Boasting sublime sandy beaches, fun family attractions and buckets full of activities to be enjoyed in and beside the sea, Devon is one of our favourite places for a coastal holiday. Whether you fancy making a splash or simply soaking up the views, here are 15 of the best beach activities in Devon.
1. Kayak-steering, Combe Martin
Best for: Adventurous water lovers
Explore the coastline with an exciting, adrenalin-fuelled fusion of kayaking and coasteering. Navigate your way into the creases of the cliffs by paddle power, then scramble, swim and climb to a cliff jumping spot for a white-knuckle leap into the ocean. A unique watersport for adventurous souls, kayak-steering enables you to access locations that are only accessible from the water and brings you nose-to-nose with the coastal scenery and marine wildlife. Coombe Martin is a wonderful place to stay for coastal holiday adventures.
2. Walking on the South West Coast Path
Best for: Soaking up the views
Home to 90 miles of the South West Coast Path in the north, and 115 miles in the south, there is no shortage of water-hemmed trails where you can soak up the breathtaking coastal views that Devon delivers. On the north coast, you can climb the highest cliffs in England near Combe Martin and plunge into deep valleys where Atlantic rainforest tumbles to the edge of the sea. Or on the south coast hop between the picturesque beaches of Branscombe, Beer and Budleigh Salterton.
3. Music Festival On The Beach, Blackpool Sands
Best for: Dancing with sand between your toes
Love music and love the beach? Boogie on down to Tunes on the Sand for a 2-day extravaganza of bands and party vibes on the beach. Right on the beautiful Blackpool Sands, this family-friendly festival lays on live music, DJ’s, a silent disco, wellbeing, great food and beach entertainment. There’s some wonderful accommodation nearby at Slapton and Dartmouth.
4. Hit the Surf, Croyde
Best for: Active families
Feel the oceanic buzz of surfing and find out for yourself why it’s one of the UK’s fastest-growing water sports. Croyde is home of the UK’s first World Surfing Reserve and littered with surf breaks for all abilities, Devon is a true surfing Mecca. With surf schools aplenty, there’s no shortage of instructors at the ready with all the equipment and know-how. Head to Surfing Croyde Bay and you can enjoy the luxury of small groups, toasty wetsuits, high-tech gear and hot showers, at one of the most consistent breaks in the county.
5. Stargazing, Exmoor and the Valley of Rocks
Best for: Night owls and budding astronomers
The first International Dark Sky Reserve in Europe, Exmoor National Park is one of the stargazing locations in Britain. And not only home to rugged moorland and upland heath, the area also boasts a beautiful stretch of coastline that is perfect for stargazing throughout the year. Head to the Valley of the Rocks near Lynton under the night skies and watch the light of countless stars reflected in inky seas.
6. Sea Safari, Teignmouth
Best for: Marine wildlife
Castaway on a boating adventure that brings you up close and personal to the coast and the wonderful wildlife that resides there. Hop onboard a stable 10-metre RIB for an exhilarating ride along the South Devon coastline from the historic port of Teignmouth, encountering geological formations and marine life including seals, seabirds and dolphins.
7. Fishing, Ilfracombe
Best for: Families and fishing enthusiasts
You don’t have to be a fisherman to snag fresh fish for dinner. There’s an abundance of fishing spots around Devon, including the family-friendly Ilfracombe and its pier, which offers accessible angling and the opportunity to land species such as bream, wrass, pollock, bass and garfish. If you prefer to head out into deeper waters and try your luck for mackerel, gurnard and codling, hop aboard a reef or deep sea fishing trip from the harbour with Wild Frontiers Charters.
8. Seafood on the Beach
Best for: Foodies
In a county where seafood goes from ocean to plate in a matter of hours, it’s little wonder that Devon lures gastronomes from far and wide. Bag a table at the renowned Oyster Shack for oysters handpicked from the River Avon, kick back at Mickey’s Beach for seafood served up in Micheal Caine’s family-friendly beachside venue, or grab fresh fish and chips in Brixham to be enjoyed with your feet dangling over the quayside.
See our article on the best sea view restaurants in Devon >
9. Cycle the Tarka Trail, Barnstaple
Best for: Cycling enthusiasts
Freewheel between unspoiled countryside, pristine coastline and dramatic sea cliffs on the longest, continuous cycle path in the UK. The Tarka Trail is a 180-mile, figure-eight loop inspired by the route travelled by Tarka the Otter. To experience the beauty of North Devon’s coastline, bite off the loop from Barnstaple to Lynton, taking in coastal scenery, surfy towns and sublime sandy beaches en route.
10. Make A Splash On The Water Flumes, Paignton
Best for: Wet and wild family fun
Slip and slide down the maze of flumes at Britain’s biggest outdoor waterpark. From tyre rides and mat slides to adrenaline-inducing sheer drops, at Paignton’s Quaywest Splashdown Waterpark there are flumes for every level of fun seeker. And if you’re not feeling adventurous, bask on the sun terrace, bob in the swimming area, or even hit the beautiful sands of Goodrington Beach that’s right on the doorstep.
9. Visit Lundy Island
Best for: Island life
Hop on the ferry to be marooned on the wildlife-rich Lundy Island for a day. Just three miles long and half a mile wide, with craggy, green-topped cliffs plummeting into the ocean, walking is the only means of transport and wildlife far outnumbers people. Lundy being Norse for ‘Puffin Island’ (puffin: lund, island: ey), make sure you take binoculars to spot puffins and other seabirds, as well as seals, porpoises, deer and Lundy ponies.
11. Dart-the-Dart Foodie Fun Trail, Dartmouth
Best for: Team players
While October’s Dartmouth Food Festival is one of the UK’s top food festivals and well worth planning your holiday around, if you prefer a spring break sign up for the Dart-the-Dart Foodie Fun Trail, also run by the festival organisers. Stay over in Dartmouth itself and grab your running shoes, fancy dress, and get a team of six together to tackle 13 miles of trails covering spectacular scenery, making pit stops for the region’s culinary delights and refreshments along the way.
12. Sailing Adventure, Salcombe
Best for: Maritime adventure
A trip to the yachtie haven of Salcombe is a must on any trip to Devon, whether you want to feel the wind in your sails or simply take photographs of this picturesque setting where boats crisscross every viewpoint. Explore the scenery under sail and learn the ropes under the tutelage of an experienced skipper. Helm the boat, plan the route or sit back and spot dolphins and seals.
13. Wild Swimming In The Tidal Pools, Ilfracombe
Best for: Blue health
The benefits of cold water swimming were recognised long before the recent trends of wild swimming and blue health swept the nation. Head to the historic tidal pools at Tunnels Beaches in Ilfracombe, where people have been flocking to go saltwater bathing since the Victorian era. Here you can step back in time and follow a network of hand-carved tunnels to a cluster of sheltered beaches and bathing pools, where old-fashioned signs still dictate the rules of bathing back in the 19th century.
14. Fossil Hunting, Charmouth
Best for: Family beach days
The gateway to the Jurassic Coast, parts of South Devon’s coastline boast some of the best opportunities for the timeless activity of fossil hunting. The picturesque seaside village of Charmouth is one of the best places to go, with its big shingle beach peppered with fossil finds and a Heritage Coast Centre where you can see amazing fossil collections and join guided fossil hunting walks. Seaton is also great, with the Chalk and Upper Greensand at Seaton regularly revealing ammonites, echinoids and brachiopods. Whatever you find is bound to inspire awe and wonder, while taking you back to the Jurassic era.
15. Stand Up Paddleboarding Tour, Budleigh Salterton
Best for: Exploring the coast afloat
South Devon’s coves and estuaries are the perfect places to explore by paddleboard. Calm waters, sheltered coves and sparkling lagoons, all begging to be explored under paddle power. Take a two-hour stand-up paddleboarding tour with expert guides from Budleigh Salterton, and improve your skills while cove hopping, wildlife watching and marshmallow roasting in secret coves.
Book A Seaside Holiday Cottage And Enjoy The Best Coastal Activities In Devon
Are you inspired to try some of the top beach attractions and activities in Devon? Check out our huge collection of coastal holiday cottages in Devon and make a beeline for the seaside.
