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Things to do near Croyde Bay with kids

Things to do near Croyde Bay with kids. We have visited North Devon several times in the last couple of years. Enjoying having Croyde Bay Holiday. It is really hard to fall completely in the love with the area. It is the perfect holiday destination for kids. As there is so much to do both in Croyde itself also locally. We tended to split our time between adventures, outdoor activities and spending some time relaxing. I have pulled together some ideas of family-friendly things to do both in Croyde and also in North Devon. We have done all of these things while staying in Croyde Bay.

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Things to do while staying in Croyde Bay with kids

Croyde, Devon makes the perfect location for a family holiday. Because there is so much to do for the whole family right on the doorstep. You can not fail to fall in love with the relaxed vibe of the chocolate box village. The long golden sands of the beach stretch as far as the eye can see and the gentle sound of the waves. If you are visiting Crodye for a family holiday then these are our recommendations for the top things to do in Croyde.

Croyde Bay Beach

When we stayed in Croyde Bay we stayed at the Unison Croyde Bay Holiday Resort which backs straight onto Croyde beach. It goes without saying that Croyde Bay itself is a beautiful location with stunning sunsets and plenty of waves to keep the kids happy on their bodyboards. So make sure you schedule some down days where you can make the most of your location and explore the giant sand dunes and the mile stretch of sand. We spent several family days just enjoying the beach. Although it’s beautiful the sea can still be quite cold so make sure you pack wetsuits for the children, even in the Summer months we took shortie ones with us.

Try Rockpooling

There are some great rock formations on the left end of the beach (as you look toward the sea). We had a great day exploring these with a bucket and a net. Finding all sorts of sea creatures. The rocks are very uneven so I would recommend water shoes. You can read more about our rock pooling fun in Croyde, Devon.

Saunton Sands & Braunton Burrows

A short drive along the coast from Croyde, Devon takes you to Saunton beach which is literally only a few minutes away by car. It has three and a half miles of golden sands that stretch all the way to the Torridge Estuary. With brightly coloured beach hunts and located just in front of Braunton Burrows, the UNESCO designated sand dune biosphere. It makes a more commercialised alternative to Croyde Bay. Alternatively in the other direction, there is Woolacombe Beach and Putsborough sands. We are yet to visit these beaches although plan to on another visit after hearing some wonderful things about the beautiful beaches.

Try out a Surf School

Croyde is one of the best surfing beaches in the country. And for that reason many flock to catch a wave on the Atlantic Ocean in the summer months and enjoy the water sports on offer. Surf lessons are readily avaliable from Croyde surf academy. But if your kids are a little young for surfing Croyde Bay it works just as well with a body board. Both the boys had a great time enjoying the water. And because it has a long run-in, it means that the water is quite shallow close to shore so it is one of the best places for them to learn how to use a body board.

Enjoy Croyde Village

With its picturesque white-washed holiday cottages and cute village hall. You could be forgiven for things that you have stepped back in time. The centre of the village is truly beautiful with lots of opportunities to sit and watch the world go by. In the village of Croyde Devon there are plenty of places to eat and drink, including the Thatch pub which quite often hosts live music during the peak season and at weekends.

Have a Cream Tea

One of th other places we tried our during our visit is the lovely tea room of May Cottage. We sat outside surrounded by cottage garden flowers under large parasols. I can definitely recommend the Stilton tea cakes they were very yummy. The boys really enjoyed trying out a cream tea, although the question is always the same is it cream or jam first? The village also has its own ice cream shop with lots of choices over flavours and toppings which I think we visited almost every day.

Watch the Sun Set

Make sure you make time to watch the sunset and have a sundowner from the giant dunes on the beach. Croyde is well known for its spectacular sunsets and is a great way to wind down after a day on the sandy beaches. We found the best views to be on the large dunes directly behind Croyde Bay resort on the main beach. The boys really enjoyed running up and down them as the light started to fade. It became a bit of a tradition to visit them every night during our break regardless of how shattered we were from all the fresh sea air.

Things to do near Croyde Bay with kids

As well as spending time in Croyde. We like to get out and explore the local area and see new places. There is so much to do locally that it is hard to decide what to do first. When away with the children we tend to find one day out of the resort followed by one day at the resort or on the beach works well for us. We also put ideas to the vote to make sure everyone feels like they have an input in deciding on the things we get up to. All the ideas mentioned below are family-friendly and all are within an hour’s drive of Croyde Bay. The boys have been between the ages of four and eight during our stays.

Traditional seaside village near Croyde Bay – Clovelly

If you are looking for a traditional seaside village which is steeped in history. Has the cutest white houses I have ever seen, cobbled high streets and a fantastic pub then Clovelly needs to be on your list. Our eldest found it fascinating learning about how today’s villagers still transport goods around using little sledges. The harbour is a great place to catch crab when the tide is in and the grey stones make great towers. Not to mention the waterfall and of course, The Red Lion which makes the perfect spot for the parents to unwind by watching the tranquil waters as the children play. There is also an old lifeboat house which now houses a small museum.

A formal garden near Croyde Bay – RHS Rosemoor

If beautiful gardens are your thing then you will be pleased to know that RHS Rosemoor in Torrington is within driving distance. I do like an RHS garden as they always have something on for the children over the holiday season. Plus there is free entry for RHS members. Rosemoor has lots of different garden ‘rooms’ and areas to explore. Including a natural play area and sandpit in the pine woodland which was one of the boy’s favourite things.

If you forget your binoculars and magnifying glass to search for creepy crawlies. Then you will be pleased to know that they have some you can borrow. There are various places to pick up food and drink. When we visited we tried out the traditional Cornish pasties near the wildflower garden and swiftly followed with delicious West Country ice cream.

Croyde to Baggy Point Walk

An easy and local walk that you can walk straight from Croyde Bay village is Baggy Point. It is about a twenty-minute walk to the National Trust Carpark from the village centre. Then it is up to you how long you stay. We went along the bottom path but you can also climb the hill and do the complete circular walk. For those with little ones, you will be pleased to know that much of the park is buggy friendly. Just before you get to gate the gate there is a nature pond to explore. The boys also really enjoy geocaching which we managed to do a bit of along the way with several caches on the bottom path.

We really enjoyed walking along the bottom nature trails to the impressive headland and spotting various birdlife and watching rock climbers. Although we did not get lucky enough to see a grey seal. The rugged coastline of North Devon is beautiful and it makes a great walk for nature lovers. With great views of the dramatic cliffs

Where to see dolphins in North Devon

There is something magical about seeing dolphins in the wild. If you are looking for a wildlife spotting trip when you are on your Croyde Bay Holiday then you can catch a boat trip out of Ilfracombe. Ilfracombe is about a twenty-minute drive from Croyde. We went with Ilfracombe Sea Safari in a rib. The boat goes out towards the magical place of Lundy Island to spot puffins in their natural habitats. I can still hear the joy in the boy’s voices as we headed around the rocky outcrops. We were so lucky to see the puffins, even though they are seasonal, boat trips are run all year round.

But we did not just see the puffins, we also spotted grey seals and a pod of dolphins that decided to play in the wake of our boat. It was a really magical experience which has stayed with us and by far one of the best things we have done near Croyde.

Along with the boat ride, Ilfracombe itself is a pretty little village. With a small beach, port and Ilfracombe aquarium, all worth a visit on their own merit. Where you can also see a twenty-metre bronze statue called Verity. Which stands tall in the harbour and was designed by Damien Hurst.

$dolphins off of Ilfracombe$

$Ilfracombe Sea Safari Dolphin spotting$

The closest zoo to Croyde Bay – Exmoor Zoo

A zoo makes a great activity for a holiday with kids. The closest zoo to Croyde, Devon is Exmoor Zoo which is about a forty minutes drive. It has recently been designated a charity and is a lovely little zoo which specialises in big cats. If you visit you can even get a chance to see the beast of Exmoor. Or a beautiful black puma! I really like a zoo where the keepers are really friendly and on hand to answer any questions you may have. It is possible to get really close to a number of different species. We discovered a number that we have not seen before in even some of the larger mainstream zoos.

The highest and longest funicular railway powered by water in the world

When we visited Exmoor Zoo we also went to the Lynton & Lynmouth to try out the highest funicular railway in the UK. Lynmouth is a beautiful little village with grey pebble beaches and a sad past. Much of the village was destroyed in 1952 by a flood. However, since then it has been rebuilt and has a picturesque harbour of little white cottages. Lynton offers independent cafes and shops with little streets to wander. However, for children, the main attraction has to be the Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway. It is the highest and longest funicular railway powered by water in the world. The boys loved having a ride on it. You do not need to pre-book just turn up and get on even in high season. If you can try and travel at the back of the carriage as the views are spectacular.

Cycle the Tarka Trail

The Tarka Trail is a 180-mile, the figure of eight loop is inspired by the route travelled by Tarka. It takes you all around North Devon. As most of the villages and towns in the trail can be reached by public transport you can choose where to start your ride. If you do not want to cycle then you can also download some walking routes of the coastal path. The North route includes elements of the South West Coast Path which runs along the North Devon coastline.

Milky Way Adventure Park

There are several theme parks close by to Croyde in Devon. However, our favourite family theme park has to be the Milky Way Adventure Park. We first took Charlie when I was pregnant with Harry and he had such a great time that we have visited several times since. Located in Bideford it is about a forty-five-minute drive South. There is also the Big Sheep which is slightly closer by and home to North Devon’s highest and fastest rollercoaster.

As you can see there really is so much to do for families. All of which just adds to the reasons why Croyde, Devon makes such a great UK family holiday destination.