or a long, open beach day? Putsborough often fits the first shape; Saunton often fits the second, but conditions can reverse the choice.
- Signs and safety information: Read current notices at the entrance and shoreline. They outrank any general guide.
If the answer to one of those checks is “not today”, that is useful information, not a failed outing. Our North Devon beaches guide can help you consider another beach-day plan without turning this comparison into a ranking.
On the day
If conditions change once you are there
Keep the day flexible. A shorter walk, a different spot or a change of beach can be the right call when the wind strengthens, the tide changes the usable sand or someone is running out of energy. Set a simple meet-up and return plan before people drift apart along a long beach, especially with children.
For anyone considering going into the water, follow current signs and any lifeguard directions. The RNLI advises beach visitors to understand risks from tides, waves and currents, and says that a red flag means not to enter the water. For broader practical reminders, see our beach safety guide.
Short answer
The final comparison
Choose Putsborough for a day based at the southern end of Woolacombe Bay, when that contained shape suits your group. Choose Saunton Sands for a long, open beach day, when you are comfortable with the walking that the tide and your chosen spot may involve. Check the tide, weather and current signs first; they are the final part of the comparison.
Sources
Sources checked, 15 July 2026
- Putsborough Sands official visitor information confirms Putsborough’s coastal setting and the sand running north towards Woolacombe. No operator claim about current parking, facilities or water conditions is used in this draft.
- Saunton Beach official visitor information describes Saunton as a three-mile beach backed by Braunton Burrows; its accessibility guide explains the gentle slope and that the sea can retreat a long way at low tide.
- Met Office Saunton Sands forecast identifies its tide station as nearby rather than beach-specific, so the draft gives no tide times or heights and directs readers to the site’s live tide section.
- RNLI beach-safety guidance supports the safety wording: check risks, follow flags and do not enter the water under a red flag.
Editorial boundary retained: fixed journey times, parking availability or costs, guaranteed shelter, dog-zone advice, patrol claims, facility assurances and water recommendations are excluded unless supported by dated primary evidence. Re-check operator pages, weather/tide conditions and entrance signs immediately before implementation/PR.