Best beaches in Dorset and Devon

The coastline from Bournemouth in east Dorset to Plymouth in west Devon is well over 150 miles in length, to which must be added the north Devon coast of at least another 70 miles. There are so many beaches along both these stretches that it would be impossible to describe more than a few in a short article, and what constitutes “best” must depend on one’s particular circumstances.

However, from the point of view of a family taking a seaside holiday, there are certainly some that must be mentioned in advance of others.

Bournemouth to Sandbanks

The stretch of sandy beach runs for seven miles, part of which is in Bournemouth and the rest in Poole (Branksome Chine to Sandbanks). Many people take the view that this is the best beach in the whole country, let alone the Dorset/Devon coast. The current writer is, of course, entirely unprejudiced, despite having grown up only a couple of miles away!

The first thing to state is that this is one of the safest beaches you can find. It is regularly patrolled by lifeguards, and a flag system shows when bathing is safe and when it is not. The beach is also very clean, and it regularly wins awards for the quality of both sand and seawater.

The views from the beach are magnificent, with the chalk cliffs of Old Harry Rocks to the west and the Isle of Wight to the east being visible on a clear day. You can also watch the sailing boats in Poole Bay and the ferries making their way into Poole Harbour.

The more popular stretches of beach get very crowded in summer, these being around Bournemouth Pier and at Sandbanks itself. However, a walk along the Promenade will soon bring you to a less populated area where you can play beach games without interfering with other people.

All the facilities are here, from watersports to beach hut and deckchair hire. There are “dog friendly” stretches of beach and plenty of opportunities to buy ice creams and other food items. Bournemouth and Poole rely on tourism as a major source of local employment, and the beaches are a vital element of this.

Shell Bay and Studland

Take the chain ferry from Sandbanks across the narrow mouth of Poole Harbour and you will find a very different kind of beach that is far less commercial but just as safe and family friendly. The beach closer to the ferry faces north-east and is known as Shell Bay, but round the corner is south-east facing Studland Beach that stretches for two miles to the village of Studland.

The beach is backed by sand dunes and heathland that form a nature reserve in the care of the National Trust. There are therefore fewer tourist facilities here, although what is there is adequate for most needs. If the children tire of building sandcastles they might enjoy walking a nature trail in the company of an official guide. The nature reserve is noted for being home to all six native British reptiles.

If you decide to walk the whole length of the beach you may well come across people who are “au naturel”, given that part of this area is designated and maintained as a nudist beach, with National Trust approval.

Weymouth

Weymouth can claim to be Britain’s first seaside resort, as it was here that King George III came to bathe in the sea and encouraged a habit that people have followed ever since. The beach is part of the town, and not all that large, so it can get quite crowded in high season. It is however a very safe and clean beach.

One particular feature that makes Weymouth beach special is the quality of the sand that makes it perfect for sand sculpturing. Amazing sculptures by local artists have been a feature here since the 1920s.

Weymouth Bay is also perfect for sailing, hence its use for the Olympic Sailing Regatta in 2012.

Lyme Regis

Although there is an excellent sandy beach at Lyme Regis itself (Lyme is near Dorset’s border with Devon), the beaches to the east and west of the town are renowned for another activity that appeals to all ages, namely fossil hunting. The cliffs comprise rocks of Jurassic age that formed as a sea-bed during the age of the dinosaurs. Due to their instability, every storm washes more material on to the beaches and reveals fossil ammonites, belemnites and more, that can be found very easily by any beachcomber.

Care should be taken when fossil hunting, and cliff climbing is not advisable, so taking a guided walk in the company of a professional geologist is a good idea.

Children will also be keen to explore the rock pools that are formed when the tide goes out.

The English Riviera

This is the title long held by the 22-mile coastline of Devon’s Tor Bay, next to which are the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. There are 20 individual beaches on this coast, ranging from sheltered rocky coves to wide, sandy expanses. The geographical setting of this area makes it the mildest place in Britain, with palm trees growing on the sea front.

Among the beaches, those around Paignton offer the best facilities for families, with safe conditions for swimmers and paddlers, excellent sand for castle builders, and a pier and town for entertainment and food.

Other beaches are ideal for exploring rock pools at low tide.

Croyde Bay

This is a relatively small beach on Devon’s north coast, but mention of it must be made as it is the best surfing beach in the area. This is because it faces due west and thus receives the full force of rollers coming in from the Atlantic, plus the effect of local geology that throws up waves to delight experienced surfers. Surf schools operate here for those who wish to learn, while others might prefer to watch!

Woolacombe

The writer still bears the scar from a childhood accident suffered here, but he still reckons that it counts as a great beach! North of Baggy Point, which separates it from Croyde Bay, and south of Morte Point, Woolacombe beach stretches for nearly three miles of wide, flat sand, backed by sand dunes. If swimming is what you want to do, wait for the tide to come in or you’ll have a long walk!

As with many British beaches, if you want to get away from the crowds you need to walk a bit, but finding a place all to yourself should not be difficult on such a large beach. It is safe for swimming, being patrolled by lifeguards, and very clean. At the north end of the beach, Woolacombe village offers the usual facilities.

You might want to warn your children that jumping off sand dunes without due care and attention could lead to them being scarred for life, but you don’t really want all the gory details, do you?

As mentioned earlier, a short summary of the “best” beaches along so many miles of coastline must leave out many that others would want to include, and their omission here must not be taken as any sort of judgment. The aim has been to point out the excellence and variety that these two coastlines offer the visitor in terms of beaches.

© John Welford