Best Beaches in Devon

Best Beaches in Devon

Devon has some stunning beaches in gorgeous natural settings. Here are some of the best beaches you can visit in Devon - in our opinion!

Woolacombe Beach

This award-winning stretch of golden sand is known for its surf and stunning scenery. The middle of the beach is backed by a wild stretch of sand dunes managed by the National Trust. The north end of the beach has easy access with concrete slopes onto the beach and facilities including refreshments, beach huts, parking close to the beach and surf equipment for hire. The village itself, buzzing with cafes and restaurants in the main tourist season, is only a short walk away. Dogs are allowed on the quieter area of beach away from the village. There are lifeguards on duty in the summer months.

Woolacombe Beach © Find Me a Beach

Croyde Beach

Another of North Devon’s beautiful sandy beaches, Croyde Beach is renowned for its powerful surf but also its strong rip currents so take care in the water. It’s backed by sand dunes with craggy, grassy headlands at either end. There are walks nearby, such as over Baggy Point, with beautiful views of the coastline. 10 mins walk away is pretty Croyde village with pubs, shops and restaurants. There are facilities near to the beach, such as parking, surf board hire, cafes and toilets. Dogs aren’t allowed on the beach in the main tourist season. There are lifeguards on duty in the summer months.

Croyde Beach © Find Me a Beach

Saunton Beach

You can always find part of the beach which is quiet on this vast stretch of sand, backed by dunes and a UNESCO nature reserve. Saunton Sands, like Woolacombe and Croyde Beaches, is part of the North Devon Surfing Reserve. It’s popular for learning to surf and longboarding. It offers accessible amenities such as parking next to the beach, a concrete ramp from the car park to the beach and beach wheelchairs for hire. There are plenty of facilities close by such as toilets, a cafe, surf schools and equipment hire.

Saunton Sands Photo by Elizabeth Jamieson on Unsplash

Blackpool Sands

Blackpool Sands is a lovely golden crescent of beach with a backdrop of wooded hillsides, giving it a Mediterranean feel. It has great facilities and easy access to the beach from the car park just behind it. The beach is covered with shingle rather than sand, but there are sandpits to keep little sandcastle builders happy. An ideal place to relax in the sun and soak up the scenery or if you fancy something more energetic there are kayaks and paddleboards for hire. Dogs aren’t allowed on this beach in the main tourist season. Lifeguards patrol the beach in the main tourist season.

Blackpool Sands © Philip Halling (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Bigbury Beach

Bigbury Beach is a unique sandy beach with its own island - Burgh Island. You can walk to the island when the tide is low or when the tide is high, you can take a sea tractor. The beach is great for families and has many rock pools to explore at low tide. There are dog friendly areas and good facilities including parking, a cafe and toilets just above the beach. Lifeguards patrol the beach in the main tourist season.

Bigbury-on-Sea Beach from Burgh Island © Wayland Smith (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Bantham Beach

Bantham Beach is known as a great beach for surfing in South Devon. It’s also popular for families due to its golden sands and nearby parking. If you’re feeling peckish, there are vans behind the beach selling delicious, locally sourced street food. Bantham Beach is also based in an area of natural beauty and has gorgeous views across the bay to Burgh Island. Dogs are allowed to the north of the beach, through the dunes. There are lifeguards on duty through the main tourist season.

Bantham Beach © Derek Harper (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Main image: Woolacombe Beach © Find Me a Beach

Devon has many beautiful beaches. Whether you like surfing, swimming, or just relaxing, there is a beach for you. For details of RNLI lifeguard patrol times check https://rnli.org/find-my-nearest/lifeguarded-beaches.

To search for more beaches in Devon for free, download the Find Me a Beach app. Purchase a monthly or annual subscription for detailed profiles on the beaches above including tides and weather.

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