Short answer: If there is swell running there will be surfers out on New Year's Day morning — Croyde is one of the few places in Devon where that is a certainty. The Thatch stays open when much of the village does not.
Baggy Point, the National Trust headland out of the village. The full loop is about two and a half miles with some climbing, and the view back across the bay on a clear 1 January is the best thing in north Devon.
The easier version is the bay itself at low tide, with the dunes behind for shelter if the wind is up.
Croyde holds swell through the winter and has a hardy year-round surf community. There will be people in the water. That is not the same as it being safe for a casual dip — this is a beach break with rips, and there are no lifeguards on 1 January.
New Year's Day swims on this coast are organised by lifeboat crews, surf clubs and pubs rather than councils, and most are announced in the last fortnight of December on local Facebook pages. Check there rather than expecting a listing.
If you are getting in: the sea is colder on 1 January than at any point in the summer, cold water shock is the real risk rather than the temperature itself, and it is worth going in with people rather than alone. Walk in, do not dive, and get warm clothes on quickly afterwards.
Almost everywhere opens later than usual on New Year's Day, and some places do not open at all. Ring in the morning rather than assuming.
Worth knowing about specifically. If anyone in the party is going in the sea, having somewhere to get properly warm within a few minutes' walk changes the whole experience.
Straightforward. The overflow fields will not be open, so aim for the main car parks and bring coins.
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