Beaches Along The South Devon Coast Path

South Devon is blessed with great beaches. From family-friendly paddling and rock-pooling to surf spots and coves for secret swims.

And if you’re sat on one of them, chances are the coast path runs behind it with signs pointing either way.

The larger beaches will have amenities including life-guards – find out more via this link https://www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/beaches/beach-safety.

If you want to avoid the crowds, the more remote coves are only accessible on foot via the path. These can be truly delightful but visit at your own risk – there can be steep paths down and up, and un-supervised swimming.

Below is a selection of our favourites starting with the larger ones, with photos taken from the coast path. The views change with weather, seasons, time and tides - meaning some beaches are only worth visiting at certain times of day.

If you’re walking this summer, why not take a break on one of them? Or, if the weather’s warm, maybe even cool off with a swim?

Slapton Sands - long stretch from Torcross to Slapton with cafes and toilets at points in between

South Milton Sands near Thurlestone with cafe and toilets

Outer Hope Beach at Hope Cove with cafes and toilets

Blackpool Sands near Stoke Fleming with cafe and toilets

Bigbury Beach & Burgh Island with cafes and toilets

Mothecombe Beach with cafe and facilities

Elender Cove aka Maceley Cove west of Prawle Point

Butchers Cove west of Mothecombe

Gara Rock Beach east of Gara Rock Hotel