About

With 3.3million visitors every year, the English Riviera is South Devon’s beautiful bay and one of the most popular holiday destinations in the country. With over 20 spectacular beaches, clean and calm waters and lots of attractions, it’s the perfect seaside destination.

Listed below is a selection of our award winning beaches with access information.

Torquay Beaches:

Maidencombe Beach:
Type: Sandy, rocky with cliffs
Access: Difficult and restricted access via a narrow path and set of steep steps which lead down to the café and beach area.
Toilets

Oddicombe Beach:
Type: Sandy with cliffs
Access: Access is via a steep road or via the easier Cliff Railway, where a slope leads to a level promenade above the beach. Access via the steps on to the beach.
Disabled toilet facilities.

Babbacombe Beach:
Type: Sand/Shingle and rocky with cliffs
Access: Disabled access is difficult. The road down is very steep, there is a car park at the bottom with a promenade that is level. There are steps down to the beach.
Toilets

Anstey’s Cove:
Type: shingle/rock and cliffs with restricted access via a steep path.
Access: Difficult with a steep slope and steps, although there is a hand rail.
Toilets

Meadfoot Beach:
Type: Rocky with sandy shingle and cliffs
Access: Easy access from the road via a slope on to the promenade, steps to the beach. There is also a slipway to the beach 100 yards away.
Disabled toilet facilities

Beacon Cove:
Type: Rocky, Shingle, Cliffs
Access: Easy access to promenade above the beach via a ramp. There are steps down to the beach from the small promenade.

Torre Abbey Sands:
Type: sand
Access: There is a ramp down to the beach from road level, and a short ramp from the pavement down to the promenade. Steps with a handrail lead to the sea.
Disabled toilet facilities

Corbyn Head:
Type: Sand and shingle
Access: Access is easy from the road. There is a slipway down to the beach and a short promenade.
Disabled toilets facilities

Paignton Beaches:
Hollacombe Beach:
Type: Sandy with rocks and cliffs
Access: Disabled access to beach via a slipway

Preston Sands:
Type: Sandy with rock pools
Access: The area is quite flat and has excellent access for disabled people and wheelchairs. 
Disabled toilet facilities

Paignton Sands:
Type: Sandy
Access: Easy level access to the promenades and the harbour. Two ramps provide easier access from the promenade onto the beach for the disabled.
Disabled toilet facilities

Goodrington Sands:
Type: Sandy with rock pools
Access: Access is easy, level areas throughout. There is a slipway to the beach. 
Disabled toilet facilities

Broadsands Beach:
Type: Sandy with rock pools
Access: The car park leads straight on to the long level promenade, access to the beach however is not easy, via steps with handrails.
Disabled toilet facilities

Elberry Cove:
Type: Rocky with shingle
Access: Not easy with a long uneven path steps and shingle beach.

Brixham Beaches:
Breakwater Beach:
Type: Shingle and cliffs
Access: Easy - Access is from the main road to Berry Head, and also by an easy level walk around the harbour side from the town centre. There are disabled ramps to the promenade and beach.
Disabled toilet facilities

Churston Cove:
Type: Shingle with rocks and cliffs
Access: Difficult - Restricted access via very steep path which is uneven in places

Fishcombe Cove:
Type: Shingle with rocks and cliffs
Access: Difficult - Restricted access via very steep path from the car park or via the steps from Battery Gardens.

Shoalstone Beach:
Type: Shingle and rocky with large areas of level hardstanding surrounding Shoalstone swimming pool.
Access: There is a disabled ramp to the promenade, but steps down from the car park to the pool and onto the beach.

St Mary’s Bay:
Type: Sandy with some shingle and rocks and cliffs
Access: Difficult - Restricted access via a footpath and steep steps.

South West Coastal Path Team:
Office Address: Matford Lane Offices, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QW.
Tel: 01392 383560
Contact for accessibility information – including Berry Head. Electric wheelchairs are available for hire. An easy wheelchair accessible walk around Berry Head National Nature Reserve is possible.
For more information on Berry Head please visit – www.berryhead.org.uk

Torbay Council Resort Services :
For further information on local beaches you may wish to contact Torbay Council’s beach department on 01803 207975 or by email at resort services@torbay.gov.uk or by visiting their informative website www.torbay.gov.uk/index/yourbay/beaches.htm.

Access To Beaches with Guide or Enabling Dogs: Guide or Enabling dogs are allowed on any beach providing they are working and with their handler.