Croyde and surfing are synonymous with one another
Things To Do
Enjoy lunch at the Sandleigh Tea Room and Garden, a National Trust tenanted property where much of the produce comes from the walled garden. There are great homemade pasties, cakes and more – plus, of course, cream teas.
Visit the Museum of British Surfing at nearby Braunton. This bustling town has the UK’s only museum dedicated to surfing – the home of UK surf history and a celebration of surfing heritage.
Explore the strange, lunar-looking landscape of the sand dunes at Braunton Burrows. A vast swathe of grass-covered lumps and bumps, these dunes look very different to those that back the beach at Croyde. Braunton Burrows, one of the biggest dune systems in the UK, is at the core of North Devon’s UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
Go walking and take in the outstanding views from Baggy Point on a circular walk – the small office at the National Trust car park has recommendations for routes to follow. Various activities from here also take place throughout the year, such as Easter egg hunts for children.
Visit Barnstaple where you can hire a bike to take in some of the Tarka Trail cycle route. Or enjoy a spot of retail therapy – this is the largest town in this part of Devon.
Getting There
To get to Croyde from the north and east, take the M4/M5 to junction 27, then the A361 to Barnstaple. Avoid the A39 coast road through Exmoor National Park as this has some 1:4 hills at Porlock, Countisbury and Barbrook that are not suitable for caravans. That said, this is a spectacular road to enjoy the Exmoor coastline on a day out once you’ve pitched your caravan at the campsite.
The A361 is a reasonably fast, straight road with sections of dual-carriageway (and speed cameras) plus plenty of places to pull off for a cuppa. Beyond Barnstaple the approach roads to Croyde – the A361 and the B3231 – become narrower but perfectly passable with the appropriate speed. Anticipate possible delays at the traffic lights in Braunton, four miles south east of Croyde.