Contact Details

holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

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Beaches

It is official: BBC Coast 2007 has proved beyond doubt that the English Riviera has the best sand on the English coast for building sandcastles! So whether it is a simple bucket of sand or a full scale dolphin sculpture - come and give it a try!

Along the 22 miles of the English Riviera coastline there are 20 beaches from wide sandy stretches to hidden rocky coves.

Although our beaches are regarded as safe, care should always be taken when swimming. Warning flags are sometimes in operation.

Our Beaches from North to South

1. Maidencombe Beach (Torquay) Seaside Award 2007

A sand and shingle beach with ample parking, swimming safe with care, toilet and cafe. Dogs are allowed.

2. Watcombe Beach (Torquay)

A sandy beach with limited parking, dogs allowed, swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe and beach shop.

3. Oddicombe Beach (Torquay) European Blue Flag and Seaside Award 2007

Sand and shingle beach just below the north end of Babbacombe Downs. Parking is half a mile from the beach. Steep access but try the cliff railway (great fun). No dogs, swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire.

4. Babbacombe Beach (Torquay)

A sand and shingle beach popular for sailing and fishing off the breakwater. Steep access from Beach Road, swimming safe with care, limited parking, dogs allowed, toilets, cafe, deckchair/sunbed hire. A popular beach for divers.

5. Redgate Beach (Torquay)

is currently closed due to unstable cliffs above.

6. Anstey's Cove (Torquay)

Shingle and rocky beach with parking quarter of a mile from the beach. Dogs allowed, cafe, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire.

7. Meadfoot Beach (Torquay) European Blue Flag 2007

A long pebble and sand beach with parking. Dogs allowed only at the Kilmorie (east) end , swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire.

8. Torre Abbey Sands / Corbyn Sands (Torquay)

A tidal, sandy beach right in the heart of Torquay's so lots of parking nearby. Very high tides will cover the sand. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire. Just across the road from Torre Abbey Meadows parkland.

9. Corbyn Sands (Torquay) Seaside Award 2007

A small beach just south of Torre Abbey sands, this sand and shingle beach has all the same facilities as Torre Abbey Sands.

10. Hollicombe Beach (Torquay)

A quiet sandy beach with parking 1 mile from the beach. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care.

11. Preston Sands (Paignton)

A beautiful long sandy beach with easy access but limited parking. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, cafe, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and beach hut hire.

12. Paignton Beach (Paignton)

Long sandy beach with Paignton Pier at its centre. Easy access, large grassy green adjacent and ample parking nearby. Lots of kiosks and cafes by the beach and amusements on the pier. Dogs are banned, swimming safe with care, toilets, deckchair/sunbed hire and pedaloes.

13. Goodrington Sands (Paignton) European Blue Flag 2007

Long sandy beach with Seashore Centre, Quaywest Waterpark, Youngs Park and Inn on the Quay all right behind the beach. Plenty of kiosks, toilets and amusements, swimming safe with care, deckchair and sunbed hire. Dogs allowed on North Sands only. Excellent low tide rockpooling - call into the Seashore Centre (free) to find out what to look for.

14. Broadsands (Paignton) European Blue Flag 2007

Long sandy beach, with good access and parking and a large green behind the promenade. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, cafe, beach shop, (no amusements) deckchair/sunbed hire and beach huts for hire. Pedaloes and boats for hire.

15. Elberry Cove (Paignton)

A pretty shingle beach with access by footpath from Broadsands car park. Dogs are allowed and this beach is used a lot by waterskiers (restricted lane). Nearest toilets and cafe at Broadsands. Lovely woodland walks around.

16. Churston Cove (Brixham)

Sand and shingle beach with steep footpath access from Churston or Fishcombe. Dogs allowed, swimming safe with care. A popular picnic stop for yachts and a good spot to try snorkeling.

17. Fishcombe Cove (Brixham)

Sand and shingle beach with limited parking, dogs allowed, swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe and deckchair/sunbed hire.

18. Breakwater Beach (Brixham) European Blue Flag 2007

Shingle beach right next to the breakwater with ample parking. Swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe and beach shop. This is a popular beach for divers.

19. Shoalstone Beach (Brixham)

A shingle and rock beach right next to Brixham's outdoor seawater pool. Limited parking, swimming safe with care, dogs allowed, toilets, cafe and deckchair/sunbed hire.

20. St Mary's Bay (Brixham)

A quiet sand and shingle beach with footpath access from the car park. No toilets or cafe. A great detour from a walk along the coast path. Beautiful viewpoint from Sharkham Point above the beach, south along the coast path towards Dartmouth.