Devon Beach Guide

South Devon Beaches

South Devon Map
South Devon Map
South Devon has a large and varied selection of beaches, from larger spacious beaches to remote and quiet coves. The scenery is excellent here and there is good walking on the coast.
The most popular beaches are on Bigbury Bay including Bigbury which is an excellent large family beach and nearby Bantham Sand which is popular with surfers. To the west of Bigbury is the curved sandy beach at Challaborough and the small coves at Ayrmer Cove and Westcombe Beach.
South of Bigbury are the small quiet beaches of Broad Sand, Yarmouth Sand, Leas Foot Sand and then the big family beach at Thurlestone Sand and the picturesque village of Hope Cove, which has two sandy beaches.
To the south of Hope Cove is the headland of Bolt Tail and from here the coast stretches south for around 5 miles east to Bolt Head. There is only one beach on this part of the coast, the small but picturesque Soar Mill Cove.
Beyond Bolt Head is Salcombe Harbour and Salcombe is a town well worth visiting. Just below Salcombe are the small but popular beaches of North Sands and South Sands. On the east bank of Salcombe Harbour is a very pleasant stretch of sand from East Portlemouth to Mill Bay and Sunny Cove.
From Mill Bay the coast stretches east for 6 or 7 miles to Start Point. There are a number of smaller quieter beaches on this part of the coast, including Seacombe Sand, Moor Sand, Maceley Cove, Elender Cove, the beach at Prawle Point, Malcombe Sand and closer to Start Point Lannacombe and Mattiscombe.
Around Start Point, the coast stretches north eastwards into scenic Start Bay and there are pleasant beaches here Hall Sands, Beesands and the 3 mile pebble beach at Slapton Sands. East of Slapton Sands is the pleasant family beach at Blackpool Sands.
Beyond Blackpool Sands is the Dartmouth estuary and Dartmouth is another pleasant town worth visiting.
There are various routes into South Devon. From the Plymouth direction, take the A379, from the Totnes direction, take the A381 to Kingsbridge.
Westcombe Beach Ayrmer Cove Challaborough Bigbury Bantham Sand Thurlestone Sand Hope Cove Soar Mill Cove North Sands South Sands East Portlemouth Mill Bay Seacombe Sand Elender Cove Prawle Point Lannacombe Mattiscombe Hall Sands Beesands Slapton Sands Blackpool Sands Broad Sand Yarmouth Sand Leas Foot Sand Sunny Cove Moor Sand Malcombe Sand Maceley Cove