12 Best Devon Seaside Towns: South Devon’s Coast From Teignmouth to Salcombe

June 13, 2026 George 0 Comments

South Devon’s coastline is one of the most varied and beautiful in England — a succession of distinct seaside towns, hidden coves, dramatic estuaries, and sandy beaches running from the red sandstone cliffs of Dawlish in the east to the deep green creeks of the South Hams in the west. The English Riviera (Torbay), the ancient town of Dartmouth, the estuary villages, and the sailing haven of Salcombe each have a distinct character and their own particular pleasures.

This guide covers the 12 best Devon seaside towns on the South Devon coast — from lively family resorts to quiet fishing villages — with what to do, the best beaches, and what makes each one worth the journey.

Quick Guide: South Devon’s Seaside Towns

Town	Character	Best For
Teignmouth	Traditional resort; pier; lido	Families; year-round; all ages
Dawlish / Dawlish Warren	Railside town; nature reserve	Families; nature; beaches
Shaldon	Quiet village; orange sand; smug tunnel	Weekend wander; couples; quiet
Torquay	English Riviera; caves; cliff railway	All ages; attractions; families
Paignton	Classic seaside; zoo; pier	Budget families; nostalgia
Brixham	Fishing harbour; tidal pool; pirates	Authenticity; crabbing; families
Dartmouth	Historic estuary town; steam train	History; couples; foodies
Salcombe	AONB; water sports; gin distillery	Sailing; walkers; adults
Totnes	Inland but on Dart estuary	Alternative culture; day trips
Thurlestone / Bantham	Remote AONB beaches	Surfers; walking; families
Beer	East Devon; shingle; fishing	Quiet escape; East Devon coast
Torcross / Slapton Sands	WWII history; lagoon beach	History buffs; long beach walks

The English Riviera: Torbay

1. Torquay — Agatha Christie Country and the English Riviera

Torquay is the largest and most resort-like of the Torbay towns — the self-styled English Riviera, with a palm tree-lined seafront, a busy harbour, and a range of attractions that make it one of the most visited destinations in the South West. It is the birthplace of Agatha Christie, and the Agatha Christie Mile heritage trail connects points in the town associated with her life and work.

Best beaches near Torquay:

Meadfoot Beach: A sheltered bay backed by wooded hills and a row of beach huts; excellent for families with calmer water and good rock pooling
Oddicombe Beach: Below the Babbacombe Cliff Railway (one of the few remaining cliff railways in England); good for kayaking and paddleboarding; the walk to Babbacombe is excellent
Torre Abbey Sands: The main town beach — accessible, sandy, and centrally located

Key attractions in Torquay:

Babbacombe Cliff Railway: Victorian cliff railway descending to Oddicombe Beach — unique, charming, and an easy way to avoid the steep descent
Kents Cavern: One of the most important prehistoric cave systems in Britain — Stone Age cave with stalagmites, stalactites, and evidence of ancient human occupation; excellent for all ages
Babbacombe Model Village: 4 acres of hand-crafted model buildings in beautiful miniature gardens — a classic English seaside attraction with genuine craftsmanship
Torquay Museum: 400 million years of Torbay’s geological and human history in a well-presented museum
Greenway (National Trust): Agatha Christie’s holiday home on the Dart estuary; accessible by ferry or bus from Torquay; beautiful gardens and house preserved as in the 1950s

2. Paignton — Classic British Seaside

Paignton is the most traditionally British of the Torbay resorts — a classic family seaside town with a Victorian pier, promenade, amusement arcades, fish and chip shops, and a zoo. It has a slightly faded seaside character that many find nostalgically charming rather than off-putting, and the beaches nearby are better than the town’s reputation suggests.

Key beaches:

Goodrington Sands: South of the main town beach — a long, sandy beach in two sections with good facilities, calm water, and a water park attraction
Broadsands Beach: Further south and less crowded; excellent for families; access to coastal walks toward Churston and Brixham
Preston Sands: Walkable from the town centre heading east; large beach with play park and good amenities

Key attractions:

Paignton Zoo: One of the South West’s most visited zoo attractions — large site with hundreds of species, themed gardens, and excellent children’s play areas
Paignton Pier: Classic Victorian pier with amusements, crazy golf, and the inevitable two-penny machines
Paignton Geoplay Park: Free geological play park on the seafront designed around the UNESCO English Riviera Geopark — interactive and educational for all ages
Dartmouth Steam Railway: The Paignton to Kingswear steam railway is one of the finest heritage railways in Britain — 7 miles through beautiful Devon countryside to the Dart estuary at Kingswear, from where a foot passenger ferry crosses to Dartmouth

3. Brixham — Fishing Harbour and Pirate History

Brixham is the most characterful of the Torbay towns — a working fishing port that has retained its essential character despite being a significant visitor destination. The harbour is genuinely busy with fishing boats, the streets above it have a proper village character, and the combination of crabbing off the harbour wall, fish and chips from one of the harbour-side shops, and a walk to Shoalstone Pool provides a complete and authentic Devon coastal day.

Key things to do:

Brixham Harbour: Walk around the entire harbour; crabbing off the harbour wall; watch the fishing boats; visit the replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind (a full-scale replica moored in the harbour)
Shoalstone Pool: A 53-metre tidal seawater swimming pool cut into the natural rock at the edge of the sea — one of only a handful of remaining tidal pools in England; free to use; beautifully situated and genuinely nostalgic
Coastal walk to Breakwater Beach: The walk from the harbour around to Breakwater Beach and beyond offers excellent coastal views
Brixham Pirate Festival: Held annually in May — the largest pirate festival in Britain, completely free to attend
Boat trips to Torquay and Paignton: Regular seasonal sailings between all three Torbay towns provide a different perspective on the bay

The Teign Estuary

4. Teignmouth — Pier, Lido, and Back Beach

Teignmouth is a proper South Devon resort town with everything a classic English seaside holiday requires — a pier, an open-air lido, a good play park, crazy golf, a theatre, fish and chip shops, and long stretches of sand along the front. It sits at the mouth of the Teign estuary, which gives it a dual character: the busy front beaches facing the open sea, and the quieter Back Beach on the estuary side, with its beach huts and views across to Shaldon.

What to do in Teignmouth:

Teignmouth Pier: Surviving Victorian pier with arcade machines and a small take-away food outlet; storm-damaged but still operating
Teignmouth Lido: Open-air heated seawater pool open from May; 25 metres; beside the seafront — a genuine South Devon institution
Back Beach: The quieter, more characterful beach on the estuary side — beach huts, small boats, views across to Shaldon; a very different feel from the main front beaches
Play parks and sports: Good seafront play park alongside crazy golf, tennis courts, and skate park — all in close proximity
Pavilions Theatre: Regular cinema screenings and live theatre on the seafront

Teignmouth is easy to reach by train from Exeter (approximately 20 minutes) — one of the most scenic mainline train journeys in England, following the sea wall around Dawlish before arriving at the station in the centre of town.

5. Dawlish and Dawlish Warren

Dawlish is best known for the remarkable stretch of mainline railway that runs between the town’s seafront and the sea — passengers on the Exeter to Plymouth line travel literally along the edge of the beach, with waves sometimes breaking over the track in storms. This makes Dawlish the only town in England where you can watch express trains pass between the beach and the town centre.

Dawlish Warren — the elongated sand spit extending into the Exe estuary 2 kilometres east of the town — has some of the finest and least-visited sandy beaches on the South Devon coast. The nature reserve at the landward end of the spit protects sand dunes, rare plants (including the rare sand crocus), and winter wildfowl.

Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve and Beach: Walk through the dunes to the far end of the Warren for wide, often nearly deserted Atlantic-facing beach — one of the best family beach walks in South Devon
Seafront walk to Coryton Cove: The coastal walkway heading west from Dawlish town passes right next to the railway line (thrilling for children) to reach the pretty sheltered cove of Coryton Cove
Manor Gardens and crazy golf: Attractive Victorian gardens with a small crazy golf course in the centre of Dawlish
Play park: Excellent refurbished play park in the gardens above Dawlish — one of the best in the area

6. Shaldon — Smugglers’ Tunnel and Orange Sand

Shaldon sits directly across the Teign estuary from Teignmouth, connected by a small passenger ferry that has been running for centuries. It is a very different place from Teignmouth — small, quiet, genuinely pretty, and with a character shaped by its estuary position and its history as a smugglers’ haven. The sand at Ness Cove (reached via the Smugglers’ Tunnel) is an extraordinary deep orange colour caused by the local red sandstone geology.

Smugglers’ Tunnel: A genuine tunnel used by smugglers, cut through the headland to reach Ness Cove — atmospheric and great for children; emerges onto a hidden cove beach
Estuary walk: Wander through the small streets along the waterside watching the boats on the estuary
Ferry to Teignmouth: The foot passenger ferry connects Shaldon to Teignmouth throughout the day in season — a lovely way to combine both towns

The South Hams

7. Dartmouth — Historic Estuary Town

Dartmouth is one of the most beautiful small towns in England — a medieval port on the Dart estuary, with Georgian and Tudor buildings running down to the waterfront, a working harbour busy with yachts and ferries, an atmospheric castle on the headland, and excellent restaurants. It is a genuinely historic place: the Crusaders departed from Dartmouth for the Second and Third Crusades, and the town’s maritime significance continued through centuries of trade and naval history.

Getting to Dartmouth by the steam train from Paignton is one of the great South Devon experiences — the heritage railway to Kingswear, then the short foot passenger ferry crossing to Dartmouth, makes for a magical arrival.

Dartmouth Castle (English Heritage): Beautifully positioned headland castle at the mouth of the Dart estuary; one of the finest coastal castle positions in England; accessible by ferry from the town quay
Greenway (National Trust): Agatha Christie’s holiday home — accessible by ferry from Dartmouth or Torquay; one of the finest National Trust properties in Devon
Boat trips: The Dart estuary and the open sea beyond offer extensive options from the quay — guided wildlife trips, river cruises to Totnes, and sea excursions
Coronation Park play area: Good play park with cafe a short walk from the town centre
Dartmouth Food Festival: The annual October festival is one of the best food events in the South West

8. Salcombe — Water Sports and the South Hams

Salcombe is the jewel of the South Hams — a small, expensive, and exceptionally pretty sailing town in a deep estuary surrounded by the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The combination of clear blue-green tidal water (unusual for an estuary, as the Salcombe estuary is essentially an inlet of the sea rather than a river), excellent beaches, and sailing heritage makes it one of the finest small coastal towns in England.

Beaches: South Sands, North Sands, East Portlemouth Beach, and Mill Bay Beach — all excellent; East Portlemouth (accessible by ferry from the town quay) is the most beautiful
South Sands Ferry: An amphibious sea tractor operates between the town centre and South Sands beach — one of the most unique ferry experiences in Britain
South West Coast Path: Walking from Salcombe past North and South Sands to Bolt Head, or along the East Portlemouth cliffs toward Gara Rock — some of the finest coastal walking in England
Overbecks (National Trust): Subtropical cliff garden above Salcombe with rare plants and extraordinary estuary views; the house of the Edwardian inventor Otto Overbeck
Salcombe Gin Distillery: Award-winning gin produced using local botanicals — tours and tastings available in the town
Water sports: Salcombe has excellent sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and boat hire facilities; the clear estuarine water and reliable winds make it one of the best water sports bases in the South West

9. Bantham and Thurlestone — Wild South Hams Beaches

Bantham Beach on the Avon estuary is one of the finest surf beaches in South Devon — a large west-facing beach with reliable swell, backed by dunes, accessible via a lane through the pretty village of Bantham. The combination of good surf, sandy beach, and the estuary inlet at one end makes it one of the most complete beach environments in Devon. Thurlestone Beach nearby is smaller but has the distinctive Thurlestone Rock sea arch as a natural feature.

10. Torcross and Slapton Sands

Slapton Sands is a remarkable 5-kilometre barrier beach — a long strip of sand and shingle separating the sea from the freshwater lagoon of Slapton Ley (one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in South West England). The beach has one of the most historically significant associations on the Devon coast: in April 1944, a training exercise (Exercise Tiger) for the D-Day landings went catastrophically wrong here, resulting in the deaths of over 700 American servicemen. A Sherman tank recovered from the sea floor stands as a memorial at Torcross.

11. Beer — East Devon’s Hidden Gem

Beer is a small fishing village on the East Devon coast, just west of Seaton, with a shingle beach, active fishing fleet, and a cliff-backed setting that has been attracting artists and writers for generations. The Beer Quarry Caves — where Beer stone (used in Exeter Cathedral and many English cathedrals) was quarried for 2,000 years — are a remarkable underground attraction. Beer is less visited than the South Hams resorts but offers genuine Devon fishing village character.

12. Totnes — The River Town Gateway

Totnes sits 12 miles inland up the Dart estuary but is accessible by river ferry from Dartmouth (seasonal) and is the gateway to the South Hams. It is one of the most distinctive small towns in England — medieval architecture, an alternative culture, excellent independent shops and restaurants, and a Saturday market that is one of the best in Devon. For visitors based in South Devon, it makes an excellent half-day excursion.

Practical Guide to South Devon’s Coast

Topic	What to Know
Getting to South Devon	Exeter is the main rail hub — trains from London Paddington (approximately 2h15). Local trains connect Exeter to Teignmouth, Dawlish, and Paignton. A hire car is strongly recommended for exploring beyond the main resort towns.
Best time to visit	July and August are busy and expensive — book accommodation well in advance. May, June and September have excellent weather with fewer crowds. South Devon is also worth visiting in winter for dramatic coastal walks.
Driving in South Devon	Many roads in the South Hams are narrow single-track lanes. Sat nav occasionally routes vehicles through inappropriate roads — research routes in advance for Salcombe, Dartmouth, and Bantham.
Family beaches	Goodrington, Broadsands, Dawlish Warren, Meadfoot, and North/South Sands Salcombe are the best for families. Bantham is excellent for older children and surfers.
Coastal walking	The South West Coast Path runs the length of the South Devon coast. The section from Salcombe to Bolt Head and the cliffs above Dartmouth are particularly recommended.
Parking	Parking is challenging and expensive at popular beaches in peak season. Early arrival (before 9am) at Salcombe, Dartmouth, and Bantham in summer is strongly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best seaside towns in Devon?

The best Devon seaside towns for most visitors are Dartmouth (historic, beautiful, excellent food), Salcombe (stunning estuary, best beaches, sailing), Brixham (most authentic fishing harbour character), and Torquay (most attractions and facilities). For families with young children, Teignmouth and Paignton offer the most traditional seaside facilities. Dawlish Warren has some of the finest and least-crowded beaches in South Devon.

What is the best beach in South Devon?

East Portlemouth Beach near Salcombe is arguably the finest — a beautiful sandy beach in the South Devon AONB with clear water, accessible by ferry from Salcombe town quay. Bantham Beach is the best surf beach. Dawlish Warren has the best dune-backed sandy beach walk. Oddicombe Beach near Torquay is excellent for families and paddleboarding.

Is South Devon worth visiting?

Yes — South Devon has one of the most varied and beautiful coastlines in England. The combination of the historic towns (Dartmouth, Totnes), the water sports and sailing (Salcombe), the English Riviera resort towns (Torquay, Paignton, Brixham), the traditional seaside (Teignmouth, Dawlish), and the remote South Hams beaches (Bantham, East Portlemouth) provides something for every type of visitor. The South West Coast Path through this section is among the finest coastal walking in Britain.

Final Thoughts

South Devon’s seaside towns are remarkably varied for a relatively short stretch of coast — you can be in the lively English Riviera resort atmosphere of Torquay one hour and in the quiet, utterly beautiful estuary of Salcombe the next. The steam train to Dartmouth, the Smugglers’ Tunnel at Shaldon, the tidal pool at Brixham, and the walk along Slapton Sands are experiences that exist nowhere else in England. For a domestic holiday, South Devon consistently delivers.