The Dorset and Devon coastline is dotted with intimate coves and sweeping stretches that cater for surfers, seclusion seekers and seafood fans. Here are five beaches worth visiting.
Escape the crowds and architectural eyesores that blight so many beaches by heading for a military live-firing zone...Yes, this secluded corner of Dorset’s beautiful Jurassic Coast is used for army training exercises, but is blissfully peaceful the rest of the time. Just check before setting out whether access is open that day. Click here for details.
Park at Tyneham, a village abandoned in 1943, when the government evicted residents to prepare for the D-Day landings. From the evocative ruins of Tyneham it’s a gentle mile-long stroll to Worbarrow Bay, a secluded shingle beach whose few visitors are just as likely to be dogs or arrive by boat. Alternatively, earn that swim by taking a path from behind the church up to the ridge, bearing left at the top. Soak up the glorious view over Lulworth Castle, then embark on a perilously steep descent to the beach below.
If you’re the sort of person who likes to start the day with a bracing swim or head-clearing walk, then head down to Hive Beach. Not only is this a beautiful, peaceful spot, with views across Lyme Bay, it’s also home to the Hive Beach Café. Whether you’re after a warming coffee and bacon butty for breakfast, or a lunchtime platter groaning with locally caught seafood, this place is worth the detour.
Hive Beach also forms part of Chesil Beach, a name that will be familiar to geology students and fans of the author Ian McEwan. This 18-mile long shingle ridge stretches from Portland in the east right round to West Bay. At this end, the shoreline is hemmed by sandstone cliffs, which glow alluringly golden in the sunlight. Watch out for regular rockfalls – and the fossils they reveal.
You don’t come to this small, picturesque seaside town for high octane entertainment. The nearby Donkey Sanctuary is about as lively as it gets, but Budleigh Salterton has long been attracting visitors in seek of a restorative break, an appeal bolstered in more recent times by the town’s classical music and literary festivals.
The large, smooth pebbles that cover the shore here are affectionately known as “Budleigh Buns” and the beach is a particularly safe, clean spot for a swim. Head to its western end for the liberating naturist experience; alternatively, keep a few clothes on and stroll to the eastern end. Here you can follow the South West Coast Path inland along the bucolic River Otter, go rock pooling on Otterton Ledge and join the queue at beachside café Fifty Degrees North for the finest crab sandwich you’ll ever eat.
Boating enthusiasts flock down narrow South Devon lanes in summer to the thoroughly gentrified town of Salcombe. Nestled into cliffs that rise above the scenic Kingsbridge Estuary, these narrow streets are a treasure trove of art galleries, Breton tops and an excellent gin distillery.
Escape the crowds by mooring up – or taking the small ferry to East Portlemouth – on one of the small beaches that lie across the estuary. There are several to choose from, but in high season if it’s looking busy then walk on the short extra distance to Sunny Cove. Light on facilities, big on charm, at low tide a generous expanse of soft sand opens up here. Bring your dog and a picnic to soak up the views.
If it’s surf you’re seeking then it has to be the north coast. You won’t be the only person descending on Woolacombe Beach to ride the Atlantic waves, but with three miles of golden sand there’s plenty of space for everyone. In fact, its size meant Woolacombe was used by the US army to train for the Normandy Landings of World War II.
It’s not just surfers: whole families settle in for the day here, often renting one of the brightly coloured beach huts that line the dunes. Lifeguards keep a watchful eye on waves of surfers, kite surfers, kayakers and swimmers. You’re never too far from a sandwich or ice cream kiosk, while Woolacombe village can supply plenty of beach paraphernalia. Plan ahead and book a horseback beach adventure through the local riding school to top off a classic British family holiday experience.
