Beaches
Sandy coves and crystal clear waters
South Devon is particularly fortunate to be home to a fantastic collection of beautiful beaches. But it’s even more exciting to have this stunning mix of sheltered bays, hidden coves, and spacious, sandy beaches close to Bovisand Harbour. Whether you choose to be an active beach goer, enjoying some swimming, snorkelling, or watersports, or just want to relax and soak up the sun, there’s plenty to discover – and enjoy.
Alongside Bovisand’s secluded, sandy beach, which is just minutes away, there are several uncrowded beaches around the coast to savour. Wembury, Mothescombe, and Cellar beaches all offer a mix of sheltered bays and sandy beaches – perfect for swimming, snorkelling, diving, or just soaking up the sun.
Bovisand Beach
Right on your doorstep, Bovisand Beach is a wonderfully deep and sheltered bay with golden sand, flanked by magnificent rugged cliffs on either side. Thanks to its gently sloping beach, there’s plenty of space to enjoy a family day out or some extended ‘me time’, especially when the tide’s out. And even when the tide’s in, the waters are warm and shallow. There’s plenty of rockpools for youngsters to explore, but Bovisand is also a popular snorkelling and paddleboarding beach.
Wembury Beach
Wembury Beach is the perfect example of coast and country coming together to create a beautiful, picturesque scene. With a backdrop of grazing sheep or cattle and the village church, Wembury Beach is a charming spot with fantastic views out to the bay’s own island – the triangular, Great Mewstone. Small but perfectly formed, this pebble beach invites relaxation, but the cove is a hotspot for snorkelling, diving, and even surfing.
Cellar Beach
Locally known as ‘Cellars’, this gorgeous, tiny beach sits among the coves on the picturesque Yealm estuary. Though it can be accessed via a steep path just off the South West Coast Path, Cellars gives you a great excuse to get out on the water and visit by boat, jet ski, paddleboard, or kayak. Part pebble, part sand, this hidden beach is a popular one, but time it right and you could have it all to yourself.
Mothecombe Beach
Just around the coast at the mouth of the River Erme, Mothecombe Beach is another spacious and beautiful, unspoiled, sandy beach. While ideal for a lazy beach day, the shallow, warm waters give the perfect conditions for paddleboarding, kayaking, or windsurfing. And at low tide, Mothecombe Beach joins up with Wonwell Beach on the other side of the estuary – and you can even hire the chocolate-box Victorian Beach House for a special occasion.
Bigbury-on-Sea Beach
Going past several smaller beaches, all accessible by water or the SWCP, you arrive at Bigbury-on-Sea – a fascinating beach with golden sands, warm, shallow waters, and plenty of rockpools. Favoured as a family beach, you can still find a secluded spot, and there’s still plenty of space for you to enjoy a spot of windsurfing, surfing, or paddleboarding. At low tide, you can walk over to the historic Burgh Island with its stunning Art Deco hotel. But if high tide catches you out, the sea tractor is there to bring you back safely.
Bantham Beach
Just across the bay from Bigbury at the mouth of the River Avon, is Bantham Beach – a wide and spacious stretch of sandy beach near Kingsbridge with a reputation as being one of the best surfing spots in South Devon. But if water sports or bucket and spade beach days aren’t your style, you can find a quiet spot to relax on the beach or up in the sheltered dunes.
Of course, the stunning beaches we’ve mentioned are just the tip of the iceberg and there are plenty more to discover. But, being inside the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, you can be assured of their protected status keeping them clean and safe for all.