Best beaches in Devon

A privately managed shingle beach used to rehearse the D-Day landings in 1944, and one of Devon's few Blue Flag beaches.

Overlooked by Thurlestone Rock, the arch-shaped formation painted by Turner, with a protected SSSI wetland stretching out behind the beach.

A surf beach at the mouth of the River Avon estuary, part of the same stretch of coast as South Milton Sands and Thurlestone.

Reached only by a small passenger ferry across the estuary from Salcombe — the only beach on this stretch you arrive at by boat.

Three miles of Blue Flag sand on North Devon's Atlantic coast, one of the county's longest and most consistent surf beaches.

A sheltered sandy bay reached by Salcombe's colourful passenger ferry, calmer water than East Portlemouth across the estuary.

Estuary-sheltered and calm, with the Winking Prawn café right on the sand — the easiest of Salcombe's beaches for lunch by the water.

Paignton's main beach, running out to the town's Victorian pier — the hub of the wider Torquay-Paignton stretch of seafront.

Backed by Braunton Burrows, dunes that form part of North Devon's UNESCO Biosphere Reserve — one of only a handful in the UK.

A causeway to Burgh Island appears at low tide, replaced by a sea tractor at high tide — the setting for Agatha Christie's most famous mystery.

A shingle bar with the freshwater Slapton Ley lake right behind it, the site of the WWII Exercise Tiger rehearsal disaster in 1944.

A working fishing beach beneath chalk cliffs, where boats are still hauled up onto the shingle by hand.

The western gateway to the Jurassic Coast, marked by the Geoneedle sculpture standing at Orcombe Point.

Torquay's main beach, with genuinely red-tinged sand and a strong reputation among local windsurfers and paddleboarders.

A nine-time European Blue Flag winner, backed by the internationally important nature reserve at the mouth of the Exe Estuary.

Rows of colourful beach huts back this small cove, with rock pools to explore and genuine dolphin sightings offshore.

A half-mile stretch of privately owned sand near Exmouth, one of several distinct beaches strung along this stretch of the Exe estuary coast.

Reached through a real, hand-carved Smugglers' Tunnel cut into the cliff — one of Devon's more atmospheric ways to reach a beach.

A shingle cove connected to neighbouring Oddicombe Beach by a wooden walkway along the cliff.

Home to Dawlish's famous black swans, resident on Dawlish Water since the early 1900s, with the GWR seawall railway line running right past.

A quieter, mostly-local shingle beach along the Torquay coast, with clear views out to Thatcher Rock offshore.

A secluded cove reached through woodland, framed by limestone cliffs with rock pools to explore at the water's edge.

Set beneath red sandstone cliffs, reached by the historic Babbacombe Cliff Railway — a funicular that carries visitors straight down to the sand.

A tiny, dog-friendly cove tucked past Paignton's harbour, reached on foot by walking straight over the harbour wall.

A remote pebble beach beneath red cliffs, well known among fossil hunters working this stretch of the Jurassic Coast.

Red sand between Paignton and Brixham, backed by a proper run of family facilities — pub, café and shops right on the beach.

A sheltered sandy beach set below a genuine thatched fishing village, further along the coast from Salcombe's cluster of beaches.

Teignmouth's main beach, fronted by a Victorian pier and promenade — the classic seaside anchor of this stretch of coast.

A privately owned beach on the Flete Estate, at the mouth of the River Erme — one of the quietest in this cluster.

A remote beach near Start Point, with grey seals and occasional basking sharks seen offshore.