There's a particular kind of holiday park that gets recommended by word of mouth long before it turns up in any glossy brochure and in North Devon, Ruda Holiday Park is that park. Ask anyone who's spent a summer week in Croyde and you'll usually get the same answer: it's the beach that sells it, but it's the setup around the beach that keeps people coming back. This guide pulls together everything worth knowing before you book the accommodation, the facilities, what's genuinely good, what's a bit tired, and how it stacks up against other UK holiday options in the South West so you're not relying on marketing copy to make the call.
Quick Facts
Ruda sits right on the edge of Croyde Bay in North Devon, postcode EX33 1NY, with the beach close enough that flip-flops genuinely count as footwear for the walk down. You've got a choice of lodges, static caravans and apartments, plus an indoor and outdoor pool setup that covers you whatever the Devon sky decides to do. It's roughly four miles from Braunton and about nine from Barnstaple, the park generally runs from March through to November, and a handful of units take dogs if you're not keen on kennels.
Why Visit Ruda Holiday Park
The honest answer is location: nowhere else in this part of Devon gets you this close to a beach this good, without sacrificing the facilities that make a family holiday actually relaxing rather than exhausting. Croyde is one of the country's better surf beaches, and Ruda backs onto it directly.
That proximity changes the shape of a holiday more than people expect. You're not loading a car full of wetsuits and windbreaks every morning, hunting for parking, then doing it all in reverse at 4 pm with sandy, tired kids. You walk down, you walk back. Add a heated pool for the days the surf's flat or the rain's in, a proper entertainment schedule in the evenings, and a shop on-site for the milk you forgot and you've got a park that's genuinely designed around not needing the car much at all.
Where is Ruda Holiday Park
Ruda is on the edge of Croyde Bay, North Devon close enough to Braunton (about four miles) and Barnstaple (roughly nine miles) that neither feels like a proper excursion. The A361 gets you there without much fuss, whether you're coming from Exeter, about fifty miles south-east, or further afield as part of a broader Devon Holidays trip.
What the location gives you, more than convenience, is beach access without the palaver. No seafront car parks charging by the hour, no trek from a distant lay-by with a cool box under one arm and a toddler under the other. You're just... there.
Accommodation Options
Ruda Holiday Park accommodation runs from straightforward caravans to properly nice lodges, so the choice really comes down to budget and how many of you are going.
The standard caravans are the sensible option for couples or families watching the spend two or three bedrooms, a basic kitchen, nothing flashy, but perfectly fine for a week. Step up to the premium lodges, and things get noticeably nicer: private decking, a dishwasher (a small thing that matters enormously on holiday), and, in some cases, a hot tub, which is exactly as good as it sounds after a day of surfing. Apartments suit couples or a quick weekend away, are more compact, and are usually closer to the pool and entertainment complex, which cuts down on the evening walk. And if you're travelling with a dog, a few units come with fenced outdoor space and are close to decent walking routes, so it's worth flagging that at the time of booking rather than assuming.
For anyone leaning towards Self Catering Holidays, the kitchens are properly usable not just a token microwave which makes a real difference after a long beach day when nobody fancies getting dressed up for dinner.
Facilities and Amenities
What tends to surprise first-time visitors is how little you need to leave the park. There's a decent shop for essentials, a launderette (genuinely useful on a week-long stay with small children), an arcade that'll absorb an hour of pocket money, and a few dining options that save you cooking every single night.
During the main season there's usually a daytime activity schedule too mini-golf, kids' clubs, that sort of thing plus separate entertainment for adults and children in the evenings. It's worth checking what's actually running the week you're booking, since programmes shift depending on demand and time of year, and it's a bit deflating to plan around a class that's not on that fortnight.
Swimming Pool and Entertainment
The pool setup is one of the stronger arguments for choosing Ruda over a smaller site nearby you get both indoor and outdoor heated pools, which matters more than it sounds when you remember this is still the North Devon coast, not the Costa del Sol.
Devon weather is changeable at the best of times, and having a proper indoor pool as backup rather than a glorified paddling pool with a canopy over it means a wet afternoon doesn't derail the whole day. Evenings tend to have something on too: live music, a family show, the occasional quiz night in the main venue. Nothing revolutionary, but reliably there.
Croyde Beach Experience
Croyde Beach has a reputation among UK surfers that's well earned consistent swell, soft golden sand, and a village behind it that hasn't been over-polished into something characterless. It works just as well for a family building sandcastles as it does for someone chasing a proper wave.
A handful of surf schools operate straight out of the village, running lessons and kit hire for complete beginners right through to people who clearly know what they're doing. Lifeguards are typically on duty through the main summer stretch, and if you fancy a walk rather than a paddle, Baggy Point sits just to the north with a coastal path that's honestly one of the better short walks in Devon proper Atlantic views, no crowds.
Things to Do Nearby
Croyde and the beach get most of the attention, fairly enough, but the surrounding area does a lot of heavy lifting if you're staying longer than a weekend. Here's what's worth building into the week:
- Baggy Point: National Trust land, a circular walk with some of the best coastal views in North Devon
- Woolacombe Beach: Often mentioned in the same breath as the UK's best beaches, about twenty minutes by car
- Saunton Sands: Miles of dune-backed sand, popular with surfers and families who want a bit more space
- Braunton Burrows: A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, good for cycling and a quieter kind of walk
- Barnstaple: North Devon's main town, useful for a shopping fix or a wander round the Pannier Market
If you're weighing this up against South Devon, this cluster of beaches is one of the stronger cases for going north instead it just feels less packed, even in August.
Nearby Attractions
Venture a bit further and there's genuinely more on offer Exmoor National Park to the north-east for a proper day of moorland walking, or a ferry from Ilfracombe out to Lundy Island, which is about as different a day trip as you'll find, complete with seals and puffins depending on the season.
To properly explore North Devon, it helps to slow down a bit on narrow lanes, working fishing villages like Clovelly, and a coastline that still feels a touch undiscovered compared with Devon's busier southern beaches in peak summer.
Restaurants and Dining
There's food on-site at Ruda if you don't fancy cooking, but Croyde village itself is where the better meals tend to happen cafés, pubs, and a couple of decent seafood spots, all an easy walk away without needing the car.
The pubs in particular do well by tired surfers with proper pub food, often with locally caught seafood on the menu. If you want something a bit smarter for a special night, Braunton and Saunton both have options worth booking ahead for, especially in peak season when tables go fast.
Activities for Families
Between kids' clubs, surf lessons, rock pooling, and the coastal walks on the doorstep, there's enough here to keep children properly occupied while parents actually get a bit of downtime which, let's be honest, is the whole point of this kind of holiday.
One tip worth taking seriously: book surf lessons early in the week rather than leaving them to the last day. Devon weather doesn't always cooperate, and a wash-out on day one means you've still got room to reschedule. Leave it to the final day and a bad forecast just means a missed lesson.
Best Time to Visit
Late May through to early September gives you the best weather and the full run of activities and entertainment, but honestly, September is worth serious consideration too quieter, often better value, and the surf's usually still decent.
If you're planning around Summer Holidays UK dates, be aware that half-term weeks and the six-week summer break book up fastest and cost the most, so booking early isn't just advice, it's fairly essential if those are your only options.
Pricing and Booking Tips
Prices shift a fair bit depending on the season, the type of accommodation, and how far ahead you book peak summer weeks cost noticeably more than a spring or autumn stay, which isn't unusual for this kind of park. Booking direct, rather than through a third-party reseller, tends to give more flexibility if plans change.
A few practical things worth doing before you book:
- Book school-holiday weeks four to six months out if you want proper choice of accommodation
- Consider a Friday-to-Monday short break outside peak season often better value than a full week
- Check whether linen, towels, and parking are included, or charged as extras
- Keep an eye out for UK Staycation Deals in the quieter months the savings can be substantial
Pros and Cons
What works well:
- Genuinely walkable beach access, not just "nearby"
- Solid facilities the pools especially hold up against bigger resorts
- A real range of accommodation, from budget caravans to proper lodges
- A strong base for exploring the rest of North Devon
- Pet-friendly options if you need them
What's less good:
- Peak season pricing isn't cheap
- Popular weeks sell out well in advance, leaving it late rarely pays off
- Some facilities scale back outside the main season
- Croyde village gets genuinely busy in summer, which won't suit everyone
Comparison with Other Devon Holiday Parks
Ruda's main edge is that beach access is direct, on-site, with both indoor and outdoor pools to fall back on, which makes it the obvious pick if surfing or beach mornings are the priority. Woolacombe Bay Holiday Village asks for a short drive to its beach but counters with a bigger pool offering and a larger resort feel overall. Golden Coast Holiday Park is another short drive from the coast, but it's a solid budget-friendly option with its own indoor and outdoor pools. Down in South Devon, Ladram Bay trades that beach-on-the-doorstep convenience for genuinely striking cove scenery, with an outdoor pool to match.
Set against other Best Holiday Parks in Devon, Ruda's real advantage isn't any single facility it's the combination of a nationally known surf beach you can actually walk to, which very few competitors in the region can genuinely claim.
Expert Travel Tips
After years of covering coastal breaks across the UK, the tip that consistently pays off is this: if surfing or early beach starts matter to you, book accommodation on the beach-facing side of the park. The layout means a poorly chosen pitch can add a proper walk you didn't sign up for.
Pack for weather that changes its mind, hire or bring wetsuits rather than assuming you'll manage without, and always check the tide times before heading down. Croyde looks like a completely different beach at low tide compared with high, and it's easy to plan a day around the wrong version of it.
Conclusion
Ruda earns its reputation the old-fashioned way, not through marketing, but through people going back year after year. It's one of the more convincing picks in any Devon Travel Guide for families and surfers, largely because the beach access isn't a claim on a website, it's an actual short walk. Whether you're after a quick weekend or a full week of Affordable Family Holidays, it does the basics sea, sand, decent facilities, minimal fuss better than most. If that sounds like your kind of week, it's worth getting in early and looking to Book Your UK Holiday before the good weeks disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ruda Holiday Park worth visiting?
Yes — particularly if you're travelling with family or keen on surfing, thanks to the direct beach access and a set of facilities that hold up well against other North Devon parks.
What happened to Ruda Holiday Park?
Ruda Holiday Park hasn't closed — it changed hands. In 2025, John Fowler Holidays acquired the park, including its 817 pitches and Croyde's blue flag beach, from Parkdean Resorts. Bookings, staff, and facilities carried over, so it's operating as normal, just under new ownership.
Does Ruda Holiday Park have a swimming pool?
It does, with both indoor and outdoor heated pools running through the main season, so you're covered whatever the weather does.
Is Ruda Holiday Park good for families?
Yes — kids' clubs, family entertainment, beach access on the doorstep, and self-catering accommodation built with family groups in mind.
How far is Ruda Holiday Park from Croyde Beach?
It's right on the edge of Croyde Bay, so most accommodation is a short walk from the sand rather than a drive.
Can you walk to Croyde village from Ruda?
Yes — the pubs, shops, and surf schools in the village are all within easy walking distance.
Is Ruda Holiday Park pet-friendly?
Some accommodation allows pets, so it's worth confirming which units at the time of booking rather than assuming it's park-wide.