Woolman Cliff

The cliffs here drop straight into the sea, and on a clear day you can see right across the bay. Woolman Cliff is a proper working beach, not a manicured tourist trap - you'll find locals walking dogs, fishermen casting off rocks, and the kind of quiet that makes you remember why you came to Devon in the first place.

It's a short walk down from the car park, nothing strenuous, and the reward is a stretch of shingle backed by those dramatic red cliffs. The beach itself is narrow at high tide, so come down a couple of hours before the water peaks if you want space to move about. Swimmers do use it, though the rocks mean you want to pick your entry point carefully. Families with young kids will manage fine - there's enough to poke around in rock pools without needing miles of sand.

The nearest town is Kingsbridge, just a few minutes' drive away, so you're not isolated if you've forgotten supplies. What makes this spot work is its straightforwardness. No ice cream van, no beach huts, no queue for the loos. Just a beach that feels like it belongs to the people who actually live here rather than the people passing through.

You're well-positioned for exploring the wider area too - Karrageen and South Devon Camping Lower Terawhiti Farm are both within walking distance if you're based at one of the holiday parks. Spend an hour here, grab lunch in Kingsbridge, then head up the coast. That's a proper South Devon day.