South Milton Sands

The beach at South Milton is one of those rare Devon stretches where you actually get a proper expanse of sand rather than shingle and rock pools. It's backed by low cliffs with a scattering of beach huts, and the approach from the car park is mercifully short - no trudging down endless coastal paths here.

The sand here is golden and firm underfoot, which makes it excellent for families with young children who want to build castles without the aggravation of shale crumbling everything. At high tide it shrinks considerably, but at low water you've got a decent playground. The beach faces south-southwest, so you get proper sun exposure on a clear day. Swimming is straightforward enough, though like most Devon beaches the water temperature rarely climbs above freezing even in August.

Walkers will find the South West Coast Path runs right past it, so it's a natural stopping point if you're covering the route between Kingsbridge and further along the coast. The setting is quietly understated - no arcades, no ice cream vans jostling for position, just a working beach that locals seem to prefer to the busier spots nearby.

Staying at South Devon Camping on Lower Terawhiti Farm puts you less than a mile away, making this a genuinely convenient morning beach session before heading elsewhere. Karrageen is similarly close. It's worth a morning visit rather than banking your whole day on it - two hours maximum for most people - but if you're based nearby during a holiday park stay in the area, it's absolutely the beach to know about.