Short answer: The northern end of the beach nearest the village has the gentlest approach and the shortest carry. Funder Island in the village has rides for the under-fives and crazy golf. Drift Coffee House is the roomiest place to eat with a pram.
Two facts shape a toddler day here. Woolacombe sits on a slope running down to the sand, so anything approached from above involves a climb back. And the beach is three miles long, which sounds wonderful and means the walk from car to chosen spot can be much further than you planned with a two-year-old and a bag of kit.
The northern end nearest the village has the most level approach — the ground by the stream and the beach entrances there are the gentlest on offer. Do not walk further than you need to. Once you are on it, three miles of firm sand at low tide is far more manageable with wheels than the soft dry stuff higher up.
Time the beach around a falling tide. Firm wet sand is far easier to push a buggy across than soft dry sand, and shallow pools left behind by the receding water are safer and warmer than the sea itself.
In the middle of the village and squarely aimed at this age group — small children's rides, crazy golf, ice cream and slushies. Reviewers describe the little kids' rides as looking great and note it is dated in a way that is part of the charm. An hour here buys you goodwill for a long lunch afterwards.
Drift Coffee House and Kitchen on Barton Road is the roomiest option in the village and reviewers specifically describe a party of eight arriving with a pram and being welcomed in. Breakfast and brunch done properly, and dog friendly.
Meraki Coffee Co. opens at eight, which matters when a toddler has been awake since six, and has a serving hatch so you can order without manoeuvring inside. The Captains Table has long hours and level access from the street.
Mortehoe Museum is free with a donation box and takes about half an hour — enough. Watermouth Castle, about forty minutes east, is aimed at under-tens and has enough indoors to survive a wet day. The Big Sheep is further but has indoor play.
Bull Point Lighthouse from the Mortehoe car park is about a mile and a half each way on a track rather than a cliff path — reviewers describe it as ideal for the pram too, which is a rare thing on this coast.
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