Visiting the beach in the autumn is perfect if you want to experience Devon’s coastlines without having to fight your way to the seafront. If you love the beach but don’t love crowds, visiting once the summer rush is over is a great option – this time of year still benefits from warm weather but a much quieter atmosphere.

If you’re planning a visit over the next few months, here are our suggestions of great beaches to visit.

Woolacombe Beach, North Devon

As it often tops polls as Britain’s Best Beach we can’t leave it off our list. This beach has three miles of golden sand, so even during the busier months, you still have plenty of space to enjoy yourself, but in the autumn you can often feel like you’re the only one there.

Barricane Beach, North Devon

This one is right next to Woolacombe, so if you find that Woolacombe’s beach is still a little too busy for you, check out this one. As well as being very picturesque, Barricane Beach is great for rockpooling and from October, dogs can join you on the beach too.

Paignton Sands, South Devon

Paignton’s sandy beach and pier is perfect for anyone looking for a quintessential British beach day out, and the contrasting colours of the sea, the sand and the sky make it a pretty place to spend the day whatever the season.

Sandy Bay, East Devon

Located in Exmouth in the East of Devon, Sandy Bay is a privately owned, secluded bay and features a host of rockpools – perfect for those of you on the hunt for fossils. The East Devon region forms part of the Jurassic Coast where you’ll find plenty of fossils and history – it’s also an excellent place for crabbing before the weather gets too cold.

Want to find out which beaches have their restrictions on dogs lifted now the summer is over? You’ll find a whole list here