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Welcome to our UK travel forum where you can get advice on everything from holidays to exotic destinations, to tips on London travel.

Original poster

Sandy beaches near Shaldon, Devon?

27 replies

Spainintherain · 19/05/2021 22:22

We are holidaying near Shaldon, Devon this summer and would like to know which are the best Sandy beaches nearby? We are travelling with a 4yo and 2yo so need child friendly beaches accessible with the pram. Thank you for any recommendations!

OP posts:
Original poster
Spainintherain · 19/05/2021 23:29

.pinetreesfall. Here is the new thread! Lucky you bring near Shaldon.

OP posts:
Fivemoreminutes1 · 20/05/2021 04:21

Torre Abbey Sands

Pinetreesfall · 20/05/2021 07:48

There's a bit of Sandy beach in Shaldon but nothing amazing. Teignmouth beach is ok but the sand is quite course. I would says your little ones will be happy. My youngest boys are 3 and 2 and they are quite content with either Shaldon or Teignmouth.
Dawlish beach again quite course sand and Coryton cove too - depends on the tides sometimes you get loads of gritty stuff washed in other times it's quite Sandy.
We moved down here 3 years ago from the south east and it's the best decision we've ever made. My youngest was born here.
We go to Polzeath / Perranporth quite a lot but that's just because my husbands heart is in Cornwall really and the sand is so soft Smile

Pinetreesfall · 20/05/2021 08:08

Ness Cove is worth a visit - you get to it through the smugglers tunnels but don't even think about trying to take a buggy down there! Steps steps and more steps! But it's good when you get there!

Original poster
Spainintherain · 21/05/2021 09:35

Thank you both! Steps are definitely a problem. One of my children is quite sensitive and wouldn't like shingle mixed with Sand so I'm just looking for nice Sandy beaches they can build castles with. I don't know what you mean about coarse?

OP posts:
Boomclaps · 21/05/2021 09:40

I’ve lived here since I was seven. I can’t actually think of anywhere that’s just sand to be honest. There will be shells and shingle on all of them. But mainly sand.
Lovely beaches. Make sure to go and see Dan at the blue hut in Teignmouth and michelle and Matt at the ferryboat inn in shaldon. Both cracking for something to eat. The hut is street food and the inn does a bbq in the beach beer garden. It’s fab

Boomclaps · 21/05/2021 09:41

I’ll take some pics of the sand when DD is up from her nap to explain the “coarseness”

Boomclaps · 21/05/2021 09:42

Dawlish Warren is probably the softest sand, about 20 mins drive, 8 mins train from Teignmouth

Pinetreesfall · 21/05/2021 09:58

Yes the sand is soft at the Warren but it's right on the estuary.
Sadly the water quality isn't great along this stretch of the coast. The amount of sewerage in the sea at Dawlish is quite grim. Just take a walk to smugglers and see it pouring out despite the EA restrictions on discharge.
Course sand - grit and shells. It's sadly not nice Maldives sand Grin

APurpleSquirrel · 23/05/2021 09:43

Paignton beach is sandy & has various play areas. Torquay also has a small sandy beach at low tide. Further round Exmouth is good too.

Original poster
Spainintherain · 23/05/2021 15:07

Dawlsh with soft sand but filthy water sounds a bit grim even though we probably not set foot in the sea. Will have to sea when we get there!

OP posts:
Original poster
Spainintherain · 24/05/2021 00:01

Is there much to do if it rains?

OP posts:
TheSmallAssassin · 24/05/2021 00:08

Dawlish Warren can't be that bad if it's got an excellent rating? Latest samples look OK too?

environment.data.gov.uk/bwq/profiles/

Original poster
Spainintherain · 28/05/2021 23:36

Thank you for that info about the water!

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newnortherner111 · 29/05/2021 22:10

Exmouth is definitely sandy, was there in December. A few brave or foolhardy swimmers, only two of whom had wetsuits. Indeed some of the younger swimmers had bikinis that would look small on a Spanish beach!

Original poster
Spainintherain · 30/05/2021 14:39

Is there a beach called Exmouth beach which is separate from Sandy bay beach in exmouth (which has a holiday resort by it, I read online)

OP posts:
APurpleSquirrel · 30/05/2021 19:57

Yes, Exmouth beach is separate from Sandy Beach - Exmouth is free to access & very sandy.

TheSmallAssassin · 31/05/2021 08:24

Exmouth beach is lovely - sandy and long and has rock pools as well. You can walk to Sandy Bay around Orcombe Point at low tide.

It's my favourite sandy beach round here.

TheSmallAssassin · 31/05/2021 08:26

If you want to spend the day on the beach, I would aim to get there early - there is a lot of parking, but it does get very busy when the weather is good.

Original poster
Spainintherain · 31/05/2021 22:49

Thank you. That's good to know. Are there any beautiful Sandy beaches that aren't crowded in the summer? (No chance?!)

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Pinetreesfall · 31/05/2021 23:27

If there are I'd like to know where they are. Both Dawlish and Teignmouth were pretty damn busy today!

ShanghaiDiva · 31/05/2021 23:37

Exmouth is nice and sandy and has a blue flag award.

NearlyAlwaysInsane · 01/06/2021 17:39

Exmouth is very nice but gets busy (was there on this admittedly super busy weekend and we were very lucky to find a parking space at 12). There were quite a few groups of people smacking one pint down after another, and we kept away as the vibe was, shall we say, not friendly where they were. But there were stretches of the beach with mostly families, too.

Original poster
Spainintherain · 01/06/2021 20:54

.nearlyalwaysinsane. Thanks for letting me know that!...p.s. I love your username

OP posts:
onthinice · 01/06/2021 20:59

Goodrington beach or Broadsands Beach (blue flag) in Paignton. Our Exmouth beach.

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