The train stops at Barnstaple, and the beaches are another 6 to 14 miles on. Which beach suits what, how long each takes by taxi, and how to make the last leg easy with luggage, boards and children.
Barnstaple is the end of the line. The Tarka Line from Exeter stops here, and the famous North Devon beaches are still another 6 to 14 miles away. The last stretch is by road. Here is how to do it, which beach suits what, and how long each takes by taxi from the station.
Arriving at Barnstaple station
The station is on the south side of the River Taw, a short walk over the Long Bridge from the town centre. If you have booked a taxi, the driver meets you at the station. Give us your train time rather than a pickup time, and we will keep an eye on it if the train runs late. More on our Barnstaple train station taxi page.
Which beach? A quick guide
| Beach | What it is like | By taxi from Barnstaple |
|---|---|---|
| Saunton Sands | Over three miles of flat sand backed by the Braunton Burrows dunes. Good for families and for learning to surf. | About 10 miles, around 25 minutes |
| Croyde | A small sandy bay with some of the most reliable surf in Devon. Lively and busy in summer. | About 10 miles, around 25 minutes |
| Woolacombe | Three miles of golden sand with plenty of room even on a busy day. A family favourite. | About 14 miles, around 30 minutes |
| Putsborough | The sheltered southern end of Woolacombe's beach, reached through Georgeham. Quieter. | A little longer than Croyde |
| Instow | An estuary beach looking across the water to Appledore. Calmer water and a gentler pace. | About 6 miles, around 15 minutes |
| Westward Ho! | A long sandy beach behind the pebble ridge, with rock pools at low tide. | About 11 miles, around 25 minutes |
| Ilfracombe | A harbour town, with the Tunnels Beaches: hand-cut tunnels leading to tidal bathing pools. | About 12 miles, around 25 minutes |
Times are for normal traffic. On summer weekends allow longer, especially through Braunton, where the road to Saunton, Croyde and Woolacombe gets very slow.
Without a taxi: buses and the Tarka Trail
Barnstaple's bus station is in the town centre, across the river from the railway station. Buses run regularly to Braunton, Ilfracombe and Bideford. Croyde, Saunton and Woolacombe have fewer services, especially out of season. Travelling light, that is fine. With cases, a surfboard or small children, the walk to the bus station and the wait for a connection add up.
If you are travelling very light, the Tarka Trail is the scenic option: a flat, traffic-free path along the estuary to Braunton in one direction, and to Instow and Bideford in the other. It is a lovely ride on a bike, but not with a week's luggage.
Taking a taxi to the beach
- Room for the kit. Our estate cars take boards, bags and buckets, and our 8 seaters take the whole group in one go.
- One fixed fare, agreed when you book, so summer traffic does not change the price.
- Straight to your accommodation. If you are checking in to a holiday let or a campsite, we take you to the door, not just the beach car park.
Arriving on a Saturday in July or August? Book before you travel. Changeover day is the busiest day of the week for every taxi in North Devon.
Getting back
Book your return when you book the outward trip, and agree a pickup point and time. A car park entrance or a named café works well. Mobile signal can be patchy in places along the coast, so a fixed meeting point is safer than planning to call when you are ready.
If you are heading back to catch a train, tell us the train time and we will work back from it, with extra time for summer traffic. Check the time of the last train to Exeter before you plan a long evening on the beach.
Ready to go? Book your taxi online, or call us from the train.
