The south Devon coast is home to some of the best beaches anywhere in the United Kingdom. These are just some of the best beaches in South Devon that you might like to visit when you’re in the area.
1. Bigbury-on-Sea
2. Torquay
3. Paignton
4. Dawlish/Dawlish Warren
5. Sidmouth
6. Blackpool
7. Slapton
Bigbury-on-Sea
It’s unusual enough to be on a beach where the tide comes in from both sides, as is the case at Bigbury.
However, what really makes this beach stand out is what lies just beyond. Across the beach from Bigbury village is Burgh Island. It was used as the setting for Agatha Christie’s famous novel Evil Under The Sun. The location also inspired her masterpiece novel ‘And Then There Were None’.
The whole island is owned by the proprietors of the hotel. But don’t worry, non-residents can still visit the Pilchard Inn and walk around much of the island. If the tide’s in when you get there, call the hotel to arrange to be picked up by the incredible Sea Tractor.
The beach itself is popular with families entertaining their children in the many rock pools to be found here. Bigbury also has windsurfing and kite-surfing hire facilities, and the beach is manned by lifeguards from May to September.
The Venus Café is well-known locally for its commitment to supporting Devon’s organic food producers.
Torquay
The area comprising the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham is styled as The English Riviera by the local tourist board. Torquay itself has been marketed as the St Tropez of England. Whatever you think of the description, you will certainly find palm trees on this coast, as well as a number of Mediterranean-style buildings.
Oddicombe Beach in Torquay was one of the first in the UK to attain the coveted Blue Flag status, having held the honour since 1987. It’s an eye-catching expanse of red sand, and it’s popular with watersports enthusiasts. Geologists also visit here frequently, as it’s a UNESCO Global Geopark Key Site due to its unusual limestone cliff features. If you don’t fancy the steep road that leads to the beach, take the Babbacombe Cliff Railway instead.
Paignton
A few miles from Torquay, Paignton is very much the Blackpool of Devon. Beyond the cafes and arcades on the seafront and the pier lies Paignton Sands. Here’s popular with those wishing to hire a pedalo, ride a donkey or go on a supervised fishing trip.
Goodrington Sands, another of the town’s beaches, also allows you to hire a pedalo or paddleboat. There’s also the Seashore Centre, where you can use the interactive displays to learn more about what you’re likely to find in the rockpools.
Dawlish / Dawlish Warren
There’s no doubt what’s the most unusual thing about Dawlish. Here the West Country mainline railway runs right along the sea wall. While the line’s proximity to the sea has caused problems in the past, it certainly makes for a spectacular train ride when the weather is fair.
Dawlish beach is accessed by an underpass beneath the line. From here, there are regular boat trips where, if you’re lucky, the dolphins will put on a display for you.
Also, don’t miss the Dawlish Water Brook, which flows through the town and then down to the sea over a series of spectacular cascades. You should be able to see the celebrated Dawlish black swans here.
The adjacent Dawlish Warren beach is famed for its incredible sand dunes, which form part of a National Nature Reserve. The area is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest due to the abundant birdlife and the extraordinary number of flowering plant species.
Dawlish Warren beach is also popular with families, assuming the children haven’t been distracted by the activities available around the beach, which include go-karts, crazy golf, a funfair and amusements.
Lifeguards regularly patrol Dawlish Warren to ensure the safety of the many surfers who come here.
Sidmouth
Sidmouth is a gem of an English Regency period seaside resort. Many of the best beaches in South Devon are flanked by red sandstone cliffs, but Sidmouth’s are perhaps the most spectacular. There’s a great view from the attractive Connaught Gardens on the cliff top, from where you can descend the wooden steps known as Jacob’s Ladder down to the beach.
Here, you’ll find a wide sandy expanse with numerous rock pools. There are a great many deckchairs available for hire, while more adventurous types can practise kayaking and paddleboarding.
Blackpool
No, you’re not at the famous Lancashire seaside resort! Blackpool is also the name of a village in Devon, close to Dartmouth.
Blackpool Sands really does offer an idyllic location which is why we rank it as one of the best beaches in South Devon. It has a sheltered bay of clear blue water, ringed by pine trees. It’s one of the most family-friendly beaches in the region, and it’s also popular with kayakers.
Like Bigbury-on-Sea, the Venus Café also has an outlet here, which is also a licensed wedding venue.
Adjacent to the beach, Blackpool Gardens has an amazing display of sub-tropical plants. Blackpool Sands will host its first Tunes on the Sands music festival in July 2022.
Slapton
Slapton Sands is a different type of beach in many ways. While many of the beaches in this article offer luxurious expanses of sand, this is largely a shingle beach, in spite of the name. While dogs are banned from many beaches in the area, Slapton is also unapologetically dog friendly. The northern end of the shore is popular with naturists.
The Sands is a popular place for surfing, windsurfing and canoeing. Part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The Nature Reserve at Slapton is famed for its flora and fauna, especially around the freshwater Slapton Ley lake. The largest natural lake in southwest England, it’s home to swallows, warblers, badgers and otters. It claims to be the only place in the UK where the strapwort plant grows naturally.
Slapton was also used by the US forces during their preparations for D-Day, and there’s a monument to those who lost their lives in a horrendous incident here in 1944.
Do you need anywhere to stay in South Devon this summer? For more information about what to do in the region, or to view Situ’s fantastic range of South Devon accommodations, have a browse of our website. Otherwise, give a member of our friendly team a call at +44 (0)1392 690 079.