Croyde Beach

Croyde Bay is a crescent of golden sand backed by dunes in a small village bay on the North Devon coast, rated as one of the best surfing beaches in the UK and reliably busy from Easter through to October with surfers, bodyboarders and families. The village of Croyde is immediately behind the dunes and has developed around the surfing trade: surf schools, board hire, wetsuit rental, cafes and pubs are all concentrated in a small area within a short walk of the beach. The RNLI operates a lifeguard service from May through September, with cover also on October weekends and at Easter. The beach faces south-west and the combination of swell, sand and dune system gives Croyde a character and quality that few beaches on the South Coast can match.

Dogs are not permitted on the beach between 1 May and 30 September, which covers the entire main tourist season. From 1 October to 30 April the beach is open to dogs, and a surf beach in autumn and early winter with a working village behind it is a different and rewarding experience: fewer people, better light, and the same quality of sand and sea. Car parks at either end of the beach are available and the village is compact and walkable. Assistance dogs are permitted year round. For dog owners visiting the North Devon coast in summer, nearby Putsborough Sands has partial year-round access and Hele Bay near Ilfracombe operates with no restrictions throughout the year.