But the journey there is not for the faint-hearted
Woody Bay beach (Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
Even on a weekday, the West Country’s best beaches are often still populated by summer tourists, surfers or dog walkers.
The same cannot be said for Woody Bay in North Devon, where we saw not a soul during our brief visit on a sunny Monday morning in June. Having arrived sweaty, swigging from a water bottle, I can understand why – the trek to get here is no walk in the park.
In fact, it’s a steep, winding path through woodland, with only glimpses of the sea beyond the thick foliage. There is a lay-by that serves as a small but free car park nearby on Sir Robert’s Path, but even from there it is still about a half-hour walk down.
With every step I was dreading the return journey uphill, and it struck me that we only walked past one other person the entire time. Amazingly there were a few cars down the bottom when we neared the beach itself, next to a holiday cottage, so there were signs of life despite its location – though I wouldn’t fancy braving the drive along the narrow, pothole-covered path and visitors are also urged not to attempt it.
The path eventually leads to an opening with stunning views of the next bay along and the still sea in between, which was a gorgeous shade of turquoise even when the sun went in. The last time we visited, there was a narrow footpath leading to a platform above the water with amazing views, including of a submerged pier that was built in 1895 but became lost to time.
The rocky access to the beach at Woody Bay is just to the right of this photo(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
Sadly the path has since been closed off to the public, with a shiny padlock firmly in place. The National Trust, which manages most of the land around Woody Bay, advised that the viewing point is privately-owned by a huge nearby property and it is not sure of the reason for closure.
The fenced-off footpath that leads to a platform viewing point overlooking Woody Bay(Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
We turned instead to the short but rocky climb down to the beach itself, which is beautifully rugged and has even been likened to Hawaii. Despite being known locally as a lovely spot for a swim, it was absolutely deserted during our visit.
The tide was quite high so only a sliver of the shore was visible, and we didn’t risk getting any closer to the waves. Last time, we went paddling and were able to get right up close to the small waterfall that trickles down the cliff face, but this time we just admired it from afar.
File image of the waterfall at Woody Bay Devon(Image: Getty/Woolfenden)
Wild swimmers have recommended Woody Bay for the man-made Victorian pool that apparently sits among the rocks, although we didn’t manage to spot it – presumably it’s revealed when the tide pulls out.
We hadn’t planned to spend long here but did wish we had brought along a picnic to enjoy the view with. Anyone planning to do the same should definitely take a carrier bag for their rubbish, though, as well as all their supplies. This secluded spot is so unspoilt that there’s not even a bin here, as far as we could see.
We brought our baby carrier instead of our pram and were glad of that decision, as the terrain would have been very tough to manage. A major downside of the access means Woody Bay is not inclusive for those with disabilities or even, realistically, for many families given its lack of facilities such as toilets, a cafe or lifeguard.
If that doesn’t bother you, though, the leg workout is worth it to escape the crowds and feel like you’ve claimed your own little slice of paradise.