coasts

DEVON has no short supply of beautiful beaches – whether you’re after gold sands, surfing waves or craggy caves to explore.

The two coasts – north and south – vary slightly in what they offer, though you’re sure to find something to keep everyone happy on your £9.50 Holiday in this beautiful part of the world.

North Devon is known for its dramatic scenery and surfing scene, with longer sandy beaches that are more open to the elements than on the south coast.

Here, expect a jagged coastline and windier conditions on the whole.

Meanwhile, South Devon generally has smaller, more sheltered beaches and coves to explore.

Conditions here are typically tamer, and many of its beaches are well-equipped with facilities – especially handy if you’ve got kids in tow. 

We’ve spoken to local experts and Sun readers who have holidayed in Devon to discover the best beaches, whether you’re after something family-friendly or a beach with a pub. 

Here’s what they said…  

Best for surfing 

If you’re keen to surf, North Devon with its exposure to the Atlantic is the place to go.

Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton Sands are among the best places to surf, with great waves all year round and plenty of surf schools and options for equipment hire.

Paul Braithwaite, General Manager at Ruda Holiday Park near Croyde, said: “Croyde is one of the best beaches in the country, not just in the South West.

“It’s a huge surfer’s paradise and we have a park ranger team keeping the beach clean and tidy.”

The beach is also a fantastic option for accessible surf sessions with The Wave Project who run “Surf Therapy” sessions for youngsters. 

Meanwhile, on the south coast, Bantham has fairly reliable conditions (tip: be mindful of the rips that can take inexperienced surfers by surprise).

Gem Krupa, Holiday Home Sales Manager at Challaborough Bay recommends trying a surf lesson with a company like Discovery Surf School in Bigbury-on-Sea (beginner lessons from £42pp, surfboard hire from £15).

Best beach to escape the crowds

If you’re based in South Devon, you can escape the business of the bigger beaches like Challaborough and Bigbury if you’re prepared to walk.

Ayrmer Cove is around a 20-minute walk from the car park – and has no facilities – but when you arrive, you’re likely to have this picturesque sandy cove with rock pools to yourself.

Tip: this one’s not suitable for wheelchairs or prams.

The next beach along, Wyscombe Beach, is even more remote, around an hour’s walk from the nearest car park (at Ringmore).

Gem Krupa says: “Westcombe is one of my favourites because it has a secret beach that most people don’t realise exists.

“You walk through a cave from Wyscombe at low tide, or at high tide you can paddleboard there.

“But you have to catch it when the tide is right, so check the tides before you go so you don’t get cut off.”

In North Devon, Tessa Lomas suggests Barricane Beach.

She says: “It’s a lot smaller and more hidden than Woolacombe so feels much quieter. It’s good for swimming and there’s a little cafe there, too.”

Best beach with a pub

Just across from Bigbury-on-Sea and Bantham, Burgh Island Hotel plays host to celebs like Nicholas Cage and Paloma Faith – but you don’t have to be an A-lister to visit the island.

Next door, the 700-year-old Pilchard Inn is a former fisherman’s pub, with a cosy atmosphere and great value food.

Pop over for lunch – Kids can tuck into fish and chips (£7) or a side of fries (£4.50) while you crack on with cider battered haddock (£9.50) and a locally-brewed craft beer.

Gem Krupa, Holiday Home Sales Manager at Challaborough Bay, said: “You’re looking at a minimum of £650 a night to stay at Burgh Island Hotel.

“But if you time it right and you go there with the tide out, you don’t have to catch the sea tractor, which costs you £2 per person. You can walk over there for free and have a look.”

Best for families

On the south coast, Challaborough and Bigbury are great family-friendly options, as you can roll a pram straight onto the beach and there are facilities nearby, including cafes and toilets.

Sun reader Richard Tilley, 62, from Devizes in Wiltshire, recommends Paignton Sands for families, saying: “There’s nice soft sand for building sandcastles and the sea doesn’t go deep straight away, which is good for kids.

“You can hire pedalos and you’re also close to family-friendly pubs on the seafront, plus arcades and a pirate-themed pitch and putt (Pirates Bay Adventure Golf).” 

On the north coast, families are also well catered for. For instance, Westward Ho! Has rock pools to explore and showers to rinse sandy feet, while Croyde and Instow have car parks and slipways that are ideal for prams.

Sun reader Dawn Brannigan says Saunton Sands is a good bet for families: “Saunton Sands is brilliant for collecting driftwood – I like to collect it and make driftwood models. It also has its own restaurant and shop, plus showers and toilets.”

Best for dogs

Dog walkers staying near the North Devon coast can take their pick of coastal walks.

Braunton Burrows, a vast area of sand dunes and rural farmland, are great to explore with dogs, who are allowed off the lead.

Dawn Brannigan says: “You can park at Braunton Burrows then walk through the dunes and countryside until you reach the coast at the far end of Saunton Sands. It’s a lovely walk.” 

On the south coast, Bigbury-on-Sea is dog-friendly all year round, but while most people head west towards Bantham, Gem Krupa suggests heading in the other direction.

She said: “If you turn right out of our park at Challaborough, you’ve got three beaches that are pet-friendly and all within walking distance – Ayrmer Cove, Mothecombe and Wyscombe.” 

Best for wild swimming 

Daniel Start, author of the new Wild Guide South West, recommends a dip in one of the tidal pools on the North Devon coastline.

He said: “In the Victorian era wild swimming was very popular for its health benefits, especially along the North Devon coast.

“Tunnels Beach in Ilfracombe is only accessible via a series of hand-carved Victorian tunnels.

“The different pools were once demarcated for men and women, to keep them separate.

“Swim in the crystal-clear waters of a secluded tidal pool, sheltered from the open sea by natural rock formations. When the tide is low, explore the rock pools teeming with marine life.”

With two glorious beach-fringed coasts, a pair of national parks, plus quaint villages and vibrant cities, Devon is the ultimate staycation destination. 

This picturesque county – sandwiched between Cornwall to the west and Somerset and Dorset to the east – has everything you need for a fantastic holiday.

Fill your days by building sandcastles, walking the coastal path, trying various watersports, diving into fascinating history or simply embracing nature. 

So the hardest question on your upcoming £9.50 Holiday will be: where to visit first?

If there are keen surfers in your group, you’re in the right place. 

North Devon boasts some of the country’s best surf spots, such as Croyde, Woolacombe and Saunton Sands, with companies like Surfing Croyde Bay and Woolacombe Surf Centre offering lessons and equipment hire. 

The more sheltered south coast also has a handful of spots to ride perfect waves, including Bantham, Bigbury-on-Sea and Challaborough Bay, and you can book classes with a provider such as Bantham Surfing Academy. 

If you still want in-water action but prefer something gentler, both North and South Devon are ideal for other water sports, such as bodyboarding, kayaking and canoeing. 

You can even add a splash of history, by hiring a paddleboard with an operator like Discovery Surf and then paddleboarding amidst the shipwrecks of Hope Cove in the south.

Or maybe you’re up for leaping into swirling seas near Baggy Point, a significant World War II site in Croyde, with a coasteering session from the likes of Coastline Sports. 

With over 500 miles of jaw-dropping coastline, you’re sure to find a sandy bay, hidden cove or private pebbly beach during your visit. 

Those looking to escape the crowds could head to Barricane Beach, which is more hidden than its more famous neighbour, Woolacombe.

In South Devon, you’ll get Ayrmer Cove and Wyscombe Beach almost to yourself, so long as you’re prepared to walk to get there.  

Families with prams, and wheelchair users, are able to roll straight onto Challaborough Beach, Bigbury-on-Sea and Saunton Sands – where bucket-and-spade perfection awaits. 

Meanwhile, dog walkers will never have to tread the same path twice, with miles of dog-friendly beaches, coastal paths and country trails to explore.

The Tarka Trail, a 180-mile traffic-free loop in North Devon, is a good place to start – and also works well for a family-friendly cycle ride with staggering sea views. 

When it’s time to refuel, Devon’s mainly rural cuisine will satisfy your taste buds. 

Think hot pasties, fresh fish and cheeses like Curworthy, Sharpham and Vulscombe – yum!

Harbour Light in Paignton, The Blue Hut in Teignmouth and Brixham Fish Restaurant & Takeaway are some of Devon’s best-rated fish and chips providers, while the award-winning Country Cottage Bakery in Bideford specialises in Devon-style pasties. 

No Devon holiday experience would be complete without a traditional cream tea.

Unlike in neighbouring Cornwall, here locals spread cream before jam on their scones, which are known as “Devonshire Splits” – with Someday Something in Sidmouth, Chandlers Cafe in Paignton and Ullacombe Farm in Newton Abbot all rated highly for theirs.

When it comes to natural and historic attractions, Devon is bursting to the seams. 

You could begin a deep dive into history at the 600-year-old Dartmouth Castle, or by meandering through the grounds of Saltram, a Georgian house and gardens in Plympton. 

There are also museums and galleries located near Devon’s holiday parks.

Family-friendly options in Plymouth include the top-rated National Marine Aquarium and The Box, an engaging art gallery that is free to enter. 

And you’ll never be too far from a natural attraction in Devon, with five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and two national parks (Dartmoor and Exmoor) to explore.

Bordering the coast, Exmoor is the UK’s first dark skies conservation area and offers everything from wildlife spotting to stunning walks, like the four-miler through rugged moorland to Speke’s Mill Mouth waterfall. 

Families may prefer to swap hiking for a relaxed steam train ride, with the Dartmouth Steam Railway a sure bet to keep kids happy while adults take in sweeping views of the South Devon coastline. 

To keep costs down, dads can head to free toddler play sessions, or you can simply build sandcastles on the beach.

Another wallet-friendly day out for families is the top-rated Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth, where entry and parking are both free.