About
Woolacombe Sands, three miles of surfing beach backed by dunes on the North Devon coast, was given to the National Trust in 1909 by Rosalie Chichester of Arlington Court in memory of her parents. The Trust cares for the beach, the dunes of Woolacombe Warren, Woolacombe Down and Potters Hill behind them, and the Marine Drive car park along the sands. Surfing arrived in the early 1900s, the young Agatha Christie among its 1920s enthusiasts, and in 1943 the beaches trained American troops for D-Day. The dunes shelter orchids, adders, lizards, stonechats and linnets, with red ruby cattle and Exmoor ponies grazing the Down. Reviewers describe Marine Drive as a huge car park with sea views, a cafe halfway along and an easy walk through the dunes to the beach. One tip from visitors: the 6-metre vehicle length limit is measured at the entrance. Dogs are welcome under close control on the beach and dunes. The one-mile beach walk loops from Marine Drive through the dunes and along the sand.
Check today’s timesSee all times
- CountrysideDawn to dusk
- Marine Drive Car Park08:00 – 17:00
- Woolacombe Down Car ParkDawn to dusk
Opening times may change at short notice.
The National Trust calendar lists the countryside and Woolacombe Down car park as open dawn to dusk and Marine Drive car park 08:00 to 17:00 every day to the end of 2026.
Marine Drive car park has a 6-metre restriction on vehicle length.
Uneven ground; the furthest beach entrance (away from the town) is easier to access. Accessible toilet at the Porthole cafe; designated parking, level access to the food outlet, ramped access, seating and wheelchairs available. Trampers can be hired through the Tourist Information Centre.
Dogs are welcome under close control on the beach walk and dunes; on leads through the caravan site on the Combesgate walk and on the Ilfracombe Torrs walk. A National Trust dog bin and bench stand at the top of the dunes below Marine Drive.
Photo: Woolacombe village seen across the sands from the beach. Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:North_Devon_,_Woolacombe_View_-_geograph.org.uk_-_2871603.jpg. Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0. Resized and cropped for display; derivatives retain the source licence.
Dogs at the location: Allowed. Dogs are allowed across the Trust's Woolacombe coast; the place page lists 'Dogs allowed' without restriction and the trail pages welcome dogs under close control.
Dog walks in the grounds: Allowed with restrictions. Dogs can walk the beach, dunes, Potters Hill and Woolacombe Down under close control, free of charge; on a lead through the caravan site on the Combesgate walk and on leads on the Ilfracombe Torrs walk.
Leads: Under close control on the beach, dunes and Down; on a lead through the caravan site (Combesgate walk) and on the Ilfracombe Torrs walk.
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Walking routes5 routes
Woolacombe beach walk(opens the full route on the National Trust site)
WalkmoderateDogs, with restrictions1.6 km distance
