Season: summer
Woolacombe is one of North Devon’s most beautiful beaches, popular with families and surfers alike. The beach runs south from the town for about two miles. Cafes and shops are to hand and access is straightforward, either down one of the two paths or over the dunes to the beach. This is a fine place for a long stroll by the water. There is plenty of parking, so you can be on the sand in no time. With a convenient town at the north end of the beach, you can have the best of both worlds.
What the beach means to Mark.
A view from behind the beach at Woolacombe.
The beach is the most calming, relaxing, thought provoking place on earth. Listening to the powerful sounds of the sea there is no better place to let the pressures of life drift away. Here in Woolacombe we have one of the best beaches in Europe – three miles of beautiful, uninterrupted golden sands, coupled with majestic sunsets every evening.
The beach is the one place where I feel most at home – growing up in Lee Bay I loved visiting Woolacombe and Croyde, playing in the sand, collecting shells and swimming in the sea. Now here in Woolacombe, I feel very lucky to be able to go outside and see the fantastic waves, breath taking landscape and magnificent views out to Lundy Island.
In the summer when the sun is shining, there is no better place on earth to be – sun bathing on the beach, reading a book and going for a swim in the sea is my idea of pure heaven! In the colder winter months a brisk walk on the sandy beach will blow out the cobwebs and make you realise what is important in life… and what is better off forgotten.
The beach brings a smile to everyone’s faces, laughter to their ears and warming in their hearts – where else can you find all this?