A car full of stuff and three miles of Woolacombe sand to claim. They want room — space to set up, knock a ball about, spread out — not a packed strip jammed up at the top of the beach.
Woolacombe is vast at low water and pinched at high, so timing is everything when you’re a group wanting space. Roll up at high tide and you’re fighting for a towel’s width; catch it going out and the whole beach opens up.