Beaches near Strete
This stunning coastal village is the perfect bolthole for a seaside holiday with some of the finest beaches on the doorstep! So whether you’re looking to build sandcastles with the kids, paddleboard in the shallows or do some seriously wild swimming, there’s a beach just a few minutes away so switch off the mobile and relax!
Strete Gate Beach
Strete Gate is a wonderful stretch of beach that’s part of the three mile long coastal bar which extends to Torcross. This beautiful fine shingle beach is perfect for picnics and watersports and its gin clear waters make it lovely for wild swimming. There are good amenities with toilets and plenty of parking. Look out for the refreshment van which parks adjacent to the beach, it’s a great pit stop for a coffee and homemade cake, pastries and tea. Strete Gate Beach is dog friendly all year round and it’s about a 30 minute walk from Strete village to the beach through woodland with lovely sea views. The beach is easily accessible and one of the quieter stretches along the South Devon coast.
It’s worth noting that the section of the beach to the left as you walk towards the sea is a naturist beach so if that doesn’t float your boat, keep to the southern side!
Access
Strete Gate Beach can be found just off the A379 between Dartmouth and Torcross.
Facilities
- toilets
- coffee and tea van
- cafes, fish and chips and a pub in Torcross
Attractions
Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve – circular walk around the Ley and back through Slapton village towards the car park.
We love… the peace and tranquility. The access is good too so it’s perfect for kayaking and a quiet swim.
Slapton Sands Monument Beach
Get away from it all on the peaceful pebble and shingle beach which is very rarely packed! The water shelves steeply but it’s a lovely spot for paddleboarding and swimming or just relaxing with a book. Dolphins and seals are frequently spotted in the bay. There’s easy access to the beach but wheelchair access is restricted. Slapton Sands Beach is dog friendly all year.
Access:
Slapton Sands can be found just off A379 main road between Torcross and Dartmouth
Facilities:
- toilets
- ice cream van
- cafes, fish and chips and a pub in Torcross 0.5km
Attractions:
Visit Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve and take the circular walk around the Ley which takes you through the village of Slapton and back down towards the car park.
We love… escaping the crowds on this beautiful sheltered beach!
Torcross Beach
This stunning stretch of shingle beach is very popular with families, it’s a great spot for wild swimming, paddleboarding and sailing (there’s a slipway giving easy access down to the beach. The beach at Torcross is at the opposite end of Strete Gate and has a promenade lined with old fishermen’s cottages, a pub and cafe. You can’t beat eating fish and chips on the beach! Across the road from the beach Slapton Ley, this freshwater Ley attracts many migrant birds and wildlife to its shores, there are even bird hides dotted around the shoreline so you can see how many species you can spot on the information boards. Dog friendly all year round.
Look out for the The Sherman amphibious tank stands as a memorial to the lives lost in WWII “Exercise Tiger,” During WWII the beaches were used as a training ground in preparation for the D-Day Landings so the residents of Slapton and the surrounding villages were evacuated.
Access:
The beach is open all year round and can be found on the A379 between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge
Facilities:
- Toilets
- Cafes and pubs along the promenade 20m from the beach.
- Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve
- Car parking available 20m from the beach across the A379. Disabled access to the beach (but no boardwalk on the shingle)
- RNLI Lifeguards – seasonal, on duty during July to September
We love… family friendly beach with plenty of space, perfect for fish and chips!
Blackpool Sands Beach
One of the prettiest beaches along the South Devon coast, Blackpool Sands Beach has won awards for its water quality so it’s great for watersports, swimming or simply chilling on the beach. A very popular spot with families which tends to get busy during the peak holiday weeks. Blackpool Sands sits on a beautiful sheltered bay backed by pine and evergreen trees. This privately owned beach is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and it’s open all year round but has a dog ban from March to October.
Access:
Just off the A379 between Strete Gate and Dartmouth
Facilities:
- RNLI Lifeguards – seasonal, on duty during July to September
- sand pits for building sandcastles
- water sports equipment is available for hire.
- first aid facilities.
- Blue Flag Awarded Beach
- car parks
- toilets
- cafe and takeaway
- beach shop
We love… everything about this beach, the facilities are excellent, a great choice for families and watersports enthusiasts.
