Heading to the beach with the family this summer? You’ll be spoiled for choice here in Devon! To help you figure out the best places to spend your days, here are our suggestions for the best beaches for families in the region.

Woolacombe Beach

Woolacombe is one of the region’s best loved family beaches, it’s a huge, sandy beach, so no matter how popular it is there’s always space to relax and play. The beach has its own surf centre too, where you can hire equipment for a host of watersports including surfing, kayaking and more.

You’ll find lots of facilities and amenities close to the beach, including a car park.

Where to stay near Woolacombe

Saunton Sands

Another of the county’s larger beaches, Saunton Sands is home to one of the largest sand dune system in the UK and is particularly famous for surfing. There are several eateries nearby, as well as hotels and holiday parks backing right on to the seafront, providing plenty of facilities. Saunton is another beach that falls within the UK Surf Reserve, so there are plenty of options here too for anyone wanting to do a spot of surfing. Plus, there is a carpark and the majority of the beach is dog friendly all year round!

You can find places to stay near Saunton Sands here.

Dawlish Warren Beach

Located in south Devon, close to places like Torquay and Brixham, Dawlish has a lovely family beach. In high season there are lifeguards and there are several facilities and eateries close by, giving you easy access to the essentials. The beach is also sandy, making it great for sandcastles and you’re close to public transport with a train station close by.

The beach is dog friendly at certain points and there is onsite parking. Dawlish is also home to a lovely nature reserve and other nearby beaches and coves.

Where to stay near Dawlish Warren:

Goodrington Sands

You’ll find Goodrington Sands on the outskirts of Paignton and like most of the beaches in the English Riviera, is a great option for families. This beach is another that gets very popular but doesn’t feel overcrowded. During low tide, you can explore rock pools or spend the day out on the water where you’ll be able to indulge in boating, pedalo hire and more. There are plenty of shops along the promenade and you’ll often spot steam trains making their way along the line from the beach!

There is car parking nearby but not right on the beach, so be aware of this when visiting.

Where to stay near Goodrington Sands:

Westward Ho!

At two miles long, this is another good beach for people who want to spread out. It features a mix of sand and pebbles and offers plenty of little rockpools to explore. This beach also a haven for surfers, but isn’t quite as popular as nearby places like Saunton and Croyde.

You’ll find a seabound swimming pool here, which is only visible at low tide and there are several facilities, including accessible toilets and showers right on the beach.

You can find places to stay near Westward Ho! here.

Torre Abbey Sands

This soft, sandy beach is close to Torquay and is hugely popular among families. It’s a great beach for paddling and swimming and as it is nice and flat, you’ll find it is easy for playing games, as well as relaxing. Because you’re close to the centre of Torquay, you’ll find that there are plenty of facilities as well as nearby carparks and public transport.

Where to stay near Torre Abbey

Want more suggestions for beach days in Devon, you can find more options here.