The centre of Woolacombe has a few shops, restaurants and pubs.  The Londis in the village stocks pretty much everything and West & Barton delicatessen, has a great range of fresh food. Tesco deliver to the apartment.  The shops sell a range of clothing and everything you could possibly need for the beach.  Surfing and body boarding gear can be bought, or hired.  If you don’t want to, there is absolutely no need to leave Woolacombe during your stay! Everything you need can be found in the village centre.

Cashpoint/Supermarkets

There is a cashpoint located outside Barton Pharmacy, 3 West Rd, Woolacombe EX34 7BW.  The Londis store is on West Road, Woolacombe EX34 7BW.  The nearest major supermarket is LIDL in Ilfracombe (EX34 8BS) or Tesco in Ilfracombe (EX34 8PF).

Restaurants/Cafes/ Pubs

Owners and chefs change all the time, so check TripAdvisor for the latest reviews.  Always book ahead in school holidays and at weekends! 

Top End – in Woolacombe

Watersmeet Hotel

Directly on the coastal road, between Woolacombe and Mortehoe.  Approximately 20-minute walk, or 5-minute drive from the apartment.  They do lovely afternoon tea, lunch, dinner etc.  Book ahead and do request a table with a sea view.

https://www.watersmeethotel.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 870 333

Woolacombe Bay Hotel

In the centre of Woolacombe.  Serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner. Book a table online or call to reserve.  Also has a day spa.

https://www.woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 870388

Mid-Range – in Woolacombe

The Beach House

Bar area and terrace, great for sunset.  Serves lunch and dinner, or just drinks.  Book online or call ahead.

https://www.beachhousewoolacombe.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 871692

Bar Electric

Please note dinning is walk in only.  Open for lunch and dinner.  Great views from sun terrace, lovely for sunset.  (Dog friendly)

https://www.barelectric.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 870429

The Tides Inn

Great views.  Open for lunch and dinner.  Book ahead. (Dog friendly)

https://www.tidesinnwoolacombe.co.uk/ 01271 871420

Local Pubs – Woolacombe

The Jube

Family friendly pub. serves coffee, lunch, dinner. 

https://thejube.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 870487

The Red Barn

Walk in’s only.  Right in the centre of Woolacombe, great sea views. (Dog friendly).

https://theredbarnwoolacombe.co.uk/ Tel: 01271 870264

The Captain’s Table

No advance bookings, walk in only.  Breakfast, lunch, dinner, cream teas.  (Dog friendly)

https://thecaptainstablewoolacombe.co.uk/Tel: 01271 870618                                                                           

Captain Jacks

Live music, beer garden and food. (Dogs allowed in the garden)

https://jackswoolacombe.co.uk/Tel: 01271 871395

Coffee Shops – Woolacombe

 Meraki Coffee Co

Serving breakfast, lunch, brunch (Dog friendly)

The Beachcomber Café

On the right as you walk onto the beach (Dog friendly)

Barricane Beach Café

Barricane is the shingle beach to the right of Woolacombe, on the road to Mortehoe.  Dogs on leads, don’t miss the Sri Lankan curries on the beach, 5pm onwards May-Sept bring your own beer and arrive early as they’re very popular.  At low tide, the beach opens up to reveal a golden sand beach called Combesgate.

Take Aways – Woolacombe

Woolacombe Bay Pizza Co,

Dudley House, South Street

Great pizza, delivery or collection, gets busy so order well ahead of when you want to eat!

https:www.woolacombepizza.co.uk/Tel: 01271 871222 

South Street Food, South Street

Burgers, Fish and Chips

Woolacombe Fryer, 1 Barton Road

Traditional chippie

Other Restaurants and Cafés in the Surrounding Area

• Hobb’s Bistro, Croyde
• Miss Fea’s Café, Mortehoe
• New Coast Kitchen, Croyde, the food definitely has the wow factor, book well in advance if possible
• The Beach Café, Downend Carpark, Croyde. Amazing curries, very reasonably priced, to be eaten on benches overlooking Croyde Bay, or taken away.
• The Chicester Arms, Mortehoe
• The Porthole Café, Marine Drive, Woolacombe (dog friendly)
• The Thatch, Croyde (dog friendly)
• The Rock, Georgeham (dog friendly, great food)
• The King’s Arms, Georgeham (dog friendly, great food)
• The Depot, Mullacott, Ilfracombe
• Lee Meadow Farm & Café, Mullacott

Surf Lessons

Woolacombe; Hunter surf school (Woolacombe) https://www.surfingwoolacombe.co.uk (01271 – 870543/ Woolacombe Surf Centre http://www.woolacombesurfcentre.com (01271 871533).

Putsborough; Nick Thorm http://www.nickthorn.com ((01271 871337)

Beaches

Woolacombe

Is obviously on your doorstep.  Miles of golden sand.  Everything you need for the beach and surfing is on sale in the village.  You can walk from the apartment, or drive and park in the centre.  Great for kids to play on the beach, body board, surf etc.  Dog friendly year-round, apart from the very first part of the beach, which is clearly signed.  Surf lessons take place on the beach and can be booked in advance.

Putsborough

Putsborough is the beach at the other end of Woolacombe.  It can be walked to either along the beach, or over the cliffs.  There’s a café and beach shop there.  The beach is stunning, great for playing in the sea with kids, rock climbing etc.  If you’re going for the day and would rather drive, it’s about 15 minutes from Woolacombe, charges vary but approximately £10 for the day.  Surf lessons on the beach, book ahead.

Croyde Bay

Croyde is the major surfing beach.  It’s great if surfing is your thing and considered a surfing mecca, with some of the best waves in the South West.  It’s also lovely to walk on, or just to watch the surfers.  It’s no dogs apart from in the sand dunes.  There’s a strong rip tide, so if you go with kids, be really careful in the water.  Croyde village is great to wander round, either for something to eat, a visit to the delicatessen, or there’s a small market on a few times a week.  Approximately a 15-minute drive from the flat.

Saunton Sands

Big flat gorgeous beach, just before Braunton.  Popular with surfers and families due to the long stretch of water, well suited to beginner surfers and kids who want to play in the waves.  There’s a café, beach shops, parking etc.  Approximately 25 minutes from the flat.  Dog friendly year-round.

Local Walks

There are a few walking books on the book shelf, your very welcome to borrow them, but please return them for others to use.

Walks from the Apartment

You can walk from the apartment to the beach, it’s about five minutes downhill. The first part of Woolacombe beach is a dog free zone from April to November.  This is a very small section, as you first get to the beach and is clearly signed.  First thing in the morning and last thing at night, people tend to ignore it.  If you walk along the road for about one minute, you can access the beach and it is then dog friendly up to and including Putsborough – the entire rest of beach - so miles of golden sand to walk on.  Walking either along the cliff path, or the beach itself is beautiful. 

Putsborough has a lovely café, great for coffee, snacks, lunch etc, or you can walk in-land slightly and go to Georgeham.  Both the Rock Inn and the Kings Arms are dog friendly and serve great food.   From Putsborough, you can also continue over the cliffs to Croyde Bay, the views of the ocean are stunning.  When you get to Croyde the Thatch  is great, for good basic pub food and is dog friendly.

Alternatively, if you turn right when you walk down the steps from the apartment, you can walk straight along the road, going right when you get to the coast and walk from Mortehoe, over the cliffs to Ilfracombe.  It’s rugged and beautiful, sometimes you can spot seals from Morte Point, when you get to Ilfracombe, there are several fish and chip places around the harbour, all dog friendly.

Braunton Burrows/Crow Point

One of the UK’s largest sand dune systems.  Great for walks.  At times cows are grazed in the burrows, if they are there when you visit, dogs need to be on leads. Park either at the Sandy Lane carpark EX33 2NX, or Crow Point EX33 2NX.  Watch out for adders especially in springtime.  They’re reappearing and are cold, hungry and grumpy and can give a dog a nasty bite.

Exmoor

If you have time and fancy a day away from the coast, Lynton and Lynmouth are lovely to explore.  Valley of the Rocks, is stunning (car park on right as you drive in), the walking there is beautiful.  If you drive on through Exmoor, make sure you go over Countisbury Hill, this is where your most likely to see the ponies.  Tarr Steps is another lovely walk.  Tarr Farm Inn does great food, including cream teas.  Doone Valley is also stunning.

Heddon’s Mouth

There’s a lovely circular walk alongside the river Heddon, to Heddon’s mouth, where river meets sea.  Its hours walk.  Park at EX31 4PM.  Details can be found on;

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley/trails/heddons-mouth-circular-walk

Hunters Inn

Heddon Valley, Exmoor.  EX31 4PY.  Great pub.  You can park and walk from here.

https://www.thehuntersinnexmoor.co.uk/

The National Trust have three walks on their website that can be done from here;

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/heddon-valley/lists/three-great-dog-walks-from-the-hunters-inn

Hartland Peninsular

Hartland peninsular ‘s entire area is AONB.  The walks are beautiful.  Hartland Abbey and Gardens are great to explore.  The Wreckers pub at the most northerly tip, is good for food and amazing sea views.

https://hartlandquayhotel.co.uk/

Local Town’s

Braunton

Braunton is reputedly the largest village in the UK.  It has a Tesco and a carpark in the village centre, with a range of shops, restaurants etc.

Barnstaple

Is the nearest large town.  It has a very reasonable shopping centre.  The pannier market is fun to wander round.