I do like to be beside the seaside. As do the Wild Ones. If I ask Ralph ‘what shall we do today?’ I can absolutely guarantee that 99% of the time the answer will be ‘go to the beach”.
We spend a LOT of time beside the sea. So here is handy little summary (I hope!!) of some of the best seaside destinations in South Devon, and what they have to offer for families.
I grew up in Torbay, spending most of my youth at the beaches in and around Paignton and Brixham. Memories of beach huts, picnics beside the sea and heading for a swim after school form big parts of my childhood, and it is amazing to now share that love of the beach with my children. There is nowhere as wild, free and completely wonderful as an empty beach, and nowhere as nostalgic or evocative as a seaside pier or a classic fish and chip shop. Big memories are made up of small but very special things.
Here is where to head for family fun beside the sea in South-Devon:
1. Teignmouth
Teignmouth is a lovely place to head with children, whatever time of the year. It has lots to offer in the summer naturally, but actually we love it out of season, when the crowds are quieter, you can park easily (!!) and you get much more space to explore.
20 minutes or so from Exeter and just minutes from nearby Shaldon and Dawlish it is easy to get to by car and well connected with a train station in the centre of town.
Top things to do in Teignmouth:
- Crazy Golf
Head to the seafront for dinosaur-themed crazy golf. This is always lots of fun, and with the play park, skate park, pier, beach, tennis courts and food outlets all close by it is in the perfect location. My sons’ favourite thing is to accidentally on purpose get the ball to fall in the water half way round the course. Obviously.
- Pier
The pier has taken its fair share of damage in recent storms, but it is still a great place to have some fun with the kids, with classic two penny machines, plenty of arcade classics, and a small take away food and drink stand.
- Theatre
Teignmouth’s “Pavillions” on the seafront is a great addition to the town, with regular showings of major movies and live theatre. We saw a great local pantomime there in December. There is also nice food and drink and lovely views in the bar/restaurant areas.
- Swimming
Teignmouth’s open air lido is so lovely in the spring/summer (it is open from May), and is right by the seafront so really easy to walk to, and you can also park nearby. It features a 25 metre open air pool, outdoor seating and changing rooms with showers.
- The beaches
There are plenty of options for spending time on the beach at Teignmouh, with large stretches of sand all along the front. We also adore ‘back beach’ which is so quaint and has quite a different feeling to the front beaches. It has a sense of the past to it, with an assortment of small boats tied up, beach huts lining the sand and views over to pretty Shaldon.
- Play park
This is a great park for all ages, with both smaller equipment for younger children and more challenging pieces for older children. It is close to other attractions like the golf, tennis and skate park, and makes a great base for a family day out. It has recently been modernised and so has everything a kid would want from a park!
- Food
There are lots of options for food and drink in Teignmouth, from fish and chips to independent bakeries, and seaside cafes to local pubs. Plus some great take away options and restaurants/cafes with views near the seafront. We love the following:
- The Oystercatchers Cafe
- The View
- Teign Bean (take away and outdoor seats)
- Tea by the Quay
- The Wave
- Halulu Bar
- LJ’s Beachshack (near back beach)
2. Dawlish / Dawlish Warren
Dawlish and Dawlish Warren have so much to offer families, from long stretches of beach and nature reserves to good ice cream and great play parks.
Top things to do in Dawlish and Dawlish Warren
- Play Park
The play park in Dawlish is fantastic and hands down one of my son’s favourites in the area. It is nestled in a lovely leafy part of Dawlish towards the top end of town (head along Manor Gardens and follow the path along the water through to the park on Barton Hill). It is a fairly recent refurbishment and the equipment is beautiful, and with loads of variety. There is also plenty of space for picnics and soaking up the sunshine.
- Dawlish Warren Nature reserve and beach
The walk through the nature reserve and through the sand dunes to the far reaches of Dawlish Warren is, without doubt, one of our favourite Devon adventures. It is beautiful and often deserted. It is perfect for wild ones who love to roam free and run off all that energy! We LOVE it. Pack up a picnic and enjoy. Just remember that you end up being a fair walk from any toilets or food options.
- Dawlish seafront walk to Coryton Cove
The new walk way along Dawlish seafront is really lovely, and great with kids; flat, with great views and, much to my son’s delight, it runs right next to the train line. We really like the walk along to Coryton Cove. This is a lovely secluded little beach for playing and swimming, with a great coffee and ice cream hut at the end of the walkway (The ‘Cove Cafe’).
- Crazy Golf
There is a cute little crazy golf course in Dawlish, which is right next to the pretty walk and play trail through Manor Gardens, and close to the shops and cafes in the town centre. We have been there in sunshine and pouring rain, and it is always a hit!
3. Shaldon
Shaldon is one of my favourite places in Devon. Much smaller than nearby Teignmouth and Torquay, Shaldon is quaint in all the right ways. It is lovely for a weekend wander and stopping off for coffee or ice cream.
It has a small play park for children at the top end of the town, with parking nearby, and plenty of green space to kick a ball or picnic. It is also really flat so great for bikes and scooters, just watch for traffic on the busy main road.
For me, the joy of Shaldon though, is wandering through its tiny streets, ambling along the waterside and heading to the beach to watch the world go by. The sand is an incredibly deep orange colour so be careful what you wear! My kids often come back with stained legs (and clothes!) There are some great places for food and drink in Shaldon. We love:
A final fun family adventure in Shaldon is to head for the ‘Smugglers Tunnel’ which will take you down to Ness Cove Beach. This is the original tunnel used by smugglers and is so much fun for kids. (just bear in mind that it is a sloping path with steps).
4. Torquay
Torquay has lots to offer families, and whilst not necessarily a favourite for beaches specifically, it is great for a range of family-friendly activities and attractions. Some of the slightly further afield (beyond the town centre) beaches are well worth a visit though.
Top things to do in Torquay:
- Best beaches
We love exploring some of the beaches around Torquay, heading out of town for the best ones.
Meadfoot Beach is really lovely. Set against the back drop of tree-topped hills and beach huts it is very pretty and the kids love playing on the beach and splashing in the water here. It is rocky in places, but that makes it great for some rock pooling.
Oddicombe Beach is another firm favourite for us; the setting is stunning, with great views and a lovely walk to Babbacombe Beach and the Cary Arms Pub. It is also a great beach for kayaking and paddle boarding, and has a lovely cafe next to the beach (Three Degrees West).
- Cliff Railway
The Babbacombe Cliff Railway is beautiful and a ‘must do’ in my mind. It is so much fun for the kids, totally unique and a great way to get down to the pretty Oddicombe Beach. Even if you walk down, it is definitely worth getting the railway back up to save those legs! The Cliff Railway is perfectly situated next to a nice cafe and ice cream take away, and Babbacombe generally is a really nice area for a walk and lunch, with lots of cafes, restaurants, fish and chips and picnic areas.
- Princess Theatre
Princess Theatre, Torquay seafront. A great theatre for big named Musicals, comedy, dance, film and all the favourites. We have seen so many shows here, and the atmosphere is always lovely.
- Swimming
In addition to lots of places to swim safely in the sea, the Riviera Centre on Torquay seafront is a great place for families, with a wave pool and slide, plus cafe and soft play area.
- Torquay Museum
Torquay Museum is a lovely way to spend a couple of hours with kids; with special exhibitions, activities, events, lectures, trails and special events in holidays covering 400 million years of Torbay’s heritage!
- Babbacombe Model Village
Babbacombe Model Village is another Torquay classic, and a firm favourite from my childhood. Our boys love it here! 4 acres of beautiful gardens full of hand crafted model buildings, scenes and vehicles. It is honestly incredible! They have really thought about children here and there is so much to see, with additional activities including crazy golf and special themed events through the year.
- Kents Cavern
Kents Cavern is a great all weather attraction with so much to explore. It is very very cool. Kents Cavern is one of the most important Stone Age sites in Europe and one of Britain’s best showcaves. On your visit you’ll go back to a time when the cave was home to ancient humans, sheltering from extreme weather, making fires, shaping tools and hunting Ice Age animals. As you walk through the extensive labyrinth of caverns, you’ll be surrounded by 400 million year old rocks and spectacular stalagmites and stalactites. What kid wouldn’t love this?!
- Torquay Harbour
Torquay Harbour is a lovely place to spend time, with loads of food and drink options, nice walks, lots of boats to see and a some great boat trips over to Paignton and Brixham. Check out Western Lady for boat trips and times.
5. Paignton
I grew up in and around Paignton and have fond memories of the parks and beaches. I think it sometimes gets a bit of a bad rep for perhaps needing a bit of a face lift, or not having the best beach. But actually it has lots to offer families, a super cute harbour, and if you take some time to explore, some rally great beaches nearby.
Top things to do in Paignton:
- Paignton Zoo
Paignton Zoo is a great family day out. It is easy to get to, just minutes from the centre of Paignton and with lots of parking. They often have themed events on for the children, and in addition to the animals there are lots of really lovely outdoor (and indoor) play areas.
- Paignton Geoplay Park
The Geo Park is a great free attraction on Paignton seafront, close to restaurants, cafes, the beach and the Pier. It is an English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark Key Site and the kids will love it.
The park is designed around the English Riviera’s geological history. The toddler area represents the Devonian Period with swing, seesaw, trampoline etc. The junior area has a giant climbing net symbolising a time during the Carboniferous Period and the sand and water play area represents the Permian Period when the area was just north of the equator and all of the red sandstones and breccia rocks were formed. This area has a purpose built water channel for children to pump and dam water and digging equipment. Then for the teens, it skips to the Quaternary period. This is the largest area of the park and has the zip wire, towers, play huts, a six way swing, climbing logs, stilts and climbing trees.
- Paignton Pier and Crazy Golf
Paignton has a great classic seaside pier with loads for all ages, plus crazy golf at the end. There are lots of options for food and drink, and the all important ice cream, nearby. Just take plenty of loose change…
- Beaches – Goodrington and Broadsands
Slightly further along the coast from the main town beach, Goodrington and Broadsands are lovely destinations for families. Both have lovely sand and great water for swimming, as well as seaside food and ice cream. There are also toilets and parking at each. From Broadsands there are beautiful coastal walks in the direction of Churston and Brixham.
- Preston Beach and Green
You can easily walk from Paignton to Preston, and this is a lovely beach with kids. Loads of space, great for swimming, and really family-friendly. There is a nice green running along behind the beach, with a play park and toilets. There are also lots of take aways for fish and chips and ice creams.
6. Brixham
Brixham has a lovely feel to it and is much quainter than the larger Paignton and Torquay. With a bustling harbour area and nice coastal walks to enjoy it is a great place to explore with kids (especially given its pirate past!)
Top things to do in Brixham:
- We love the harbour-side for a walk and lunch, and a spot of crabbing. You can walk all the way round the harbour and then further along to Breakwater Beach.
- It is a great place to head to via boat from Torquay, and this makes a really good day out, with regular sailings there and back during the Spring and Summer months.
- We love Shoalstone Pool, and if you get the chance I would definitely recommend heading here with the kids. It is set in the most beautiful location and is such a nice place to spend time on a sunny day. It features a 53 metre ‘free to use’ sea water swimming pool, and is one of only a few tidal pools left in the country. It is built into a natural rock pool that has been popular for bathing since Victorian times, and it really does feel quite nostalgic. There are toilets, changing cubicles, a kiosk and parking nearby.
- There are plenty of food and drink options in Brixham from pubs and restaurants to tea shops and take aways.
- If you are in the area in May, Brixham hosts an annual “Pirate Festival” – a swashbuckling mix of seaside shenanigans and pirate-themed fun for all the family. For 2024 the dates are 4th – 6th May. Free to attend and lots of fun!
- For history lovers, visiting the Golden Hind is good fun, and great with kids. It is right on the harbour so within easy reach of everything else in Brixham.
- For water sports and boat trips there are lots of different options in Brixham. Head to the harbour to get a feel for what would work well for your family. You can get some initial ideas here and here.
7. Dartmouth
Spring and Summer days in Dartmouth are beautiful … although we do tend to have a weird habit of heading there and it always raining… just don’t go when we go 😉
It is so pretty, an absolute photographers dream, great for food and drink, and a really nice place to spend time with family.
Top things to do in Dartmouth:
- Steam Train adventures
For us, a magical day out is the steam train from Paignton to Kingswear, and then foot passenger ferry over to Dartmouth. It is a beautiful trip, magical for the children, and like taking a step back in time. I cannot recommend it enough. There a re various packages you can choose, including options for add-on boat trips.
- Play park
Coronation Park is a lovely play park for children, with a nice cafe serving light lunches, snacks and ice creams. There are nice playing fields to picnic on too. It is only a short walk from the centre of Dartmouth, so well worth a visit to use up some of their energy!
- Boat trips
There are endless opportunities to get out on the water in Dartmouth, from larger vessels and ferries, to canoes and kayaks, and ‘do it yourself’ sailing boats. Head to the quay and you will find plenty of information and stands offering different options.
- Dartmouth Castle
Dartmouth Castle is beautifully located and really atmospheric. There are also nice walks to enjoy in the area, both coastal and woodland. You can soak up some lovely views, and it is possible to take a ferry there for added adventure.
- Greenway House
Greenway House is one of my favourite National Trust properties. The house is beautiful and in such a stunning setting, and the gardens are gorgeous. It is so lovely to spend time there on a sunny afternoon. The house is set in the 1950s when Agatha Christie and her family would spend summers and Christmasses here relaxing and exploring the area. It is well worth a visit.
- Food and drink
There are literally hundreds of places to eat and drink in Dartmouth, suiting every taste. You will find lots of cafes, ice cream shops and take aways along the water front, and in the centre of Dartmouth itself an abundance of cute cafes, lovely pubs and restaurants.
8. Salcombe
Salcombe is beautiful, and perfectly situated for water sports, so if being in the water is your thing, this is definitely a good pick for you. It has to be one of the prettiest places in South Devon, and has coastal lovely views, with a cute street full of unique shops, and great local beaches. If you’re there without the kids, don’t miss the Salcombe Gin Distillery.
- Beaches
Salcombe has a range of beautiful beaches to choose from, and any of those listed below are great for families:
- Salcombe South Sands – lovely sandy beach, clear water, and lots of water sports on offer.
- Salcombe North Sands – large sandy beach, great for families, lovely views. Walkable from the town centre.
- Mill Bay Beach – access to the beach is from the South West Coast Path and private access path, but public access is signposted. At low tide there are rock pools to explore. There is a National Trust Car Park, but parking is limited.
- East Portlemouth Beach – set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, it is one of the quieter beaches in the area, making it an ideal spot for families.
- South Sands Ferry
What could be more exciting than taking a trip on an amphibious sea tractor? Enjoy the unique experience of taking a drive across the beach topped off with a lovely jaunt through the water. The ferry runs between Whitestrand, in the centre of Salcombe and the picturesque beach of South Sands.
- South West Coast Path
There are lots of walking paths all around this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is a great place to explore, especially with older children who like a decent walk. Try following the South West Coast Path from Salcombe, past North and South Sands and out to Bolt Head, which can be covered (there and back) in half a day. On the east Portlemouth side of the water you can walk high up along the sea facing cliffs towards Gara Rock with spectacular views. There are great cafés at either end of the walk.
- Overbecks
Run by the National Trust, and a great place to explore if you have the time, Overbecks is tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe, and is really beautiful. A subtropical garden, bursting with colour, filled with exotic and rare plants and surprises around every corner, it surrounds the seaside home of Edwardian collector and inventor Otto Overbeck. The views from the garden are amazing.
There is literally something for everyone in South Devon – and who doesn’t love a classic seaside town? Buckets and spades at the ready. Fish and chip supper here we come…
Emma and the Wild Ones x
P.S. For some more beach-specific inspiration check out some of my other posts here and here.
