Nothing beats a day at the beach, except one that’s followed by a delicious meal you can enjoy without having to drag yourself away from the beautiful views and fresh sea air. Luckily, there’s no shortage of beaches in South Devon which offer fresh locally-sourced cuisine right by the water’s edge.
These five beaches are perfect for those looking for something to delight their taste buds while they take in the coastal views and fresh sea air.
Bantham Beach
If Bantham beach’s vast expanse of sand, iconic views of Burgh Island, great surfing and stunning coastal walks aren’t enough to tempt you to visit this world-famous beach, how about going there for a delicious al fresco meal? The Gastrobus first parked up at Bantham beach in 2012, bringing with it Claire Bishop’s vision for a unique dining experience that puts high-quality, Devon-sourced ingredients at its centre. Bantham beach (postcode TQ7 3AN) is 13 miles west of Kingsbridge, sandwiched between Bigbury-On-Sea and Thurlestone Sands.
Beesands
Beesands, towards the south of Start Bay, is a traditional working village in addition to a popular holiday destination. Frequented by dog walkers, anglers, watersports enthusiasts and nature-spotters alike, Beesands is very much a ‘something for everyone’ beach. Foodies are also fond of this beach for a couple of reasons:
The Cricket Inn serves crab, lobster and scallops straight out of Start Bay and tries to keep its menu as locally-focused as possible. Since 2008, the Cricket Inn has been awarded a Red Rosette by the AA.
Britannia @ The Beach is a seafood-focused café that also serves the community as a local shop and fishmonger. They endeavour to source as many of their ingredients as possible from the South Hams and failing that, their food mostly originates from Devon.
Beesands is located in the perfect spot on Start Bay for hiking along the South West Coast Path. It’s less than two miles from Hallsands to the south and Torcross beach to the north, making it a great place to ‘refuel’ mid-walk. Beesands (postcode TQ7 2EN) is a 25-minute drive from Kingsbridge and about half an hour from Dartmouth via the A379.
Blackpool Sands
Blackpool Sands is a Blue Flag beach of fine shingle, which is as popular with local residents as it is with the thousands of holidaymakers who visit every year. Towards the northern edge of Start Bay, Blackpool Sands is less than four miles from Dartmouth (TQ6 0RG) and an easy drive from anywhere in South Devon. As well as the unforgettable views, the beach boasts a Venus Café and Takeaway, which serves hot and cold food throughout the day and also opens in the evenings in July and August. ‘Local’, ‘organic’ and ‘homemade’ are labels you’ll find by many of its dishes – their seafood specials are especially renowned.
Hope Cove
Hope Cove boasts two beautiful sandy beaches beloved by families for their safe bathing, picturesque charm and rockpools ripe for exploration. The village of Outer Hope sits right by the sand and is home to a handful of excellent restaurants and cafes, which include:
The Beachcomber Tapas Bar & Cafe
The Cottage Hotel
The Cove
The Hope and Anchor
Sand Pebbles
The Sun Bay Hotel Restaurant.
Hope Cove (postcode TQ7 3HQ) is less than five miles from Salcombe and Kingsbridge, and sits on a beautiful stretch of South Devon’s west coast, convenient for walks to South Milton Sands, Thurlestone Sands, Bantham beach and Bigbury-On-Sea.
Torcross beach
With over three miles of fine shingle beach, Slapton Sands in Start Bay provides plenty of space for everyone even when the summer is in full swing. Birdwatchers and other wildlife-watchers flock to this part of South Devon because it’s also home to Slapton Ley, one of the country’s largest freshwater lakes, which is separated by just a narrow bar from the sea. The Start Bay Inn at Torcross beach (the southern edge of Slapton Sands) has a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence (2014) and a South West Tourism Excellence SILVER Award (2013-14). Its extensive food and wine menus put the emphasis on locally sourced ‘pub grub’ with a sophisticated twist.
Other options include:
freshly-prepared snacks and light meals at the Sea Breeze Café
a wide range of food and drink options at the family-friendly Boathouse Restaurant & Takeaway.
Torcross beach (postcode TQ7 2TQ) is just under eight miles from Kingsbridge and around nine miles from Dartmouth along the A379.
These five beaches are perfect for those looking for something to delight their taste buds while they take in the coastal views and fresh sea air.
Our Sponsor, Coast & Country Cottages, have put together a comprehensive information on the best South Devon beaches here, including directions, facilities, and where you can find nearby self-catering accommodation.
Coast & Country Cottages offers around luxury 400 holiday cottages in South Devon, the ideal location for beach-loving foodies.
