Croyde facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Croyde |
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 Croyde |
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 Croyde
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| Population | 614 |
| OS grid reference | SS4439 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BRAUNTON |
| Postcode district | EX33 |
| Dialling code | 01271 |
| Police | Devon and Cornwall |
| Fire | Devon and Somerset |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Croyde is a lovely village located on the west coast of North Devon, England. It's known for its beautiful beach and is a popular spot for visitors. The village sits along the South West Coast Path, close to Baggy Point, which is a special area looked after by the National Trust. Croyde is also part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning it's a really beautiful place.
Croyde village and its beach are on the Bristol Channel. The beach faces west towards the huge Atlantic Ocean. A small stream, Croyde Stream, flows through the village and reaches the beach. The heart of the village is where Hobbes' Hill, Jones' Hill, and St. Mary's Road meet. Here, Croyde Bridge crosses over the stream.
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What's Croyde Like Today?
Croyde is a busy place, especially during holidays. It has several small campsites and two large holiday parks: Croyde Bay Holiday Resort and Ruda Holiday Park.
Over the last 30 years, more and more young people have visited Croyde, especially for surfing. Tourism has changed the village a lot. Some local landowners have seen their property values go up. Tourism has also created new jobs, replacing some that were lost in agriculture (farming). Sadly, some farmland has been turned into caravan sites or camping fields. Like many seaside villages, many houses are now second homes. This means local people often find it hard to afford to live there. Also, most jobs are only available during the busy summer season, as many businesses close in the winter.
Since 1999, Croyde has hosted an exciting annual surfing and music festival called GoldCoast Oceanfest. It usually happens on the weekend closest to the summer solstice (the longest day of the year). Croyde is also home to popular street food, like Lola's Wings, and other visiting food trucks. In the summer, you can find an outdoor market every Tuesday near Baggy Point.
A Look Back: Croyde's History
The name Croyde might come from the Viking raider Crydda. However, some people think it comes from the Cornish word 'Curd'. This word describes how the village sits in a "cradle" of hills. There's even proof of a settlement here before the Saxon Period, so its true name origin is a bit of a mystery!
Croyde is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. Back then, it was called Crideholde or Crideholda. Records show there were 11 cattle and 100 sheep in the village at that time.
During the Medieval Period, Croyde had a market. It was probably located in the village centre, where the main roads meet today.
In World War II, in 1943, American soldiers used Croyde. They practiced for the D-day landings, a very important event in the war. Most of their training happened on nearby Saunton Sands and Braunton Burrows. After the war, Croyde went back to being a popular holiday spot.
In the 1960s, a Royal Observer Corps (ROC) bunker was built near Croyde. This was during the Cold War, when there was tension with the Soviet Union. The bunker was used to watch the skies for any planes or missiles. It was closed in the 1990s after the Cold War ended and is now in disrepair.
Places of Worship
Croyde has an Anglican church called St Mary Magdalene. There is also a Baptist chapel that holds services on Sundays at 11 am.
Getting Around Croyde
The closest railway station is Barnstaple, about 10 miles (16 km) away. You can catch an hourly bus to Croyde from Barnstaple from Monday to Saturday. On Sundays, buses run every two hours.
If you're driving from the M5 motorway, Croyde is about 47 miles (76 km) away via the A361 main road.
Ferry services operate between Ilfracombe, which is about 10–20 miles away, and Lundy Island.
The nearest airport to Croyde is Exeter International Airport. The second closest is Bristol International.
Schools Near Croyde
Croyde itself doesn't have any schools. Children living in the village go to Georgeham Primary School. For secondary school, students attend Braunton Academy.
Croyde Beach
Croyde has a beautiful sandy beach that is about 875 yards (800 meters) long. As of 2022, it has a "Blue Flag" status. This means it's a very clean and safe beach. Behind the beach, there's a large system of sand dunes. The land between the beach and Croyde village is also sandy.
Croyde beach is in the middle of three sandy beaches near the Taw Estuary. To the south, you'll find the 3.75-mile (6.0 km) long Saunton Sands. To the north, there's the 1.8-mile (2.9 km) long Woolacombe Sands, which includes Putsborough and Woolacombe beaches. Please remember that barbecues and fires are not allowed on Croyde beach.
Croyde is a very popular spot for surfing. The waves here tend to break quickly, so the rides are usually short. There's a special point break off Down End. At the northern end of the beach, near Baggy Point, there's a reef break that works for about an hour during some high tides. The shape of the bay helps to funnel waves towards the beach.
The beach is also steeper than other nearby beaches like Woolacombe or Saunton Sands. Because of this, rip currents can be extremely strong. This is especially true near the rocks at either end of the beach or at low tide, even when the waves aren't very big. These currents can be dangerous for even strong swimmers. It's very important to only swim in the area where lifeguards are on duty. At low tide, the waves break very close to the shore, which can sometimes lead to injuries.
See also
In Spanish: Croyde para niños
