Brixham is a fabulous place for a beach holiday, with such a variety to choose from. Whether you want to access the beach by car or foot, there are endless options. Located within the English Riviera, Brixham is surrounded by beautiful coastline and, therefore, beautiful beaches. With so many to choose from, how do you pick between the Brixham beaches? Whether you want lifeguards, facilities, or to bring your pooch, we have recommendations for you below. Keep reading to find out more and pick the perfect beach for Your Devon Escape.
Breakwater is a small shingle beach next to Brixham Harbour and the long breakwater. It is a popular spot for scuba divers, so be sure to keep an eye out to see if they bring any scallops onto the beach. Or why don’t you see if you can get involved and book onto a course or lesson and give it a go. Expect to see rare seagrass beds, seahorses, fish and even the odd shipwreck. There is parking close to the beach at the Breakwater, with easy access to the beach. There are public toilets open all year round, including disabled facilities. Admire the beach huts and hire a deckchair for a day of lounging at one of the best Brixham beaches. The beach is managed in partnership with the Breakwater Bistro, where you can indulge in light bites, breakfast, lunch, or a beverage. They also offer live music performances throughout the summer months, so be sure to check out their website so you can listen to some tunes as you enjoy your day at the beach. Dogs are unfortunately not allowed on the beach during the summer months (May to September).
Broadsands is a red-sandy beach located between Brixham and Paignton. The beach shelves gently into the calm water, making it generally safe for kayaking, paddleboarding, paddling, sailing, and swimming for all ages. However, at high tide, the water comes right up to the wall, so be sure to check the tide times when wanting to visit the beach. There are also no lifeguards at this beach throughout the year so be careful when splashing about in the water. Public toilets are open all year round, including disabled facilities. There are two cafés on the beach for you to access refreshments, and hire facilities are available. Rent deckchairs or kayaks for the day and enjoy the relaxing Devon beach life. Boats can be launched from the slipway if you fancy a more adventurous day at the beach, and it is also a designated windsurfing area. Watch people zip past from the comfort of your deckchair. Unfortunately, dogs are not allowed on the beach between May and September; however, they are allowed on the green behind the beach, or you can take the short walk over the Elberry Cove, where they are welcome all year round. There is lots of parking available at the beach in the car park, with great level access to the beach.
Churston Cove is one of many Brixham beaches. It is a secluded cove accessed via a long, steep path. It offers a real sanctuary of Devon peace and calm. The beach is a mixture of sand and shingle and is a safe place for the kids to paddle and play. Dogs are also allowed all year round, so you won’t have to leave pooch at home! However, there are no toilets or refreshments available at this beach, so pack prepared and enjoy being in nature. It is only accessible by foot, with the nearest car park a fifteen-minute walk away (Freshwater Car Park). Park here and walk the short distance to the beach or make a day out of it and make the walk from Brixham town itself. To find out more about this walk, head to our journal. There are also sadly no lifeguards present at this beach throughout the year, but if you fancy a day of peace and quiet, this is one an excellent spot to come.
A small pebble beach, far from the bustle of the main beaches, relax without disturbance with only a few other explorers. The scenery at Elberry Cove is beautiful; it’s framed by wooded hillsides and the sea is crystal clear and safe to swim in. There is also a boat lane, if you choose to hire a boat and access the beach this way. There are no lifeguards present at this beach at any time of the year, so just be aware when swimming in the waters or watching young children. Dogs are accepted on this beach all year round, so if you decide to make a walk of your beach trip, why not bring them along. Elberry Cove is only accessible by foot. This can be either from Broadsands Car Park or from Brixham itself along the South West Coast Path. To find out more about the walk from Brixham, check out our journal post on Brixham Walks. There are no facilities at Elberry Cove; however, Broadsands is a short walk away, where you will find public toilets, cafés, and water sport hire.
The beautiful little shingle beach of Fishcombe on the outskirts of Brixham is a quiet, peaceful little cove surrounded by tall cliffs and wooded hillsides. The beach is very sheltered and an idyllic spot if you want to escape the crowds of Brixham town. There is a steep path that leads down from the car park to the beach which passes through mature woodland and opens out to reveal the small cove and spectacular scenery. There is a café at Fishcombe beach open during the Spring and Summer months, offering light bites and lunches for you to enjoy whilst sunbathing. They also offer a ‘Party at the Cove’ and sunset yoga sessions during the summer months, so be sure to check out their Instagram to stay updated with events. There are toilet facilities open from April to October and parking at Freshwater Car Park, a ten-minute walk away. This is one of the many ideal Brixham beaches if you have a pooch because dogs are allowed all year round. Sadly, this beach does not have lifeguards throughout the year, nor does it have great disabled access, with there being a steep path from the car park.
St Mary’s Bay is a delightful, secluded beach a short walk from Berry Head National Nature Reserve. It is a large, sandy beach with some shingle. It is accessible via footpath only, via the South West Coast Path. You can find parking at Sharkham Point or at Berry Head. This is one of the best Brixham beaches if you are on Your Devon Escape with a dog because they are allowed all year round. There are no facilities or lifeguards present at this beach; however, if you take the short walk to Berry Head, you can access a café and toilet facilities there. It is a beautiful, secluded beach if you want some beach from the bustle of Brixham Harbour.
For beaches with lifeguards, check out the beaches surrounding Dartmouth here.
For more ideas for what to do on Your Devon Escape, why not check out our journal for recommendations. Or make us all jealous on Your Devon Escape by sharing your adventures with #yourdevonescape or tag us on Facebook @YourDevonEscape, on Instagram @your_devon_escape or TikTok @yourdevonescapeltd.