South West Coast Path: Woolacombe to Croyde

The stretch of South West Coast Path between Woolacombe and Croyde is one of the most rewarding sections of the entire 630-mile national trail, combining spectacular clifftop walking with glorious beach views and a constantly changing panorama of the North Devon coast. The walk runs for around four miles in each direction, following the path as it climbs up from the southern end of Woolacombe Bay, traverses the dramatic headland above Baggy Point and descends into the surf village of Croyde, with views that simply get better with every step.

From the top of the clifftop above Putsborough, the views back over Woolacombe Bay are quite breathtaking, taking in the full three-mile sweep of the beach from Morte Point in the north to the great dome of Baggy Point in the south. On a summer afternoon, with the sun catching the waves and the sea going through its full range of blues and greens, this is one of the finest views in Devon and one that tends to bring walkers to a complete stop.

The path then curves around Baggy Point itself, a broad headland of pale rock that has been shaped by the sea into a series of dramatic ledges and overhangs. The rocks here are popular with climbers, and the seabird colonies on the lower cliffs are excellent, with fulmars, shags and herring gulls nesting on the ledges throughout the spring and summer. Grey seals are frequently seen in the water below, and occasional pods of dolphins can be spotted further offshore.

The descent into Croyde is thoroughly rewarding, with the village and its beach coming into view as the path drops down through the dunes. Croyde itself has excellent cafes, a very good pub and the kind of easy-going, surf-soaked atmosphere that makes it one of the most enjoyable villages on the North Devon coast to spend an hour or two.

A linear walk with the option of catching a seasonal bus back, or simply the same route in reverse.