DEVON is the only county with two coastlines – and it certainly has the impressive beaches to show for it.
Growing up in South Devon, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time enjoying its spectacular seaside – in particular along the English Riviera.
The Riviera spans 22 miles of pretty coastline along the South West Coast Path.
It has been hugely popular among holidaymakers ever since the Victorian era, thanks to its micro-climate.
The unusually warm weather means it is home to plenty of tropical plants and palm trees, giving it a Mediterranean feel.
In my 20 years living in the area, I’ve experienced all 25 stunning beaches across the three towns that feature on the Riviera – Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.
Each spot is different, with some being better for families while others are better for confident explorers.
As a local who has been to all of them, here’s my verdict on each…
25. Saltern Cove
Saltern Cove is a rocky, shingle beach that is my least favourite of all 25.
It’s rough underfoot, so I’d recommend taking beach shoes if you go in the water, and it’s best reached by kayak or paddle board.
The cove is a Special Site of Scientific Interest and as a result, is also a local nature reserve.
Near Goodrington Beach, you can head to the cove via Goodrington Sands or the South West Coast Path, and dogs are allowed all year-round.
24. Churston Cove
North of Brixham, Churston Cove is a quiet, shingle beach surrounded by dramatic cliffs.
This cove is popular among locals because it’s less well-known among tourists.
The water is particularly clear and calm compared to many of the other beaches.
I would say only venture to this spot if you are a keen hiker as the path is steep and uneven, but it does make for a scenic walk.
23. Watcombe Beach
If you want to see a beach with dramatic scenery, head to Watcombe Beach.
This secluded, quiet cove is surrounded by dramatic red cliffs scattered with towering trees.
The beach itself is a mixture of sand, shingle, and pebbles.
To get to the beach, your best bet is to park in the car park off Moor Lane and you will need to walk down a 500-metre, steep path.
22. Maidencombe Beach
For another dog-friendly spot, head to Maidencombe Beach in Torquay.
The beach is another place that features the county’s famous red sandstone cliffs, but is also a great spot to go rock pooling.
To get to the beach, you will need to head down a steep path and quite a few steps – so that is worth bearing in mind.
There is also a family-run cafe at the beach, where you can rent a paddleboard or kayak.
21. Oyster Cove
For another quiet spot, visit Oyster Cove in Paignton.
Popular with locals, to get to the beach you will have to head down a number of steps from the South West Coast Path above.
When the tide is low, loads of rockpools emerge to explore.
Your four-legged friend is allowed all year-round too.
20. Shoalstone Beach
Shoalstone Beach is another shingle beach that’s a 15-minute walk from Brixham’s main harbour.
The sea is quite rough here, but that’s no problem because Shoalstone seawater swimming pool is right next to the beach – the 53-metre tidal pool recently reopened following repairs.
There is a promenade to walk along and dogs are allowed year-round.
The Berry Head Hotel is a short walk away and perfect for a weekend stay, with rooms from £176.
19. Livermead Sands
Along the seafront from Torre Abbey Sands, heading towards Preston and Paignton, you willl find Livermead Sands.
It sits below a hotel by the same name and is a small red sand beach that completely disappears at high tide.
If you are staying at the hotel, there is direct access to the beach.
In the summer, make sure to catch the Red Arrows who fly over the beach.
18. Hollicombe Beach
Hollicombe Beach sits between the towns of Paignton and Torquay and is backed by red sandstone cliffs.
The quiet, sheltered beach features the famous red Devon sand and it’s quite long and thin, so you have to time your visit right to get the most of the space.
Wait until the tide washes out and suddenly a ton of rock pools will emerge, making it the best spot to go hunting for sea creatures.
Accessed by a steep, narrow slope, it’s good for older kids as it’s shallow water extends quite far out.
17. Man Sands
If you want to go to a secluded spot, head to Man Sands when on a hike from Sharkham Point.
The beach isn’t the most accessible, but the view is worth it when you get there.
And when the tide heads out, you will be able to explore a number of coves and rockpools.
It is a great spot for wildlife lovers as well, as behind the beach is a green area where birds live, and it is managed by the National Trust.
16. Beacon Cove
Growing up, I used to visit this beach a lot, tied in with a trip to the now- abandoned Living Coasts.
The beach sits between two cliffs and features a mix of pebbles and shingle.
The water is always very clear.
This spot even has the stamp of approval from a local celeb – Agatha Christie – who used to bathe here when it was a Ladies’ Bathing Cove.
15. Corbyn Beach
If Torre Abbey Sands is too busy for you, head to Corbyn Head Beach.
It is only a few minutes’ walk away from Torre Abbey Sands, but is much quieter and less busy.
Corbyn Head sits at the end of the beach, which is even believed to have inspired Baldy’s Head in Agatha Christie’s novel, Postern of Fate.
There’s a slipway from the road to the beach, making it super accessible, and you can grab a light bite from the cafe there too.
14. Fairy Cove
Located just behind Paignton Harbour, this quiet red-sand and pebble cove is a great spot for a peaceful escape.
The beach isn’t huge, but thanks to being tucked behind the harbour, you will only find locals there.
The sea here always tends to be a bit calmer as well, and has a nice gradual entry without getting deep quickly.
Not too far from the high street, it is the ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle.
13. Meadfoot Beach
A short drive from Torquay town harbour, you’ll reach Meadfoot Beach, which boasts a mix of shingle and pebble.
This beach has very clean water, but is known for being a little rockier underfoot when paddling.
It is also quieter, and thanks to a small car park and parking along the road, it is the perfect place to head wild swimming or kayaking, as crowds don’t get in the way.
There are also some seasonal beach huts and a cafe.
Make sure to look out for Thatcher Rock as well, and if you have binoculars you will be able to spot local birdlife on the towering sea rock.
If you want to extend your stay in this slightly quieter area of the English Riviera, you can book into The Osbourne Hotel, which looks right out to sea and costs from only £68 per night.
12. Anstey’s Cove
Anstey’s Cove was once used as a smugglers’ hideout thanks to being so secluded.
And today that secluded nature remains, with a shingle beach that is dog-friendly year-round.
The beach itself is surrounded by towering cliffs and woodland, making it a nice sheltered spot, hidden from the main tourist beaches.
It is a great stop when hiking along the South West Coast Path and to see dramatic rock formations.
11. Oddicombe Beach
Tucked under towering cliffs near Babbacombe, just outside of Torquay, you’ll find Oddicombe Beach.
The beach is another great family spot and you can have the added fun of getting there via the Babbacombe Cliff Railway.
At the beach, there are beach huts to rent, as well as a shop and cafe.
It is worth noting parking is a distance away, so I would say this is not a suitable beach for families with pushchairs.
10. Breakwater Beach
Another one of my fave spots is Breakwater Beach in Brixham.
Known as one of the cleanest beaches on the English Riviera, you will always spot brave wild swimmers and scuba divers in training.
The seabed here is actually home to a rare seagrass as well as seahorses.
If you walk along the beach and breakwater, you almost certainly will spot some of the town’s resident seals.
I am yet to visit and not see them, and I have been well over 20 times.
The Grade II historic site spot also holds a lot of history, as it was used as an embarkation point for the D-Day landings, where 30,000 troops with ammunition were loaded onto vessels.
9. Fishcombe Cove
On the edge of Brixham, you will find Fishcombe Cove, which is a dog-friendly beach with a mix of sand and shingle.
It sits right on the South West Coast Path, so is a good point to stop and enjoy the views of the bay.
It is also popular with wild swimmers and paddleboarders.
It used to be an important site for the lime kiln industry, with workers burning limestone to make lime for building.
8. Paignton Sands
When people think of traditional seaside towns, the image they see is pretty much Paignton Sands.
The long-stretching red sand beach features shallow water ideal for kids, a pier with arcades, crazy golf, a cinema, and spots to grab a bite to eat.
There always tends to be sand here, so it is ideal for a long day in the sun.
And thanks to being a short walk away from Paignton high street and train station, there’s a whole host of other things to do, including a huge playpark – making it the best spot on the coast for entertainment.
7. Preston Sands
If you want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Paignton Sands, head to Preston Sands instead.
The beach actually connects up with Paignton Sands, but is much quieter.
Backed by a green, it is a great spot for an early evening walk with an ice cream in hand or an afternoon picnic.
In fact, the green was used during World War I to house seaplanes that used to operate day trips around Torbay.
6. Torre Abbey Sands
Not too far from Torquay town centre, Torre Abbey Sands sits next to a road where you’ll find a lot of parking.
The long, red sandy beach is ideal for families as it’s sheltered and close to a number of facilities including toilets, an ice cream shop, a chippy and even a Lounges restaurant.
At low tide, the beach is huge as well, meaning there is plenty of space for families.
If lucky, you might catch ‘The Sandyman’ – artist Geoffrey Ward – who creates large patterns on the beach using a rake.
5. Broadsands Beach
While you can park at the south end of the beach, I would recommend walking to the beach from Broadsands.
There, you will pass under a towering viaduct designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Then it takes about five minutes along a lane to reach the beach, which has golden soft sand and isn’t as busy as other spots on the coast.
At either end of the beach, you’ll find rock pools, and then in the middle of the beach is a lifeguard, where you can also hire kayaks and paddleboards, and a cafe.
4. St Mary’s Bay
If you are looking for a spot that really transports you elsewhere, then head to St Mary’s Bay.
Here you will find soft sand, surrounded by cliffs covered in forest, making you feel as if you were somewhere more tropical.
The water itself is usually calm and clear as well.
You can head to the beach along the South West Coast Path too.
3. Babbacombe Beach
Next door to Oddicombe Beach, connected by a wooden coastal walkway, you will find Babbacombe Beach.
The beach is mostly pebbles, but is also sheltered, often making it a preferred spot for snorkelling and diving.
You might be able to see grey seals floating in the water too.
The serene spot even has its very own ‘inn on the beach’, with a pub.
Called the Cary Arms, the hotel sits right above the water and features a spa with an indoor pool that looks out to sea.
Rooms cost from £232 per night.
2. Goodrington Sands
No other beach in the UK can say it sits right by the UK’s largest outdoor waterpark.
But that isn’t all Goodrington Sands boasts.
With a Premier Inn right by the beach to extend your stay, there are plenty of things to do.
The beach is split into two – north and south beach.
With steam trains running along the north beach, this tends to be the more family-friendly spot.
It is also where you will find watersports activities, ice cream shops, chippies, and the waterpark.
The south end tends to be the dog-friendly walkers’ spot, backed by a huge green where you will also find a small lake with pedalos, karts and crazy golf.
For a bite to eat, head to Brewers Fayre Inn On The Quay.
1. Elberry Cove
Elberry Cove is just a short walk from Broadsands Beach and is my top pick.
A stunning pebble beach with clear waters that look like the Med and are always so inviting.
Every time I have visited, that moment where the beach comes into view makes me feel warm and fuzzy, and as if I have been picked up and dumped on some remote Greek island.
At the far end of the beach is a small bathhouse ruin that dates back to the 18th century.
It used to let Lord Churston, who built it, swim directly into the sea and even had an early version of the hot tub, which used to be heated by fire.
The cove is even believed to have connections to Agatha Christie, who grew up in the area and used it as a setting in her novel The ABC Murders.
It is also a great spot for watching nearby jet skis bounce over the sea.
