Best Walks Around Woolacombe

Woolacombe is one of the easiest places in North Devon to turn a beach day into a proper coastal walk. You can keep it short with a flat stroll across the sands, climb to Mortehoe for views and a pub stop, or take on the South West Coast Path towards Croyde and Baggy Point.

The big practical difference is terrain. Beach and dune walks are simple at low tide; the headlands are more exposed, often muddy after rain, and have unfenced cliff edges. With children, choose the route by energy level first, then check the Woolacombe weather before headland walks — wind and rain make exposed cliff paths significantly harder.

Quick route chooser

Shortest headland walk

Morte Point from Mortehoe gives the biggest scenery for the least distance. Expect about 1.5 to 2.5 miles depending on how far around the point you go.

Best with a buggy

The flat beach at low tide, Marine Drive and the National Trust's Woolacombe accessible routes are the easiest choices. Most cliff paths are not buggy-friendly.

Best longer walk

Woolacombe to Croyde is the classic bigger day out. The Coast Path gives this as a 6-mile shorter option on the Woolacombe to Braunton section.

Woolacombe to Mortehoe village walk

Distance: about 2 miles one way, depending on where you start in Woolacombe.
Difficulty: moderate for families because it climbs from beach level to the village.
Time: 45 to 75 minutes one way with children and photo stops.
Start: Woolacombe Esplanade or the north end of the beach.
Finish: Mortehoe village, with the option to continue to Morte Point.

This is the walk to choose when you want views without committing to a full coast path day. From Woolacombe, head north towards Combesgate and up towards Mortehoe. The reward is the view back across the whole bay, plus a proper village stop at the top.

For families, the key thing is the climb. It is manageable for primary-age children, but it feels much steeper at the end of a beach day. Treat Mortehoe as the destination, have a drink or lunch stop, then walk back downhill or arrange a lift if small legs are done.

Parking is easiest at Woolacombe if you want the climb first, or at Mortehoe village car park if you want to start high and walk down towards the bay. Dogs are fine on public paths but should be under close control around livestock and cliff edges.

Morte Point from Mortehoe

Distance: about 1.5 to 2.5 miles for a short Morte Point loop; 4.6 miles for the fuller South West Coast Path Morte Point route.
Difficulty: moderate. The short version is manageable, but paths are uneven and exposed.
Time: 1 to 2 hours for a family-paced short loop.
Access point: Mortehoe village car park, EX34 7DT; National Trust gives the nearby grid reference as SS458453.
Highlights: dramatic rocks, Atlantic views, grey seals close to shore, seabirds and open coastal heath.

Morte Point is the walk most visitors remember. The headland feels wild very quickly, with jagged rocks below and big views back towards Woolacombe, Baggy Point and Lundy on a clear day. National Trust route notes also highlight Atlantic grey seals close to the shore, so take binoculars if you have them.

With children, keep the route simple: start in Mortehoe, follow signed paths towards the point, pause at the safer viewpoints, then loop back before everyone gets tired. The fuller Coast Path route has steep sections and steps, so it suits confident walkers more than toddlers.

This is not a buggy route. Use sturdy shoes, keep away from cliff edges and put dogs on a lead where the path narrows or livestock is nearby. It can feel much colder and windier on the point than it did in Woolacombe village.

Baggy Point from Croyde

Distance: 2.6 miles for the National Trust circular via Middleborough Hill; 4.5 miles for the South West Coast Path Baggy Point walk.
Difficulty: easy to moderate on the shorter route; moderate if you take the longer Coast Path option.
Time: about 1 hour 15 minutes for the shorter circular, longer with children and beach stops.
Access point: National Trust Baggy Point car park, Moor Lane, Croyde, EX33 1PA.
Highlights: clifftop views, Croyde Bay, Woolacombe Sands, wildflowers, seabirds and rock-pooling around Croyde at low tide.

Baggy Point is the best option if you are already spending part of the day in Croyde, or if you want a walk with big views but less climbing than Morte Point. The shorter National Trust circular is a good family target: it has clear route notes, a realistic distance, and enough interest to keep children moving.

The first part from the Baggy Point car park is the most family-friendly section. Continue only as far as the group is enjoying it; you do not have to complete the longer circuit to get the views. On calm low-tide days, combine it with Croyde beach or rock-pooling, then head back before the wind picks up on the headland.

Dogs are welcome on leads on the National Trust route. The Trust warns about steep, unstable cliff edges, so this is a close-control walk rather than a free-run route.

Woolacombe to Croyde coast path

Distance: about 6 miles one way by the South West Coast Path's shorter Woolacombe to Croyde option.
Difficulty: moderate and best for stronger walkers, older children or families used to coast paths.
Time: 3 to 4 hours one way at a relaxed pace, more if you stop at Putsborough or Baggy Point.
Access point: Woolacombe village, Marine Drive or Putsborough depending on how much beach you want to include.
Highlights: Woolacombe Sands, Putsborough, Baggy Point, Croyde Bay and big open views across the North Devon coast.

This is the route for a proper walking day. From Woolacombe, you can use the beach at low tide or stay higher on the dunes and coast path towards Putsborough, then continue around Baggy Point before dropping into Croyde. It links three classic North Devon beach landscapes in one walk.

It is too much for most younger children as an out-and-back. Make it work by planning transport: one adult takes the bus or taxi back, or you arrange a lift from Croyde. If the tide is high, avoid assuming the beach will be an easy flat shortcut; soft sand and narrowed sections can slow everyone down.

Carry water, layers and snacks. Once you leave the main village areas, you should treat the walk as open coast rather than a promenade.

Short beach and dune walks from Woolacombe

Main beach low-tide stroll: 20 to 60 minutes. Flat, sandy and easy with children when the tide is well out.
Woolacombe to Putsborough sands: about 3 miles one way along the beach at low tide. Best for older children who enjoy a long, simple walk.
Marine Drive and dunes: flexible short loops with views over the bay and easier surfaces than the cliff paths.
Combesgate and Barricane: short, scenic beach-to-cove walks from the north end of Woolacombe, best around low tide.

For families with toddlers, start with the beach rather than the cliffs. Low tide creates a huge, firm walking surface, so children can run ahead without the same edge hazards. The trade-off is exposure: there is little shade, and the return walk can feel long into a headwind.

Check the tide before committing to a long beach walk. The sand is at its easiest around low water; closer to high tide you may be pushed onto softer sand, dunes or road sections.

Parking, dogs and practical notes

Woolacombe: beach car parks and roadside short-stay parking serve the village and main beach. Marine Drive car park is useful for dunes and the south end of the bay.
Mortehoe: use the village car park for Morte Point and Bull Point routes.
Croyde: use the National Trust Baggy Point car park for Baggy Point routes.
Dogs: Woolacombe beach has seasonal dog zones from Good Friday or 1 April, whichever is earlier, until 30 September between 9am and 6pm. Check signs on arrival.
Map: OS Explorer 139 covers Woolacombe, Mortehoe, Baggy Point and the surrounding North Devon coast.

On any headland walk, the best family rule is simple: stay back from cliff edges, keep dogs close, and turn around while everyone still has energy. Coastal weather changes quickly, and the walk back is often slower than the walk out.