South Devon Beaches

Head to the South coast of Devon for secluded coves to explore and miles of sandy beaches. Enjoy the beautiful English Riviera and the stunning coastal walks along the coastal path.

Find your favourite South Devon Beaches

This section of the guide includes the beaches of Exmouth, Teignbridge, and the English Riviera.

Beaches in Devon A-Z

For the best chance of warm, sunny weather and water ideal for swimming and beach activities, aim for the peak summer months of July and August. But the South Devon coast is beautiful year-round, with each season offering its own charms.

Anstey’s Cove

Anstey’s Cove, near Torquay, is a small secluded cove on the South Devon coast.

Axmouth Harbour

Just a fifteen minute walk along the coast from Seaton Beach is Axmouth Harbour.

Babbacombe Beach

Babbacombe Beach is a popular sand and shingle beach on the ‘English Riviera’.

Bantham Beach

Bantham Beach is one of South Devon’s most popular family beaches.

Beer Beach

Beer Beach is a charming sheltered pebble cove, with great views and boating trips to be taken.

Beesands Beach

Beesands Beach Beach

Bigbury-on-Sea

Bigbury-on-Sea is the largest beach in South Devon and one of the best known for family days out.

Blackpool Sands

Blackpool Sands is a privately managed award winning family friendly beach in Start Bay, Devon.

Bovisand Beach

Bovisand Beach is a family friendly seaside destination.

Branscombe Beach

Unspoilt Branscombe Beach is a popular seaside destination on the South Devon’s famous Jurassic Coast.

Breakwater Beach

Breakwater beach in Brixham is a lovely clean pebble beach.

Brixham Harbour Beach

Charming Brixham Harbour Beach is a small north facing beach to the right of the harbour.

Broadsands

Broadsands is a red sandy beach which backed by beach huts in Paignton.

Budleigh Salterton

Family friendly, Budleigh Salterton beach is a long pebble beach in the seaside town on the Jurassic Coast.

Burgh Island

Burgh Island has a character all of its own. Located just across from Bigbury on Sea.

Challaborough Beach

Challaborough Beach is an award winning beach on the South Devon coast.

Churston Cove

Churston Cove, next to Fishcombe Beach, is a quiet sand and shingle beach in Brixham.

Corbyn Sands

Corbyn Sands is small shingle beach at the southern end of Torre Abbey Sands.

Coryton Cove

Coryton Cove is a small south east facing beach just south of Dawlish, backed by the coastal path.

Dawlish Town Beach

Family-friendly Dawlish Town Beach is a picturesque coastal seaside destination on the Devon coast.

Dawlish Warren

Dawlish Warren is a popular sandy beach in Teignbridge. A Blue Flag award-winning beach, with excellent family-friendly facilities.

East Portlemouth

East Portlemouth Beach is on the Salcombe estuary and at low tide it is perfect for dogs.

Elander Cove

Elander Cove is a small rugged cove, reached only by walking down a steep path.

Elberry Cove

Elberry Cove is a charming shingle beach reached only on foot. The beach is usually quiet.

Exmouth Beach

Exmouth Beach has two miles of sandy beach, ideal for families swimming, building sandcastles or exploring the coastline.

Fishcombe Beach

Fishcombe is a lovely shingle beach cloaked by cliffs and wooded hillsides and stunning scenery.

Gara Rock Beach

Goodrington Beach

Goodrington Beach is a long golden sandy beach, and the ultimate family -riendly destination.

Goodrington Beach

Goodrington Beach is a long golden sandy beach, and the ultimate family friendly destination.

Hallsands Beach

East facing Hallsands Beach

Holcombe Beach

Holcombe beach small cove at the base of the cliffs between Teignmouth and Dawlish Beach.

Hollicombe Beach

Hollicombe Beach near Torquay is a small red sandy beach cloaked by low sandstone cliffs, best visited…

Hope Cove

Charming Hope Cove on the South Devon coast is a great place to visit for a family…

Jacob’s Ladder Beach

A short distance east of Sidmouth beach is Jacobs’s Ladder beach. A wide stretch of beach…

Jennycliff Beach

Jennycliff Beach is on the east coast of Plymouth Sound, offers great views of Drakes island, Cornwall…

Ladram Bay

Ladram Bay is a pebble and shingle beach just to the west of Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast.

Lannacombe Beach

Maidencombe Beach

Maidencombe Beach is a charming small sandy beach with rockpools to explore at low tide.

Meadfoot Beach

Meadfoot Beach is a rocky beach quieter than neighbouring Torre Abbey, and Babbacombe, where visitors can relax…

Mill Bay

Mill Bay is a lovely sandy beach perfect for a dip in the sea, looking across the…

Mothercombe Beach

Mothercombe Beach Beach

Ness Cove

A lovely smugglers cove on the South Devon coast.

Oddicombe Beach

Oddicombe Beach in Torquay is a lovely sheltered cove backed by red sandstone cliffs. Visitors can enjoy…

Old Cellars Beach

Stunning and secluded Old Cellars Beach.

Paignton Beach

Paignton Beach is an award winning, popular family destination stretching each side of Paignton Pier with all…

Petitoire Beach

Petitoire Beach in Torquay is a small sheltered cove backed by red sandstone cliffs. It is noted…

Preston Beach

Preston Beach is a red sandy beach just north of Paignton. There are beach huts lining the…

Salcombe – North Sands

Salcombe – North Sands Beach

Salcombe – South Sands

Salcombe South Sands at the mouth of a tidal estuary, this picturesque town is a sailing hotspot.

Sandy Bay Beach

Sandy Bay Beach is an award-winning family friendly beach backed by holiday parks.

Seaton Beach

Seaton Beach Beach

Shaldon Beach

Popular Shaldon Beach looks out over the estuary mouth to Teignmouth and is a perfect spot for…

Shoalstone Beach

Charming Shoalstone in next to Brixham Harbour is a small shingle and rock beach.

Sidmouth Town Beach

Slapton Sands

Slapton Sands is a three mile sand and shingle bar stretching south to Torcross Sands on the…

Soar Mill Cove

A small rugged cove on the South Devon coast.

South Milton Sands

South Milton Sands is a popular beach on the South Devon Coast. This beach is great for swimming and watersports.

St Marys Bay

St Marys Bay is a sand and shingle beach near Brixham, perfect for a sunny day.

Start Bay

Visit Start Bay Reach this beach along the South West Coastal Path.

Sugary Cove

Visit Sugary Cove Just a fifteen minute walk along the coast from Seaton Beach is Axmouth Harbour.

Teignmouth River Beach

Teignmouth River Beach also known as Teignmouth Back Beach.

Teignmouth Town Beach

Thurlestone – North

North Just a fifteen minute walk along the coast from Seaton Beach is Axmouth Harbour.

Thurlestone – South

Thurlestone South on the Devon Coast.

Torre Abbey Sands

Torre Abbey Sands is the most well known beach in Torquay, ever popular with holidaymakers during the summer holidays.

Watcombe Bay

Charming Watcombe beach is a secluded hidden gem on the English Riviera.

Wembury Beach

Wembury beach

Weston Mouth Beach

Visit Weston Mouth Beach Just a fifteen minute walk along the coast from Seaton Beach is Axmouth Harbour. Home to…

What’s On

Coastal events in South Devon for your diary

Annual events taking place for 2024.

Food Festivals
Sailing
Sporting Events

Top South Devon Beaches

Looking for top South Devon Coast destinations? Miles of sandy beaches, traditional seaside towns and family attractions. Walk the coastal path or find family friendly Blue Flag beaches. There are sandy beaches in Isle of Wight which are safe for swimming as well as dog friendly beaches for long walks with our four legged friends.

Blue Flag

Family Friendly award winning beaches

Dog friendly

For long walks with our four legged friends.

What’s On

Find out What’s On – from festivals to cultural events along the coast

Common Questions

There are 22 miles of English Rivera beaches in Torbay. Brixham, Paignton and Torquay are the Riviera towns and have something for everyone, from local and historical interest to watersports and family entertainment.

If you are looking for a sandy beach with facilities that is great for families, there are a lot to choose from. Bantham beach, Dawlish Warren, Torre Abbey Sands and Slapton Sands are just some of the all time family favourite beaches in South Devon.

Enjoy the beautiful South Devon coast.

Explore other areas near South Devon

Explore the miles of UK coastline with popular seaside destinations, coastal walks and water sports. Find more beaches in the southwest coast of England, covering the counties of Somerset, North Cornwall, North Devon, South East Cornwall, South West Cornwall and South Cornwall. Stop off at a beach for the day or walk or cycle the coastal trails.

UK Beach Guide

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