Beaches

South Devon has some of the best beaches in England – crystal clear waters, large sandy beaches and beautiful secluded coves.   

With over 120 miles of stunning coastline running from Seaton to Plymouth, South Devon has over 50 beaches just waiting to be explored and enjoyed - view our South Devon Beaches Map. 

Family Friendly Beaches

Kids and families will love the sandy beaches where you can spend hours building sandcastles and discovering creatures in rock pools, and many have lifeguards throughout the summer for extra safety. Plenty of beaches in South Devon have awards for water and beach quality, so you can be sure the kids are having good clean fun. If you want to know a bit more about beach safety – please see our safety guide.

Watersports

Sailing, surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding – and more – the beaches in South Devon are watersports havens – whether you are trying for the first time or a seasoned professional – there is no better way to explore the South Devon coastline than getting out on the water.

Dog Friendly Beaches

Many of the beaches in South Devon are dog friendly – some all year round and some just in the winter. So bring all the family and enjoy long strolls on the beach or a dip in the sea – check out our dog friendly beach guide for more information.

To help you find your perfect beach in South Devon, we have developed our Top 10 beaches list with something for everyone, or if you want to explore further – we have a beach map for your convenience.

The South West Coast Path

If you want to get out and explore the coastline, take a walk along The South West Coast Path, which will guide you along the stunning panoramic sweep of coast, and also allow access to some hidden coves and beaches.

The South West Coast Path runs the length of the South Devon coast - and so you can be sure of well-kept and marked paths and signage to show you the way. 

The Jurassic Coast

The Jurassic Coast covers 95 miles of stunning coastline running from Exmouth in South Devon to Studland in Dorset. The start of this coastline, in Exmouth, is marked with a five metre high ‘geo needle’ at Orcombe Point. The cliffs and beaches along the route record 185 million years of the earth’s history.

A geological ‘walk through time’ this part of the UK coastline spans the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods and was awarded England’s first natural World Heritage Site status in 2001.

Much of Devon’s Jurassic Coast lies within the East Devon National Landscape meaning it’s an ideal habitat for rare and important plants, birds and animals. You might even spot dolphins and basking sharks whilst exploring.

Further Resources

Many of South Devon’s beaches are award winning and have high water quality, to find up to date bathing water quality information on all the UK’s beaches, visit the Environment Agency website.

For 20 top tips on how to have a safe, fun, healthy and relaxing day at the beach visit the Beachwise website.

If you would like further information then we recommend you check out other popular pages on our site such as Maps, Things To Do, Attractions, Accommodation, Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts, Holiday Parks, Holiday Cottages, What's On, Events and Wedding Venues. Alternatively, you can also check out some of our popular town and village pages such as Salcombe, Dartmouth, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, Sidmouth, Teignmouth, Dawlish and Tiverton.