Braunton

Having spent many years going to North Devon for holidays or to visit family, I had never until about two years ago ever visited the area that is known as Croyde Bay. Situated on the road out of Braunton (which is its nearest largest village hub with lots of shops and other services), it is on the coast that faces the Atlantic Ocean. How to get here For most people who are travelling from anywhere in the country apart from Cornwall, then access to Croyde is generally through Barnstaple - the main North Devon Link Road leads from Junction 27 of the M5 directly through to Barnstaple; you then follow signs to Braunton and Ilfracombe, and then Croyde and its neighbouring village Georgeham are signposted from here. If you are coming from Cornwall, then access is by way of the A39 Atlantic Highway which leads to Bideford - you then have to go through Barnstaple, and follow instructions as above (this trunk road also follows a more windy route to the M5 too but would take you a lot longer). There is a train station at Barnstaple, which connects with fairly regular services to Exeter - this in turn then leads you other places in the country. Along with this is also a bus and coach station in Barnstaple, with local and national services arriving here - with an hourly service to Croyde during the week, and two hourly services on a Sunday. There are of…