Beessands is a mile long, award winning pebble beach backed by fields and a freshwater lake known as Widdecombe Ley which makes it ideal for bird watching. Fishing boats still offer up the catch of the day on the village green and the fresh crab sandwiches served up daily are not to be missed. This is a popular beach for surfing, bodyboarding, canoeing, sailing and windsurfing as well as being a popular South West fishing spot.
Hallsands is a Shingle beach, very popular for diving, swimming and fishing near to the remains of the old fishing village at South Hallsands which stood until 1917 when gales and exceptionally high tides took its toll on the village following the dredging that took place just offshore from Hallsands. Hallsands defences couldn't stand up to the severe weather and as a result much of the village was taken by the ferocious sea and storms leaving just one house remaining. Thankfully no lives were lost. All that remains in Hallsands today is the ruins of the chapel that is perched on the edge of the cliff top.
The stories about the village of Hallsands do vary somewhat, and it is thought that the true story of what happened at Hallsands is yet to be uncovered! The site of the old village of Hallsands remains closed however it is possible to view the village that once was, via a purpose built viewing platform in South Hallsands.
Lannacombe beach is a small sandy yet rugged beach flanked by large areas of rocks. It is one of the quieter beaches in the South Devon area and has access to the South Devon Coastal path giving impressive views of both the coastline and surrounding countryside. It's a great spot for rock pooling and surfing but please check the tide timetable as you can be very quickly caught out. Parking is limited so we recommend an early start.
East Portlemouth is set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is well worth a visit. It is made up of a number of small beaches including Fishermans Cove, Smalls Cove, Sunny Cove and Mill Bay. Sunny Cove is through the trees on the coast path heading out of the estuary. All the beaches have won Safe Bathing status so you can be assured that the water is shallow, clean and safe for paddling. At low tide you'll find loads of shallow rock pools, which will keep the kids occupied for hours. If you want to explore slightly further afield, there's a daily ferry from Fisherman's Cove to Salcombe. You can take in the local scenery with a walk along the nearby National Trust Coast Path or alternatively try out some of the water sport on offer.
There's on-site parking, disabled access to the beach and disabled toilets as well as places to eat.
As well as being an extremely picturesque and popular beach, Slapton Sands plays an important part in the survival of some of the UK's rarest flora and fauna. Many visitors come to observe wildlife in the Slapton Ley Nature Reserve where the plants and animals living in the fresh water lake vary according to the seasons.
The beach itself offers water sports such as surfing, windsurfing and canoeing and it is patrolled by lifeguards during the summer months as well as having the usual facilities.
Slapton Sands has a very interesting past in 1943, the beach was taken over by the allied forces to use as a rehearsal area for the D-Day Landings. Unfortunately, a combination of live ammunition and poor visibility resulted in the deaths of 749 American servicemen. A stone monument, which was set in place on Slapton Sands to commemorate the ill-fated 'Operation Tiger', along with a Sherman Tank, can be found at nearby Torcross.
Blackpool Sands is backed by evergreens and scented pines, giving it a sense of the Mediterranean. As a privately managed beach it's kept its standards high, making it one of the most popular family beaches within the area. You'll find a superb range of facilities on hand, as well as the usual showers, toilets and disabled facilities. Blackpool Sands also has sand pits so that the kids can enjoy safe and supervised play.
If you like to add a little adrenaline to your day, then there are loads of water sports available to try including kayaking & boogie boarding. You can also explore the abundant marine life thanks to wetsuit and snorkel hire facilities. As part of its high standards, Blackpool Sands has lifeguards on duty during the summer months.
Milton Sands gives you the chance to see both stunning scenery and rare wildlife, behind the beach you can discover wetlands that have been designated as an area of Special Scientific Interest giving you the opportunity to observe wildlife in its natural environment. The beach has also won an award from the Marine Conservation Society in recognition of the clean waters and protected natural habitats. Seals and dolphins are fairly common in the sea here and there have even been sighting of whales. Thurlestone Rock, an arch-shaped rock that sticks out of the sea can be seen from the beach. Milton Sands beach is popular with surfers and local surfing schools offer courses for beginners. Or why not explore the reefs and shipwrecks and go diving or snorkelling. If you prefer to keep it a bit drier, kayaks, stand up paddle boards and canoes are available for hire.
As the sea reaches low tide, there are lots of shallow rock pools for children to explore. The beach has a number of facilities including a great Beach Café, parking and lifeguards are on duty from May to September.
This is great award winning sandy beach with fabulous views of Bigbury Bay and Burgh Island. You can get to Burgh Island by taking a ride on the famous 'sea-tractor', which the kids will love. Bantham is shallow and sandy so it's great for families with kids who want to do a little swimming or paddling and at low tide, you'll find loads of shallow pools that are perfect for crab hunting. lt's also one of the best surfing beaches in South Devon! The beach is well served with its own facilities, including a beach shop, where you can buy all those little essentials & toilets and there are lifeguards on duty from May to September.
Bigbury on Sea is yet another awarding winning beach and is ideal if you have children in tow given the lapping shallow waters and the numerous rock pools. There is a wide variety of water sports on offer such as body boarding, surfing, wind surfing and kite surfing with hire facilities available on the beach. Bigbury on Sea has the usual facilities including a café that specialises in selling organic and local food. Lifeguards are present from May to September
Bigbury's most famous landmark is Burgh Island accessible at low tide, when the waters reveal a causeway that links it to the beach. However, when the tide is in you can still reach the island by hitching a ride on the popular and unique 'sea tractor'. Burgh Island boasts an award winning art deco hotel, known to be the inspiration of two of Agatha Christie mysteries.