Blackpool Sands: Devon’s Best Beach That Has Nothing to Do With Blackpool

Blackpool Sands is in South Devon, 3 miles south of Dartmouth, and has no connection whatsoever to Blackpool in Lancashire. The name comes from a local family who owned the cove in the 18th century. This distinction matters because visitors expecting the promenade and Illuminations from the other Blackpool will be confused by what they find: a sheltered shingle cove in a curved bay below limestone cliffs, with water so clean it consistently holds Blue Flag status, and an atmosphere closer to the Mediterranean than to the Lancashire coast.

The cliffs that define the bay on both sides create a rain shadow effect that gives Blackpool Sands measurably more sun than the exposed beaches of North Devon. The shingle is fine and comfortable; the bottom slopes gently and the water stays calm in most conditions. Families with young children in particular find it significantly more manageable than exposed sandy beaches where an offshore wind can make a pleasant day genuinely miserable.

The Beach Itself

Swimming is excellent in July and August when the water temperature reaches 16-18 degrees Celsius. Kayak and paddleboard hire is available from the beach throughout the summer; the sheltered conditions and interesting cliff base make a paddle around the cove edges worthwhile. You won’t see the Maldives here, but the visibility in calm conditions is better than most English beaches.

The Beach Cafe does good fish and chips, crab sandwiches, and ice cream at prices that aren’t taking advantage of the captive audience as aggressively as they might. On a hot August Sunday the car park fills early; arriving before 10am gives you a beach that feels private rather than shared.

Dartmouth

Three miles north, Dartmouth is one of the best small towns in Devon: a working harbour town with genuine character, independent shops, and restaurants that justify going out of your way. The Dartmouth Castle (English Heritage, around £7 entry) guards the Dart Estuary from a 15th-century fortification that makes clear why the estuary was worth defending.

The Seahorse restaurant in town has been among the best seafood restaurants in the southwest for years; the Cornish crab and the fish from day boats landed at Brixham are the reasons to book a table. Dinner for two with wine runs around £100-120.

The lower ferry across the Dart to Kingswear runs continuously from the town centre; the views from the castle side back to Dartmouth’s waterfront are the standard postcardworthy version of this part of Devon.

Around the South Devon Coast

Salcombe, 12 miles west along the coast, is the other celebrated South Devon destination: a beautiful estuary town with excellent sailing, expensive but good restaurants, and an atmosphere that trends toward the yachting elite in August. Kingsbridge, at the head of the Salcombe estuary, has a good farmers’ market on Tuesdays and Thursdays in summer.

The Oyster Shack near Bigbury-on-Sea is an informal seafood restaurant in a converted barn serving oysters, mussels, and fish from the nearby beds at prices that are good value for the quality.

Getting There

The nearest motorway is the M5 at Exeter, about 20 miles north. The drive from Exeter to Blackpool Sands takes around 45 minutes. There is no rail connection to Dartmouth itself (the Paignton to Kingswear steam heritage line stops at Kingswear, with a ferry across to Dartmouth), so a car is practical.