Ever since moving to South Devon in 2022 with my partner and our beloved border collie, Cassie, we’ve fallen in love with the variety of walks, woods, and even beaches on offer. In fact, there are so many dog-friendly beaches in South Devon that we have barely scratched the surface. With the weather now improving and the sun making more of an appearance, we’ll be getting out and enjoying the golden sands a little more.
We’re slowly but surely ticking more and more off our list. All the beaches on this list are ones we’ve visited, and I’ll be adding more over time too. So read on for my guide to dog-friendly beaches in South Devon that have no restrictions year round.
Table of Contents – Dog-Friendly Beaches in South Devon
Man Sands
Location: Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0AJ
Nearest Car Park: Man Sands National Trust Car Park, Kingswear, Dartmouth TQ6 0EF (pay and display)
Access: Access to Man Sands is by foot only. So this beach isn’t recommended for anyone with mobility issues. You can either access this beach from Sharkham Point along the South West Coast Path or by walking from the car park at Woodhuish Lane. Please note that both ways have some steep sections to navigate.
About Man Sands Beach:
Man Sands Beach is a lovely secluded pebble and sand beach located around 1 to 2 miles from Brixham. We visited on a sunny and slightly windy Wednesday in April and saw only a handful of people while we were there. We also only saw a few dogs too, so if you’ve got reactive dogs, or simply want some peace and quiet this is certainly one dog-friendly beach in South Devon to consider.
Access to the beach can make it tricky but it’s worth it. At low tide, you can walk over the rocks and explore the cliffs as well as a couple of hidden coves. If your dog is anything like ours, and by that I mean, swimming-obsessed, then they’ll love it here. The water is calm and doesn’t drop off too quickly so dogs can easily walk in and out.
There are no facilities at this beach and parking is charged at £4.40 for the whole day. You can pay by cash or by phone using the Pay By Phone app. Mobile phone signal however is pretty rubbish so I would recommend bringing some change with you just in case. There is also a nature reserve by the beach so it’s an ideal spot for bird watching. You might even be lucky and catch a swan or two bobbing in the sea like we did.
Top tip:
Bring a picnic and enjoy the sunshine and waves crashing, and let your dogs have some fun with a beach potentially all to yourselves.
South Milton Sands/Thurlestone Beach
Location: Thurlestone, near Kingsbridge, Devon, TQ7 3JY
Nearest Car Park: Thurlestone Carpark, Thurlestone, Kingsbridge TQ7 3JS (pay and display)
South Milton Sands National Trust Carpark, Kingsbridge TQ7 3JY (pay and display)
Access: Access to the northern part of the beach when parking at Thurlestone car park is via a set of steps. If you are parking at the National Trust Car park, access is via a short slope.
About South Milton Sands/Thurlestone Beach:
Not many people realise this but South Milton Sands and Thurleston Beach are two parts of the same dog-friendly beach in South Devon. Located along a pretty stretch of coast, this dog-friendly beach in South Devon is popular with visitors and locals alike.
South Milton Sands is backed by sand dunes and tends to be popular with families. At low tide, there are plenty of rock pools to explore and shallow waters to paddle, bodyboard, or swim. It’s slightly larger than Thurlestone Beach and the sand is perfect for building sandcastles. It can get quite busy during peak seasons but an early morning or late afternoon stroll and dip are always recommended.
Thurlestone Beach is known for its golden sands, clear waters, and prominent rock structure – Thurlestone Rock. Although it’s smaller than South Milton Sands, it still offers ample space to spread out and soak up the sun. The beach is also sheltered from the wind making it ideal for a dip. Thurlestone Beach is also a very popular spot for water sports enthusiasts and you’ll often find people out on the water kite surfing, windsurfing, and wing surfing.
Bigbury Beach
Location: Bigbury-on-Sea, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4BG
Nearest Car Park: Bigbury-on-Sea, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4AS (Pay and display @ £14 a day!)
Access: Accessible via a short walk from the car park. The dog beach is the one with the causeway to Burgh Island and is accessed via a steep tarmac path suitable for all abilities.
About Bigbury Beach:
My partner and I, along with our pooch Cassie, love visiting Bigbury Beach. It’s an ideal beach for doggies as the water is calm and there’s plenty sand to walk on when the tide is low. The dog-friendly beach is the one on the right-hand side of the car park. The same side as the causeway over to Burgh Island.
Bigbury Beach offers stunning views of Burgh Island, Challaborough, and Bantham. It is also a lovely starting point for a short 30-minute walk to nearby Challaborough Bay or for longer walks along the South West Coast Path. With a cafe, toilets, and a little shop, it’s a popular place frequented by families.
With the waters being so calm a lot of the time, it’s ideal for paddleboarding and kayaking. Not surfed, kayaked or paddleboarded before? Why not get yourself some lessons with Discovery Surf School? You can even rent equipment if you haven’t brought your own.
North Sands
Location: North Sands, Salcombe, TQ8 8LD
Nearest Car Park: North Sands Car Park, Salcombe, TQ8 8LD (Pay and display)
Access: A short, easy walk from the car park, with level paths.
About North Sands
Nestled in a sheltered cove near the vibrant and upmarket town of Salcombe, North Sands offers a tranquil escape perfect for you and your dog. The golden sands and calm waters make it the ideal place for both families and dogs. Your pooch will love splashing about at the water’s edge or going for a full swim to catch a ball.
Cassie loves this beach, and we’ll be back here with her again soon. The nearby cafe is great for refreshments, and its proximity to Salcombe means you can easily combine a day at the beach with shopping or dining in town.
Wonwell
Location: Kingsbridge, TQ7 4EY
Nearest car park: Free parking is available near the beach down a small single-track road (with a few passing places). However, it does become busy quickly and you need to get in early if you want to find parking.
Access: To access Wonwell Beach, follow the slipway at the end of the narrow road. It is a little steep and slightly uneven but manageable for most abilities. It might not be the best for those in wheelchairs.
About Wonwell
Wonwell Beach is our little hidden gem. This dog-friendly beach in South Devon is tucked away on the eastern bank of the River Erme and provides a tranquil retreat with stunning views. Although parking is limited, the narrow roads certainly put a few people off. What makes this beach so nice is the fact that it is dog-friendly all year round and you have the option of letting your dog swim in the River Erme as it meets the sea or in the sea itself. It’s an excellent spot for those seeking solitude and a closer connection with nature.
Ayrmer Cove
Location: South West Coast Path, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4HR
Nearest car park: Ayrmer Cove National Trust Car Park, Ringmore, Kingsbridge, TQ7 4HR
Access: A steep walk down a picturesque path. There is a bench halfway down where you can sit and gaze out at the sea and cove.
About Ayrmer Cove:
Located on the South West Coast Path, Ayrmer Cove is another South Devon hidden gem. This beach is accessible via a picturesque walk down a steep countryside path, and luckily, there’s a bench halfway down for you to enjoy the views out to sea and Ayrmer Cove. This beach offers a peaceful retreat away from the crowded tourist hotspots, and as it’s dog-friendly all year round, you and your pooch can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere.
The cove is a mix of sand and pebbles with incredible rock formations and clear waters. At low tide, the rock pools that are revealed are perfect for children looking to discover some of the amazing aquatic life we have around these parts of Devon. Also, no phone signal means you can truly disconnect and enjoy some quality time with loved ones. Swimming at this beach is great because the waters are so calm, but with any beach, it can change quickly, especially when the tide comes in.
Top Tip:
Bring all your supplies with you, including food and drinks, as there are no facilities at this beach.
Slapton Sands & Torcross Beach
Location: Torcross, Kingsbridge, TQ7 2TQ
Nearest Car Parks: Torcross Car Park, Kingsbridge, TQ7 2TQ (Pay and display). Slapton Memorial Car Park, A379, TQ7 2TQ (Pay and display)
Access: Easy access from the car park, with level pathways.
About Slapton Sands & Torcross Beach
If you’re looking for somewhere with a historic past, then Slapton Sands and Torcross Beach are the ideal places. They are both part of a stunning three-mile stretch of shingle beach that’s backed by a freshwater nature reserve called Slapton Ley. At Torcross itself, you will be able to see a Tanker that was recovered from the sea after this area of South Devon was used during Exercise Tiger.
This dog-friendly beach in South Devon is long enough to provide you and your pooch with a good walk, or just somewhere to sit and watch the world go by. Although the village of Torcross is small, there are still places to eat, including two cafes and a pub. With the nature reserve so close, it provides the perfect location for long walks and birdwatching. You’re also within a 15-minute drive of picturesque Dartmouth.
Jennycliff Beach
Location: Staddon Ln, Plymouth PL9 9SP
Nearest Car Park: Jennycliff Free Car Park, Staddon Ln, Plymouth PL9 9SW
Access: Steep concrete steps with handrail.
About Jennycliff Beach:
Tucked beneath grassy cliffs overlooking Plymouth Sound, Jennycliff Beach is a dog-friendly beach in South Devon that’s worth a visit, especially if you’re staying in Plymouth. This shingle cove feels car from the city buzz. It’s a great spot for a quiet coastal walk or a paddle with your pooch, with sweeping sea views and plenty of rock pools to explore at low tide.
There’s free parking and a café at the top of the cliffs, plus easy access to the South West Coast Path if you fancy a longer stroll. It’s simple, scenic, and one of those places that’s lovely in any season.
Top tip
Visit at low tide for the best rock pooling and grab a coffee from Jennycliff Café whilst you enjoy the view.
For more photos from South Devon, check out my partner’s photography page: