Camping South Devon
Ocean Pitch Campsite, Moor Lane, Croyde, Devon EX33 1NZ
Stunning views over Croyde Bay - the beach is a stone's throw away.
Thinking of Devon often evokes sepia-toned scenes of cream teas, chocolate-box cottages and rambling on wild Exmoor. Yet this genteel image of the county is only as true as you make it round these parts. Sure, there’s the traditional Devonian charm of sleepy village Georgeham; not to mention the typical seaside ‘candy-floss ‘n’ kiss-me-quick’ chic of the family resorts at Woolacombe. But if you’ve descended upon the North Devon coast with tent on back, board under arm and adventure on your mind, you’ve come to the right place – for Croyde Bay is undoubtedly England’s surf capital.
Acres of sand, pounding surf, and bronzed lifeguards... welcome to the Gold Coast. It may be a tad cooler than the Aussie version but, more importantly, it is much nearer for us Poms. Okay, so our cousins down under might enjoy near perma-sunny skies, but on an early summer morning, with the breeze just right, we’d take Croyde over Byron Bay any day of the week. With its lush green hills ravining down to blustery expanses of open beach, there’s no disputing the beauty of Croyde Bay. This wide sweep of dune-backed sand flanked by the finest field-green North Devon hills is the closest thing you’ll find to an Aussie surf beach in this part of the world, gifting awesome waves to pros and beginners alike.
Anyone who was lucky enough to secure a pitch at legendary local campsite Mitchum's will know all about the spectacular views from this enviably elevated spot. Now operating under the new moniker Ocean Pitch, newbies and veterans alike will be pleased to know that surfing is still big on the agenda.
As wonderful new owners Benny and Lou are all too aware, surfers are an enthusiastic bunch (to put it mildly). Hours can pass as they scan the endless blue horizon for that elusive perfect wave. But from its priceless vantage point, Ocean Pitch is one of the few campsites in the area with direct beach views, meaning you can keep an eye on the surf from your... erm... ocean pitch, and race down with your board when the waves are breaking. And if you’re not here for the surf, it’s just as great being able to wake up and see the ocean each morning while you cook your breakfast sausages. The stunning Croyde Bay provides a perfect canvas for this unparalleled campsite masterpiece, and the site is on the coastal path, so it’s easy to reach the neighbouring beaches on foot.
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