Hidden Gems

Why 55% of the UK are missing out on Devon and Cornwall beaches

The beaches within the UK have seen a surge in demand over the last few months as we come to the end of one of the hottest summers on record. People have begun to realise that they can get to the sea and top up their tan without leaving British shores, helping them save both money and time when it comes to travel.

When it comes to your holiday options in the UK, there are two big hitters that often lead the pack, Devon and Cornwall.

We were curious, do the general public in the UK visit more Devon or Cornish beaches? And how many have been to either of the counties and their great coastal areas? We put the question to the UK public, and were surprised to hear that over half of the public had not visited either Devon or Cornish beaches!

The data below was the starting point of our intrigue. Taken from Google Trends, the trend lines showed that Cornwall tends to outperform Devon when it comes to the number of people searching for beaches in the two counties, especially during the summer months. This data makes sense, Cornwall has a lot more beaches than Devon but is a lot further down the south, making it a much longer drive for families holidaying from places like the Midlands and London.

Of the 1,098 respondents to be surveyed, 55.3% reported that they have never visited a beach in Devon or Cornwall, with slightly more respondents visiting Cornwall over Devon. 

Overall, the data suggests the beaches in the UK are still not being enjoyed as much as they could be! Places like Woolacombe and other areas in the South West have some of the best beaches in the country and they are perfect for a quick getaway. 

With the travel chaos seen across many areas of the world this year, many people may have taken the opportunity to visit beaches in the South West of England and this data is backed up by the initial insight from Google Trends.

Our guide on the best beaches in North Devon shows you everything you need to know when it comes to finding the best hidden gems in North Devon.

How to enjoy the best of Devon and Cornwall’s beaches

Both Devon and Cornwall have some fantastic beaches which are popular amongst a lot of different parts of the UK. Woolacombe Bay Holiday Parks may not be unbiased in this debate but we are keen to make sure you have all the information you need to holiday in these stunning counties in the UK.

• Enjoy some of the amazing coastal walks: Both Devon and Cornwall have some amazing coastal walks that you can take as part of your beach days.
• Check if there are any fun events on before you go: Take a look at the calendar to see if there are any fun events, festivals and days out going on in Devon and Cornwall before you head down, this will help you decide on dates to visit.
• Book suitable accommodation: Booking suitable accommodation will help you unwind after a day in the sun, holiday parks are a good option but there are plenty of Airbnbs and hotels that you can also take advantage of. There are many campsites in North Devon and Cornwall that offer good affordable accommodation for your trips.

Woolacombe Bay’s Marketing Director Kevin Darvill offered this comment on the findings:

"As someone who moved to the West Country from the land-locked East Midlands, first living near the incredible sandy beach in Perranporth which along with St Ives and Watergate Bay could easily take the crown of the best Cornish beach, only beaten by the incredible sandy beach in Woolacombe it's fair to say I'm smitted with the South West's beaches. Even though I've lived in Devon for over a decade, I'm still always discovering hidden gems like the pretty coves at Lee Bay and around Westward Ho! to the stunning sunsets at Croyde beach and of course Woolacombe itself. Last year some friends from London opted to take a staycation camping at Twitchen House, every night they were mesmerised by the setting sun over the ocean reminding me how easy it is to take the west-facing views from beaches in Devon and Cornwall for granted. Add in the Channel coast beaches in resorts like Torquay, Sidmouth, Exmouth, Dawlish, Brixham and Dartmouth in South Devon and Polperro and Looe in Sourh Cornwall. Hopefully more families will discover their Cornish or Devon holiday haven here."