Mouthwell Beach

The beach at Mouthwell is one of those Devon spots that rewards you for making the effort to find it. It's tucked away near Kingsbridge, down lanes narrow enough to make you wonder if you're heading the right way, but you are. Once you've parked and walked through the fields, the reward is a proper quiet cove - the sort of place where families can actually hear each other talk without competing with crowds.

The beach itself is small and sheltered, with a mix of sand and shingle that shifts with the tides. Rock pools are decent if the weather's been kind, and the water's calm enough for younger swimmers, though it's cold year-round as you'd expect this far west. The cliffs provide some shelter from wind, which matters more than you'd think on blustery days.

Who gets the most from it? Families wanting a quieter alternative to the busier South Devon beaches, and anyone after a proper walk rather than a sunbathe-heavy afternoon. In summer it fills up a bit, but nothing like the nightmare of Bigbury Bay further round the coast. Autumn and early spring are genuinely lovely here.

Karrageen Caravan & Camping Park sits barely a mile away, making this an easy morning or late-afternoon trip from your pitch. South Devon Camping Lower Terawhiti Farm is only marginally further. Neither will be rammed with day visitors heading to the beach, which keeps things peaceful. Allow an hour or two depending on the tides and how keen you are on rock pooling. Parking is tight, so go early in summer.