Within the 509 miles of Devonshire coastline, you'll find over 50 beaches on the south coast. With many of the best beaches in South Devon being local to our countryside setting in East Allington. Pack a picnic, grab your swimmers and bring some sun cream - let's take a look at some of our top picks.
A popular family beach located in Bigbury-On-Sea, this beach is famous for its beautiful views of Burgh Island, as well as being a testament to the outstanding beauty of the area.
At low tide, the beach acts as the tidal causeway that connects the mainland to Burgh Island. When the tide is high, you'll often see the sea tractor doing the rounds transporting visitors too and from the island. The beach is popular with watersports enthusiasts too, and you'll often find an avid windsurfer or paddleboarder making good use of the waves.
Bigbury-On-Sea is a dog-friendly beach between October and May, so you're four-legged friend can enjoy running lengths of the beach cduring this period. Nearby the beach is a café, public toilets and a carpark for your convenience.
This popular beach - a long sweep of golden sand and rockpools - edges a sheltered bay of crystal clear waters and looks out over the iconic Thurlestone Rock archway.
The beach is a great spot for watching sunsets, or you can sit at the café and watch the birds and wildlife over the wetlands.
Winter storms are gradually reshaping the sand dunes along this stretch of coast.
One of the most popular beaches in South Devon is undoubtedly Bantham Beach. Known locally for its endless golden sands and phenomenal coastal scenery, Bantham Beach has long served as a go-to beach for families visiting Devon.
One of the pros of Bantham Beach is the amount of space. It's perfect for a game of beach football or volleyball. No matter how busy Bantham is, you'll always find a place to set up shop for the day. The vastness of Bantham means that there is plenty of space to swim and rockpools to be explored by any inquisitive youngsters in the family.
The beach is patrolled by lifeguards between May and September, and there are public toilets with disabled access. The vast ecosystem of Bantham means that you may even spot some seals and/or dolphins swimming offshore in the summer months!
Slapton Sands is not only a family-friendly beach, it doubles up as a site of historical importance. It was used as a rehearsal beach for the D-Day landings in 1944. Due to a coordinated attack by German E-boats during Exercise Tiger, 749 US servicemen lost their lives. A Sherman Tank located near Torcross commemorates the lives lost during the incident.
The beach is popular with watersports enthusiasts for its great windsurfing, canoeing, and surfing conditions during the summer, and is patrolled by lifeguards using the flag system for safety. If you're unsure about the flag system, you can read up on it here.
As a designated Area of Outstanding Beauty, Slapton Sands is without a doubt one of the best beaches in South Devon to visit. You'll find everything you need for an afternoon out at Slapton, as there is a restaurant, public toilets, excellent transport links, and on-site parking.
Blackpool Sands is amongst the best beaches in South Devon - don't be fooled by the name though. The beach is mostly shingle, it is however often cited by locals as pristine, clean and absolutely picturesque.
On the beach, visitors can rent kayaks and paddleboards for the day, and there's even an onsite sauna to warm up after a cold dip. Situated near Dartmouth, Blackpool Sands was awarded the Blue Flag in 2019, 2022, and 2023 for the water quality, cleanliness, safety and environmental management.
Facilities at Blackpool Sands include public toilets, showers, baby changing areas, and a café in case you need a quick pick me up when you visit.
Hope Cove is made up of two sandy beaches, Inner Hope and Outer Hope, in the South Devon National Landscape (previously AONB), between Salcombe and Thurlestone. Accessible via a picturesque walk along the South West Coast Path, or a short drive from Kingsbridge, this secluded cove offers a sense of serenity and seclusion, creating a dramatic backdrop for sunbathers and photographers alike. With seasonal lifeguards and water quality designated as excellent, Hope Cove’s beaches are great for families to visit.
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