North Devon Road Trip Itinerary: 3 Days from Woolacombe
A flexible 3-day North Devon coast itinerary from Woolacombe, with Croyde, Saunton, Morte Point, Ilfracombe, Lundy notes and 5-day add-ons.
Route overview
Use Woolacombe as your base
Woolacombe is a useful base for a North Devon road trip because the area’s best coast days sit close together: wide sandy beaches to the south, rocky headlands and harbour towns to the north, and Exmoor or the Hartland coast within reach for a longer stay. The caveat is that “nearby” is not always quick. Narrow lanes, summer traffic, beach car parks, and tide-dependent plans can all stretch a day.
Day 1
Arrive in Woolacombe, walk Woolacombe Beach, then finish with a Barricane Beach sunset.
Day 2
Visit Croyde, Saunton Sands, Braunton Burrows and Barnstaple.
Day 3
Walk Morte Point, visit Ilfracombe, or make a full-day Lundy Island trip if sailings fit.
Day 1
Arrive in Woolacombe
Start gently. After the drive into North Devon, use the first afternoon to get your bearings in Woolacombe rather than rushing straight back into the car. Woolacombe Beach is the obvious first stop: a broad sweep of sand with Baggy Point at one end and Morte Point at the other.
Families may prefer to stay near the village end for easier access to facilities and parking. Walkers can head further south towards Putsborough for a quieter feel, but remember that the return distance feels longer after a travel day. For sunset, move to Barricane Beach.
Day 2
Croyde, Saunton Sands, Braunton Burrows and Barnstaple
Day 2 is the beach-and-dunes loop south of Woolacombe. Leave early in peak summer if you want an easier run into the car parks, especially around Croyde and Saunton.
Morning: Croyde for surf or beach time
Drive first to Croyde, one of North Devon’s best-known surf villages. Do not overpack the morning; parking or beach access can take longer than expected in school holidays.
Midday: Saunton Sands for space
Continue to Saunton Sands. Saunton is the contrast to Croyde: huge, open, and ideal for a long, flat beach walk.
Afternoon: Braunton Burrows and Barnstaple
Behind Saunton sits Braunton Burrows, the dune system at the heart of the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere. Stick to clear paths, avoid trampling sensitive dune vegetation, and take water on hot days. For a late lunch or town break, continue to Barnstaple.
Day 3
Morte Point, Ilfracombe or Lundy Island
Day 3 has two possible shapes. If Lundy sailings are available on your date, make Lundy the main event. If not, use this as your headland-and-harbour day.
The Morte Point walk is one of the best ways to understand the coast around Woolacombe. Choose a shorter out-and-back if you have children, limited time or poor weather, and keep dogs under close control near cliff edges and livestock.
After the walk, drive to Ilfracombe for a harbour wander and Verity. A Lundy Island day trip is the standout add-on, but it needs timetable, port, availability and sailing-update checks before you build a day around it.
5-day add-ons
Lynton, Lynmouth, Clovelly and Hartland Quay
Day 4: Valley of the Rocks, Lynton and Lynmouth
For a 5-day North Devon itinerary, push east towards Exmoor. Pair Valley of the Rocks with Lynton and Lynmouth rather than rushing back immediately.
Day 5: Clovelly and Hartland Quay
Start with Clovelly, the privately owned historic village known for its steep, cobbled, traffic-free main street. Continue to Hartland Quay only if the weather is clear and your group is comfortable with rugged coast.
Driving notes
Distances look shorter than they feel
Distances around Woolacombe can look short on a map, but driving is often slower than visitors expect. Lanes narrow quickly away from main roads, summer traffic builds around beaches, and one car-park queue can reshape the day.
Do not stack every stop into one or two days. North Devon is best when you leave space for weather, tides, surf, and the reality that beach days take time.
Sources checked
Local facts used in this itinerary
- Landmark Trust Lundy timetable and Lundy bookings.
- National Trust Morte Point and Bull Point circular walk.
- UNESCO North Devon Biosphere and Braunton Burrows.
- Saunton Beach dog walking and North Devon Council beaches.
- Visit Ilfracombe Verity, Exmoor Valley of Rocks, Clovelly FAQs and Explore Devon Hartland Quay.