Best Beaches Near Exeter
Written by UK Hidden Gems Editorial
Updated 5 August 2026
The best beaches near Exeter are Elberry Cove, Scabbacombe Sands, Mattiscombe Sands, Maceley Cove, Mothecombe Beach, Wyscombe Beach, South Milton Sands and Sandways Beach.
Exeter sits inland at the head of its estuary, with the beaches of Torbay to the south-east and the wilder coves of the South Hams and South Devon coast strung out beyond, most of them reached only on foot. Nearest, in Torbay, the wooded pebble cove of Elberry Cove has clear, sheltered water once known to Agatha Christie.
South along the coast lie a run of secluded, hard-won coves: the pebble-and-sand of Scabbacombe Sands near Brixham, and, further round toward Start Point and Prawle, the remote sands of Mattiscombe and the boulder-strewn Maceley Cove. In the South Hams proper are the estate beach at Mothecombe on the Erme, the lonely grey sands of Westcombe, and the National Trust sands of South Milton with their great offshore rock arch at Thurlestone.
Some sit just off the road, others need a proper walk down. Here are eight beaches to seek out near Exeter.
Elberry Cove
Photo: Ian S via Geograph.org.uk
Elberry Cove is a quiet pebble cove near Broadsands in Torbay, backed by woods and reached only on foot along the coast path. The water here is notably clear, sheltered in the bay, and used for swimming and water-skiing in summer.
At one end stand the ruins of an old bathing house built for Lord Churston. The writer Agatha Christie knew the cove and used it in her fiction, and it stays a peaceful, out-of-the-way spot despite the busier resort beaches close by.
Scabbacombe Sands
Photo: Derek Harper via Geograph.org.uk
Scabbacombe Sands is a small, secluded cove of sand and shingle on the South Devon coast, north of Kingswear near Brixham, sheltered by cliffs and facing east. Despite the name it is more pebble than sand, though the water is clear, and there is no road down: the way in is on foot from a small car park on Scabbacombe Lane, down a steep track and across a field.
It is quiet and undeveloped, with no facilities, and the far end has long been used by naturists. Dogs are allowed all year.
Mattiscombe Sands
Photo: Chris Andrews via Geograph.org.uk
Mattiscombe Sands No road comes near this South Devon cove, also known as Great Mattiscombe Sand, and that is much of its charm. You leave the car at Start Point and follow the South West Coast Path for about a mile, passing the lighthouse and wide views over Start Bay, before a steep final drop lands you on the sand.
Cliffs shelter the beach, and at low tide rock flats and caves open out to explore, while the abandoned village of Hallsands sits further along the shore. Bring everything with you, since there is nothing here at all, and the quiet is yours to keep.
Maceley Cove
Photo: Philip Halling via Geograph.org.uk
Maceley Cove is a small, remote cove below the crag of Gammon Head, on the South Devon coast just west of Prawle Point. Sand shows mostly at low tide, broken by large boulders, and the cove is backed by steep cliffs.
There is no road to it: the way in is on foot along the South West Coast Path from the car park at Prawle Point, then a steep path and a scramble over rocks to reach the sand. It is a quiet spot with no facilities of any kind, a reward for those willing to make the walk and scramble.
Mothecombe Beach
Photo: Colin Park via Geograph.org.uk
Mothecombe Beach is a secluded sandy beach on the eastern side of the Erme estuary in the South Hams of Devon, part of the private Flete Estate near Holbeton. A path of about half a mile leads down through woodland from a grass car park to the shore, where at low tide the sand widens and joins the neighbouring Coastguards Beach.
The estuary can be waded across to Wonwell Beach for about an hour either side of low water. There are toilets and refreshments at an old schoolhouse by the car park, but none on the sand, and dogs are kept off in the summer months.
Wyscombe Beach
Photo: jeff collins via Geograph.org.uk
Westcombe Beach, listed here as Wyscombe, is a remote beach of grey sand and low-tide rock pools on the south Devon coast near Ringmore, in the South Hams. It lies on the coast path between Wonwell Beach at the Erme estuary to the west and Ayrmer Cove to the east.
There are no facilities, and it is reached only on foot, usually from Ringmore by way of Ayrmer Cove, with a steep path down to the sand. Its remoteness keeps it quiet, a proper hidden corner of the South Hams coast.
South Milton Sands
Photo: David Smith via Geograph.org.uk
South Milton Sands Just offshore stands Thurlestone Rock, a great natural arch the sea has punched clean through, and it is the sight that defines this golden National Trust beach near Thurlestone in the South Hams. Wide sand, clear water and rock pools make it a well-liked spot for swimming, snorkelling and paddleboarding, while the South West Coast Path traces the shore between Thurlestone and Hope Cove for anyone who prefers to keep walking.
A car park, a beach cafe and toilets sit close by, and dogs are welcome the year round. Come for the arch, then let an easy day by the water do the rest.
Sandways Beach
Photo: Darren Rosson via Geograph.org.uk
Sandway Beach is a small beach of mixed sand, pebble and rock between the twin fishing villages of Kingsand and Cawsand, on the Rame peninsula in south-east Cornwall, across the water from Plymouth. More sand shows at lower tides, and the shore is framed by rows of pastel-painted old cottages, on the South West Coast Path.
It is a quiet, sheltered spot on Plymouth Sound, with the villages behind for shops, pubs and cafes, and little in the way of facilities on the beach itself.
FAQs
What are the most remote, hardest-to-reach beaches near Exeter?
Maceley Cove near Prawle Point is among the most remote near Exeter, needing a coast-path walk and a scramble over rocks, while Mattiscombe Sands is a mile's walk from Start Point with a steep drop at the end and Westcombe (listed as Wyscombe) is reached only on foot by way of Ayrmer Cove. All three are quiet, facility-free coves that reward the effort.
Which beaches near Exeter are best for swimming and clear water?
Elberry Cove near Broadsands has notably clear, sheltered water used for swimming, and South Milton Sands at Thurlestone offers wide golden sand, clear water and rock pools, good for snorkelling and paddleboarding. Both are easier to reach than the remote South Hams coves further along the coast near Exeter.
What can you see at South Milton Sands near Exeter?
South Milton Sands is set off by Thurlestone Rock, a great natural sea arch standing offshore in the bay. Mattiscombe Sands has the Start Point lighthouse above it and the ruined village of Hallsands nearby, and Sandway sits between the pastel cottages of Kingsand and Cawsand on Plymouth Sound.
Conclusion
Exeter sits inland at the head of its estuary, with the beaches of Torbay to the south-east and the wilder coves of the South Hams beyond, most reached only on foot. Nearest, in Torbay, the wooded pebble cove of Elberry has clear, sheltered water.
South along the coast lie the secluded Scabbacombe Sands near Brixham and, round toward Start Point and Prawle, the remote Mattiscombe and boulder-strewn Maceley Cove. In the South Hams are the estate beach at Mothecombe, the lonely sands of Westcombe, and the National Trust sands of South Milton with their great rock arch at Thurlestone.
From a clear-water swim to a rock arch offshore, these are the beaches to seek out near Exeter.
