Croyde: Coast, Trails and Village History

Croyde combines a distinctive coastal landscape with short and longer opportunities to explore the village and its surroundings. Croyde Beach is bordered by gently curving sand dunes and striking cliffs. At the same time, traditional thatched cottages and winding lanes shape the villagescape. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home can choose between active days on the coast, walks and a quieter exploration of the village.

Coastal Landscape and Trails around Croyde

Croyde lies within the North Devon National Landscape. One of the area’s notable landscape features is Baggy Point, which lies in a central area of the Saunton to Baggy Point Coast SSSI. The easily accessible path at Baggy Point offers far-reaching views towards Lundy Island. For a manageable outing, the short circular route at Baggy Point is suitable: it is 2 miles (3.2 km) long. Take this distance into account when planning your day.

Another option is the Croyde and Saunton Down AONB Walk. It starts and ends at Croyde Village Car Park. The National Trust Baggy Point car park is located close to Croyde Beach. These different starting points help with planning: you can choose a short circular route or set aside a longer walk as a separate focus for the day. National Cycle Network Route 27 runs through the Croyde and Georgeham area between Ilfracombe and Barnstaple.

Surfing, Rock Pools and Special Discoveries

Croyde Bay has a faster wave and is therefore more popular with advanced shortboard surfers. Croyde also has several surf schools offering beginner courses. This makes it possible to accommodate different interests within a travel group: while experienced surfers focus on the wave conditions, beginners can attend a course. Accommodation in Croyde is especially suitable for your plans if you would like to combine these coastal experiences with walks and village discoveries.

The rock pools beside Croyde’s golden sandy beach are popular for exploring tidal pools. This is a distinct way of experiencing the coast and placing small discoveries at the centre of the visit. Croyde also has a toad colony described as the third largest in the country. This description forms part of the area’s distinctive natural history, without implying a specific visitor attraction.

Village Character and History

A large part of present-day Croyde dates from the 17th century. Together with the thatched cottages and winding lanes, this creates a villagescape that clearly differs from a purely beach-focused stay. The history of Baggy Point is also unusual: seven of the ten dummy bunkers built for D-Day training have survived there. Those interested in historical traces can combine this aspect with the coastal landscape and trails.

To travel to Croyde, bus route 308 runs from Barnstaple and Braunton to Croyde. Menus in the area around Croyde often feature local produce. This means that, alongside the beach, walking and surfing, travel plans can also include regional cuisine. Whether you prefer a short circular route, a day of surfing, exploring tidal pools or village history, your choice of accommodation should match the focus you want to give your trip.

Other Places for Orientation

If you would also like to compare other destinations, you can find Lapford, Meshaw, Dartmouth, Bideford, Hemyock, Blackawton, Dalwood and Otterton here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.