BEACHES
Far removed from that infamous North Western town, Blackpool Sands is a gorgeous Blue Flag award winning crescent of shingle backed by evergreens & pines. Excellent facilities, including The Venus Cafe - good for a mackerel sandwich or fish special and licensed
Slapton Sands (actually shingle) is just a couple of miles away. Good space, great views and backing onto a large freshwater lake. Excellent parking, facilities and several good options of fish & chips.
Beesands is an active fishing village, boats pull up onto the beach, lobster pots are piled up high. For the best fish & chips and seafood specials head to The Britannia. The Cricket Inn is also a great bet for food or a pint in the sunshine.
Mattiscombe is a fine sandy beach with superb views and is great for swimming. A good 1km walk from the car park and zero facilities keeps the crowds away - we love it!
Gara (AKA Rickham Sands). Ten minute walk from car park, careful, it is a steep climb back. But boy is it worth it. Sandy, fine views and when you get back up try to grab a drink and bite to eat on the Gara Rock Hotel terrace - a sublime vista.
Mill Bay is a wide and deep sandy beach on the estuary, opposite Salcombe. Plenty of shallows for paddling, though watch yourselves. There is another Venus Cafe up the road by the Salcombe ferry, it's an easy hop across to explore the town and trust us it's best not to drive.
North Sands is a sandy beach with good swimming and views of the estuary mouth. Excellent parking and the licenced Winking Prawn serving up everything from take out coffee to seafood platters and fizz. Just a 10-15 minute walk into Salcombe too.
Funnily enough South Sands is further south, just over the hill, another sandy, sheltered spot with fab views.
Soar Mill Cove is a tiny but beautiful beach, best at low to mid tide. It's a stunning 20 minute walk from Bolberry National Trust car park, well worth the effort for a facility & crowd free time.
All three offer great dining options in addition to fine beaches.
Hope Cove consists of Inner and Outer Hope, both sandy with the former better at low tide. Check out The Cove and Hope Cove House for drinks & food.
South Milton & Thurlestone Sands are adjoined. It's a long stretch of sand, shallow for a fair way out, great for swimming, excellent rock pools and the superb Beach House for fresh seafood with rustic beach shack vibes. One of our favourites.
Bantham is a vast sandy beach backed by dunes and with views to Burgh Island and the Avon estuary. Excellent for surfing, SUP, wind and kitesurfing in the right conditions. Watch the rips, though lifeguards are usually on duty. The Sloop Inn and village shop are tucked in behind and the Gastrobus is nestled in next to the dunes. Our favourite beach.
Bigbury sits just the other side of the estuary mouth, long and sandy, walk to the island when the tide permits or take the sea tractor. A pint at the Pilchard Inn is a must, an old smugglers haunt steeped in atmosphere. Great cafe, surf board and wetsuit hire.
