Top 10 Devon Beaches

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!

A good beach day is something we all cherish, whether your beach activities are catching some sun in Devon’s temperate climate, surfing or fishing in the warm and clear waters, or walking along the craggy promontories to admire the view out to sea.

Devon offers miles of stunning coastline with some truly beautiful beaches to explore.  And with Devon being voted the third most child-friendly destination in the world, we think it is a great place to come for a family holiday.

But where are the best beaches in Devon?  With a little insider knowledge, you can find the perfect sandy beach to visit during your holiday to Devon this year.

Croyde Bay

A sandy beach backed by sand dune on the North Coast, Croyde is one of the best surfing beaches in the world and is very popular.  It is also home to its own summer music festival!    Walkers will be happy to admire the rockpools and take the footpaths around the village and up to Baggy Point to admire the breathtaking view.

Bantham Beach

A shallow sandy bay, this is great family beach with low tide unveiling many small pools that are great for small children to play in.  The estuary is enjoyed by natural wildlife and the coastal paths are a great way to take in the scenery and catch sight of the areas wild inhabitants.  Bantham is also widely regarded as one of the best surfing beaches in Devon!

Wembury Beach

Set within an area of outstanding natural beauty, Wembury beach has sand and sea which make it great for family days out, but if there’s a limit to how much relaxing you can stand, a short walk along the shore will take you to the National Trust’s Old Mill and just a couple of miles away you can hire a bike from the mountain bike centre and explore the area at your own pace.

Woolacombe Beach

A three-mile stretch of golden sandy beach which has been awarded a blue flag for its striking azure waters and was voted the BestBeach in Britain by the Mail on Sunday.  It is backed by a lively village with great eateries, pubs and places to stay.  This is a laid-back and relaxing beach to enjoy.

Barricane Beach

This little inlet is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.  Tucked between the rocks, the beach is famous for being one of the best for beach-combers as exotic shells are deposited here having travelled thousands of miles across the Atlantic from the Caribbean.  Keep an eye on the tide times though, as this beach becomes inaccessible at high tide.

Slapton Sands & Torcross Beach

Greatly popular with nature lovers, Slapton Sands is a shingle beach that backs on to a nature reserve within the South Hams Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  For those that enjoy their history, Slapton is also home to a monument to those that died during an ill-fated D-Day rehearsal and a Sherman Tank is displayed at Torcross.

Beer Beach

Nestled in Lyme Bay along the Jurassic Coast, the shingle beach of Beer is a striking place to visit, with the natural contrasts between while chalk cliffs, blue waters, golden sands and lush green countryside making a feast for the senses.  There is still a fleet of small fishing boats on the beach, harking back to the area’s past.

Salcombe & Mill Bay

An array of beautiful beach area is available to enjoy here in the picturesque South Hams.  Salcombe is the most southerly part of Devon and is known for its sailing.  This is a great place to take a ferry ride across to MillBay which is seaweed-free and basks in day-long sunshine.

Dawlish Warren

Possibly the most famous beach in Devon, Dawlish is known for its family holiday credentials!  The beach stretches all the way to the Exe estuary and Dawlish itself offers a range of attractions and things to do for all tastes, including rides, golf, shopping, a nature reserve and go-karting.

Hope Cove

Hope Cove was once a shelter for smugglers but now makes for a charming holiday destination.  With the delightful village featuring thatched cottages to discover, and mils of heritage coastline to walk, if you do find yourself getting bored you can always try your hand at sea fishing at Hope’s Nose.  Diving is also extremely popular due to the high number of shipwrecks in the locale.

Why not take a picnic hamper and spend the day enjoying the beaches of Devon?  We are sure to have the perfect accompaniment to your trip!  We even have a range of regional hampers so you could tailor your hamper to match your destination for a really authentic experience!  Alternatively, why not enjoy a ready-packed cream tea or even a beach-side barbecue?