The secrets of Devon’s beaches and bays 

If you fancy the feeling of being teleported into a period drama, skip along to Beer. A quaint little flshing village perched high on the coast that delivers maritime charm by the boatload. Working fishermen still set sail from the pebble beach every morning, while the tiny shops above sell knickknacks you can’t resist buying. As a working beach, Beer lends itself more to a mooch around, than a spot to claim for a day’s sunbathing. That said, the cliffs create the ideal sun trap and provide sheltered waters for swimming. 

Blackpool Sands has a lot more going for it than the perfectly placed cafe, but being able to pair one of the best restaurants in Devon with one of its best beaches elevates it even further. Eating a bacon roll on the shingle sand here is one of life’s simple pleasures. And, for the most part, tranquility rules at this Blue Flag beach. Jet skis and boats are barred from the swimming area – so for watersports, your kicks are SUP, kayaks and windsurfing. At £5, a mooch around the restored Blackpool Gardens is a pricey amble through semi-tropical planting you might want to swerve. It’s worth noting too that there’s a dog ban in place from May to October. But there are plenty more dog friendly beaches in Devon for four-legged adventures. 

People expect a lot from the best beaches in Devon and holiday facilities are usually at the top of the list. But, often, you simply want to stroll along a stretch of coast and get away from reminders of the daily grind. THE place to do that in Devon? Heddon’s Mouth. To get to the 400 million year old cliffs, you’re looking at an amble through ancient woodland. Otters frolic in the Heddon Valley and rare butterfly species flutter through the grasses and wildflowers. You can see it all by parking up at the National Trust car park (around a mile inland) and following the River Heddon to the coast. Bliss. 

When the sun shines, south Devon’s beaches see crowds queuing to find their place on the sands. North Devon beaches have a slightly easier time of things, but there’s one that’s barely registering on most people’s radar. Crow Point is a cracking peninsula on the Taw and Torridge estuary. Sand dunes, little egrets, swans and miles of dog friendly beach that just begs to be explored. In the autumn and winter it’s as quiet as can be and, although summer sees numbers pick up, it never reaches anything approaching overcrowded. Maybe it’s the £2 toll road that puts people off? But that’s far cheaper than most beach car parking in Devon. 

We can’t talk about the best beaches in Devon and leave out Woolacombe. Regularly voted as one of the best beaches in the UK, it’s also popped into the worldwide beach charts. That alone isn’t enough to get you here? Let’s talk sand. Three miles of swim-safe coastline that mingles rockpooling, sandcastles, swimming and seal spotting. Pretty stellar so far. Add in the picture-postcard Devon village of Woolacombe and a glorious stretch of the South West coastal path and it’s easy to understand why this beach’s trophy cabinet is getting a little full. 

Two-miles of golden sand should be reason enough to come to Exmouth. One of the best beaches in South Devon – on shorescape alone, it comes with enough facilities and amenities to please even the pickiest beachgoer. Watersports span the spectrum from sedate SUP paddles to wakeboarding, water skiing and inflatable rides. The coastal tours from Stuart Line Cruises are one of the best things to do in Devon and the newly developed promenade provides off-beach action for more seaside fun. Expect the usual crazy golf and seaside amusements – alongside an entertainment complex with bowling, games arcade and restaurants.