Broadsands

The sand at Broadsands stretches proper wide and golden, backed by low cliffs that don't tower over you but give the beach a real sense of enclosure. It's the kind of Devon beach that works well for families because the foreshore is gentle and the water shelves gradually - no sudden drop-offs to worry about. On a decent day you can see across to Start Point, and the whole setup feels working-class and unfussy, the way South Devon beaches should.

Walkers will find the coastal path accessible from here, and it's worth a wander in either direction if you've got the energy. The beach itself draws people mainly for swimming and paddling rather than for sitting about with a book, though on quieter days it's pleasant enough for that too. Come when the tide's out and you get real space; high tide compresses things considerably. Allow a good half-day if you're combining it with a swim and a walk, or a quick hour if you're just killing time between Kingsbridge and the water.

If you're based at South Devon Camping just up the road at Lower Terawhiti Farm or Karrageen Caravan Park a couple of miles inland, this is a straightforward fifteen-minute drive down. Perfectly decent for a morning trip or a late-afternoon cool-off. It won't blow your mind, but that's rather the point - it's functional, friendly, and genuinely good for children who need to burn off energy in the water without any faffing about.