Woolacombe
Encyclopedia
Woolacombe is a seaside resort
on the coast of North Devon
, England, which lies at the mouth of a valley (or 'combe
'). The beach
, which has Blue Flag and Premier Seaside Beach awards for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities, is 3 miles (4.8 km) long, sandy, gently sloping and faces the Atlantic Ocean
near the western limit of the Bristol Channel
. It is a popular destination for surfing
and is part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
.
establishments, and most of the entertainment opportunities are aimed at tourists. A long-established attraction in the centre of the village is a crazy golf course which features North Devon landmarks for the holes, the unique model buildings being constructed from the various types of stone found in the local area.
Woolacombe lies within the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
, which is renowned for its dramatic coastal cliffs and landscape. Due to Atlantic waves, the swell is at somewhat large and very clean making it a great benefit for surfing. Right across from the beach, there are panoramic views of Lundy Island. Woolacombe has the benefit of low cliffs at either end of the beach which are home to the rare maritime heathland as well as sand dunes behind the beach. Much of the countryside close to the village is owned and cared for by the National Trust
. The coast itself is part of the North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation Area
because of its diverse and rare species.
landing area.
There is a stone memorial to the soldiers, dedicated in 1992, sited on the grassy headland at the northern end of the beach.
A bus
service runs from the village
to Barnstaple
(303), Ilfracombe
, Combe Martin
and Mortehoe
. The village had a joint railway station
with Mortehoe on the Ilfracombe Branch Line
which closed in 1970.
The South West Coast Path
runs through the village, and gives access to the spectacular North Devon coast, with the walk out to and around Morte Point
being particularly popular.
There are several establishments in the area that provide opportunities for pony trekking
. Some offer experienced riders the chance to ride along Woolacombe Sands.
. The most obvious of these is the Anglican
church, consecrated in 1912, which is sited on the main road into the village centre. The church is dedicated to St Sabinus
, a canonised Italian bishop; local stories claim it was named after a missionary from Ireland who was ship-wrecked at Woolacombe but there is no evidence to support this.
A branch of the California-based Calvary Chapel
was established in 2000, meeting in the Village Hall; and in 2002 the Chapel organised the first Creation Fest
, a free Christian music festival, held annually on the outskirts of the village until 2008, when the festival was relocated to Cornwall.
Seaside resort
A seaside resort is a resort, or resort town, located on the coast. Where a beach is the primary focus for tourists, it may be called a beach resort.- Overview :...
on the coast of North Devon
North Devon
North Devon is the northern part of the English county of Devon. It is also the name of a local government district in Devon. Its council is based in Barnstaple. Other towns and villages in the North Devon District include Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South Molton, Lynton and Lynmouth...
, England, which lies at the mouth of a valley (or 'combe
Combe
-English place names:* Combe, Berkshire* Combe, Buckfastleigh, Devon* Combe, Yealmpton, Devon* Combe, Herefordshire* Combe, Oxfordshire* Combe, Somerset-Places in England with combe as one word in part of their name:Cumbria* Black CombeDevon...
'). The beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
, which has Blue Flag and Premier Seaside Beach awards for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities, is 3 miles (4.8 km) long, sandy, gently sloping and faces the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
near the western limit of the Bristol Channel
Bristol Channel
The Bristol Channel is a major inlet in the island of Great Britain, separating South Wales from Devon and Somerset in South West England. It extends from the lower estuary of the River Severn to the North Atlantic Ocean...
. It is a popular destination for surfing
Surfing
Surfing' is a surface water sport in which the surfer rides a surfboard on the crest and face of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore...
and is part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
.
Tourism
The winter population is very small (around 1000), but during the summer large numbers of people come to the village for a holiday. Many are motivated to visit because of the excellent surfing conditions found locally. There are many hotels, holiday apartments and bed and breakfastBed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
establishments, and most of the entertainment opportunities are aimed at tourists. A long-established attraction in the centre of the village is a crazy golf course which features North Devon landmarks for the holes, the unique model buildings being constructed from the various types of stone found in the local area.
Awards
- Family Resort of the Year – Gold Award (England for Excellence – 1999):
"A beach that is everyone's ideal - golden and sandy - perfect for a traditional bucket and spade holiday" - Best British Beach (Mail on Sunday – 2000)
- Best Beach (2nd place) (The ObserverThe ObserverThe Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
– 2000) - ENCAMS Seaside Award (2003)
- Tidy Britain Seaside Award (2005)
- Blue Flag beachBlue Flag beachThe Blue Flag is a certification by the Foundation for Environmental Education that a beach or marina meets its stringent standards.The Blue Flag is a trademark owned by FEE which is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries in Europe,...
(2005, 2006, 2007 and others)
Geology and wildlife
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is an area of countryside considered to have significant landscape value in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, that has been specially designated by the Countryside Agency on behalf of the United Kingdom government; the Countryside Council for Wales on...
, which is renowned for its dramatic coastal cliffs and landscape. Due to Atlantic waves, the swell is at somewhat large and very clean making it a great benefit for surfing. Right across from the beach, there are panoramic views of Lundy Island. Woolacombe has the benefit of low cliffs at either end of the beach which are home to the rare maritime heathland as well as sand dunes behind the beach. Much of the countryside close to the village is owned and cared for by the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The coast itself is part of the North Devon Voluntary Marine Conservation Area
Voluntary Marine Conservation Area
Voluntary Marine Conservation Area is a designation in the United Kingdom for areas of coastline which are of particular wildlife and scientific value that enjoy a level of voluntary protection....
because of its diverse and rare species.
History
During the Second World War, the U.S. Army Assault Training Center was based at Woolacombe, where thousands of small boat crews and infantry practised amphibious landing assaults on the beach in preparation for the Invasion of Normandy, part of Operation Overlord. The long flat shape of the beach and the conditions of the hinterland were considered to closely resemble the Omaha BeachOmaha Beach
Omaha Beach is the code name for one of the five sectors of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during World War II...
landing area.
There is a stone memorial to the soldiers, dedicated in 1992, sited on the grassy headland at the northern end of the beach.
Transport
The main way to get to Woolacombe is by road. During the summer the roads, which are largely very rural and quite narrow, can become very congested as people queue up to get into one of the two large car parks which are situated close to the beach.A bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service runs from the village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
to Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
(303), Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe
Ilfracombe is a seaside resort and civil parish on the North Devon coast, England with a small harbour, surrounded by cliffs.The parish stretches along the coast from 'The Coastguard Cottages' in Hele Bay toward the east and 4 miles along The Torrs to Lee Bay toward the west...
, Combe Martin
Combe Martin
Combe Martin is a village and civil parish on the North Devon coast about east of Ilfracombe. It is a small seaside resort with a sheltered cove on the edge of the Exmoor National Park...
and Mortehoe
Mortehoe
thumb|right|250px|Mortehoe, Devon - the main street, looking southMortehoe is a village on the north coast of Devon near Woolacombe, sited on the hilly land behind Morte Point. A nearby village is Lee Bay....
. The village had a joint railway station
Mortehoe and Woolacombe railway station
Mortehoe and Woolacombe railway station was a station on the London and South Western Railway Ilfracombe Branch Line between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon, England .-History:...
with Mortehoe on the Ilfracombe Branch Line
Ilfracombe Branch Line
The Ilfracombe Branch of the London & South Western Railway , ran between Barnstaple and Ilfracombe in North Devon. The branch opened as a single-track line in 1874, but was sufficiently popular that it needed to be upgraded to double-track in 1889....
which closed in 1970.
The South West Coast Path
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is Britain's longest waymarked long-distance footpath and a National Trail. It stretches for , running from Minehead in Somerset, along the coasts of Devon and Cornwall, to Poole Harbour in Dorset. Since it rises and falls with every river mouth, it is also one of the more...
runs through the village, and gives access to the spectacular North Devon coast, with the walk out to and around Morte Point
Morte Point
Morte Point is a peninsula on the North West coast of Devon, England, belonging to the National Trust. To the east is the village of Mortehoe and to the south is the seaside resort of Woolacombe....
being particularly popular.
There are several establishments in the area that provide opportunities for pony trekking
Trail riding
Trail riding sometimes called horse or pony trekking is riding outdoors on natural trails and roads as opposed to riding in an enclosed area such as a riding arena. The term may encompass those who travel on horses, on mountain bikes, or on motorcycles and other motorized all-terrain vehicles...
. Some offer experienced riders the chance to ride along Woolacombe Sands.
Religion
There are several places of worship in Woolacombe, all ChristianChristian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. The most obvious of these is the Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
church, consecrated in 1912, which is sited on the main road into the village centre. The church is dedicated to St Sabinus
Sabinus of Canosa
Saint Sabinus of Canosa , venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic church, was bishop of Canosa di Puglia from 514.-Life:...
, a canonised Italian bishop; local stories claim it was named after a missionary from Ireland who was ship-wrecked at Woolacombe but there is no evidence to support this.
A branch of the California-based Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
was established in 2000, meeting in the Village Hall; and in 2002 the Chapel organised the first Creation Fest
Creation Fest
Creation Fest is a free Christian music festival, which takes place on the first weekend of August in the Royal Cornwall Showground, Cornwall England.-History:...
, a free Christian music festival, held annually on the outskirts of the village until 2008, when the festival was relocated to Cornwall.
External links
- Tales of Woolacombe at War – memories of wartime life in Woolacombe (gathered by the BBC)