Woolacombe with Little Ones: Beach Bliss (and Insider Tips!)

We’ve just got back from a lovely holiday down in Woolacombe, it was exactly what we needed – fresh sea air, miles of sandy beach, and enough going on to keep our little explorers happy (most of the time, anyway!).

Where We Stayed: A Quiet Little Gem

Instead of being in the hustle and bustle, we opted for a quieter spot and stayed at Willingcott Valley Holiday Village. We were in one of the Vista properties (number 7, to be exact) and it was spectacular. There are eight of these properties, and they’re perfect for a bit of peace after a busy day. The on-site host company was brilliant, ever attentive to any and all of our requests. A massive plus for us was the outdoor heated pool, which you could book for a private slot for an hour or two – an absolute game-changer with little ones! Add in a small playground and loads of green space for them to run around in, and it was the perfect, quiet base for our adventures.

Beach Days for the Win

The main event, of course, is the beach, and it’s absolutely incredible. Seriously, the pictures don’t do it justice. Soft sand that’s perfect for little ones to toddle on (and for us grown-ups to relax on!). We spent hours building sandcastles, splashing in the waves, and generally just soaking up the atmosphere. It felt like a proper escape.

There are beach refreshment wagons dotted around, so grabbing a quick ice cream or a cuppa was easy. And there’s a little cluster of beach shops with everything from buckets and spades to beach toys and even a takeaway cafe – handy for grabbing a quick pasty or two for lunch!

One thing I really appreciated was the open shower near the beach. Perfect for rinsing off sandy toes and salty hair before heading back to the car. Honestly, these small things make all the difference when you’ve got little ones in tow.

Top-Notch Pub Grub

While Woolacombe itself has plenty of places to eat, we found some absolute treasures in the nearby village of Georgeham. We went for a Sunday lunch at both The Kings Arms and The Rock Inn, and they were superb. We’re talking brilliant service and seriously tasty food. A special shout-out has to go to the beef at The Rock Inn – it was particularly tender and delicious! Highly recommend both if you’re after a proper good pub meal.

Parking: A Word of Warning!

Okay, so here’s a little heads-up. Parking at the main beach car park can be a bit… interesting. It all revolves around 1pm. There’s a flat rate for exiting before 1pm and another flat rate for exiting after 1pm, rather than an hourly rate. So, if you’re only planning a short visit, it’s worth bearing this in mind. We learned the hard way – let’s just say we paid more for parking than we did for lunch one day! Oops.

Looking Ahead

They’re currently doing some work on the shops and restaurants at the north side of the beach. It looked like quite a big project, but it’ll probably be finished ready for next summer. It’ll be exciting to see what they do with it!

Overall, we had a brilliant time in Woolacombe. It’s a fantastic place for a family holiday, and we’re already planning our next trip! If you have any questions about taking little ones to Woolacombe, just drop a comment below. I’m always happy to share what we’ve learned!