From the beginning of May until the end of September, dogs are banned from 10 of Torbay’s beaches – but the good news is there are 16 beaches which are dog-friendly all year round.
Sadly Watcombe Beach, in Torquay, closed to the public in February 2020. The path and steps to the beach became unsafe due to land movement and erosion.
Dogs are not allowed on the following beaches between 1st May and 30th September:
- Breakwater Beach
- Broadsands Beach
- Corbyn Sands
- Goodrington Sands – South Sands
- Hollicombe Beach
- Meadfoot Beach – south western section
- Oddicombe Beach
- Paignton Sands
- Preston Sands
- Torre Abbey Sands
1. Breakwater Beach
This is a small, shingle beach next to the breakwater in Brixham. There’s a Torbay Council pay-and-display car park and The Breakwater Bistro is dog-friendly.
2. Broadsands Beach
This sandy beach between Paignton and Brixham is popular with families. There’s a large Torbay Council pay-and-display car park. You can get food and drink from Broadsands Bistro or K’ohana.
3. Corbyn Sands a.k.a. Corbyn Head Beach
This sand and shingle beach in Torquay is accessible even at high tide, unlike neighbouring Torre Abbey Sands. There’s a small café on the slipway.
4. Goodrington Sands – South Sands
This sandy beach is one of the most popular in Torbay, thanks in part to the presence of Splashdown Quaywest waterpark, Youngs Park with its boating lake, crazy golf and green open space, and numerous options for food and drink. There’s ample Torbay Council pay-and-display car parking. South Sands is the end furthest away from Youngs Park.
5. Hollicombe Beach
This is a sheltered beach with fine red sand between Torquay and Paignton. It’s one of the quieter beaches as it doesn’t have a neighbouring car park. There are a few parking spaces along Torbay Road.
6. Meadfoot Beach – south western section
This beach, which has a mix of rock, shingle and sand, is more popular with locals than tourists as it’s not in the centre of Torquay. It has links to Charles Darwin and Agatha Christie and it’s a popular spot for fishing. Park on street or in the car park.
7. Oddicombe Beach
This is a shingle beach accessed via a steep road or Babbacombe Cliff Railway. There’s a café called Three Degrees West.
8. Paignton Sands
This is the long stretch of red sandy beach with Paignton Pier in the middle. There’s metered on street parking available in the surrounding areas.
9. Preston Sands
This red sand beach is a short walk from Paignton Sands. The Boathouse bar and café is dog-friendly. The nearest car park is Torbay Council’s car park in Colin Road and there’s some metered on street parking available.
10. Torre Abbey Sands
Torquay’s main beach disappears at high tide and has relatively compact sand. There are plenty of places to get food and drink nearby. The closest Torbay Council car park is Shedden Hill.
Dogs are allowed on the following beaches all year round:
- Anstey’s Cove
- Babbacombe Beach
- Beacon Cove
- Churston Cove
- Elberry Cove
- Fairy Cove
- Fishcombe Cove
- Goodrington Sands – North Sands
- Livermead Sands
- Maidencombe Beach
- Meadfoot Beach – north eastern section
- Oyster Cove
- Peaked Tor Cove
- Saltern Cove
- Shoalstone Beach
- St Mary’s Bay
1. Anstey’s Cove
This is a small, shingle beach near the Babbacombe area of Torquay. Anstey’s Cove Café overlooks the beach. Anstey’s Cove Car Park, at the top of the hill, is run by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.
2. Babbacombe Beach
This is a small, shingle beach at the bottom of the cliffs at Babbacombe Downs. The walk down to the beach and Cary Arms is very steep, but many people prefer to walk than drive.
3. Beacon Cove
This is a small, shingle beach next to the now-closed Living Coasts attraction in Torquay. It was a favourite bathing spot of Agatha Christie. There’s a Torbay Council pay-and-display car park called Beacon Quay.
4. Churston Cove
Surrounded by woody hillsides, this shingle and sand beach in Brixham is peaceful and you have a good chance of spotting a seal here. The nearest car park, Torbay Council’s Freshwater car park, is a 15-minute walk away.
5. Elberry Cove
This shingle beach can only be reached on foot from Broadsands or Brixham. The ruins of Lord Churston’s bath house are found at one end.
6. Fairy Cove
This sand and shingle beach is to the south of Paignton Sands, just over Paignton Harbour’s wall. The closest car park is Torbay Council’s Roundham car park on Cliff Road.
7. Fishcombe Cove
This is a small, shingle beach in Brixham, overlooked by Fishcombe Cove Café. There’s public car parking on Fishcombe Road, or park on Northfields Lane/North Furzeham Road and walk through Battery Gardens.
8. Goodrington Sands – North Sands
This sandy beach (at the end closest to Youngs Park) disappears completely at high tide. There’s plenty of Torbay Council car parking and options for refreshments.
9. Livermead Sands
This sandy beach off the main seafront road between Torquay and Paignton is completely covered at high tide.
10. Maidencombe Beach
Maidencombe is found off the Torquay to Teignmouth road. The small, sandy beach is a short walk from Maidencombe Beach car park, which is operated by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. The Thatched Tavern is dog-friendly.
11. Meadfoot Beach – north eastern section
The beach has rocky, shingle and sandy areas. The eastern end is rocky and has a car park, the western end is more sandy and has a café and beach huts.
12. Oyster Cove
This small beach, a mix of sand and shingle, is found between Goodrington and Broadsands. It’s only accessible via some steel steps.
13. Peaked Tor Cove
This small, shingle cove is accessed via steps from the South West Coast Path behind the Imperial Hotel.
14. Saltern Cove
This beach, one along from Oyster Cove, is a mix of sand, shingle and rock. Park for free in Oyster Bend or Horseshoe Bend and cross the bridge over the railway line into the grassy area. Saltern Cove is accessed via the steps to the right.
15. Shoalstone Beach
This is the small shingle and rocky beach next to Shoalstone Pool, Brixham’s outdoor seawater swimming pool.
16. St Mary’s Bay
Brixham’s largest beach is mostly sandy with some shingle and rocks. It’s accessed via a long set of steps. You can park at Sharkham Point.
