10 Great West Country Beaches
- Martin Hesp
- Feb 25
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
I wouldn’t put this up in summer - these beaches can get crowded. or some of them can - not all. But now autumn is arriving you might go to any of these and find yourself alone. Which would be wonderful….
Anyway, this is my shortlist of 10 Great West Country Beaches
Take a look at our South West Coast path guide here
With so many spectacular coastlines right on our doorstep, you don't need to board a flight to enjoy excellent cheap UK getaways this year.
Pedn Vounder:
1. Pedn Vounder, West Cornwall
Best for: Wild scenery, crystal waters, and adventurous walkers
Location: West Penwith (Near Treen)
My No.1 favourite beach in the South West. Just thinking of its white sand, dramatic granite cliffs, and turquoise water makes me want to jump in the car and drive the 160 miles it takes to reach it from Exmoor. It’s located in furthest West Penwith—and be warned, the descent down the cliff path requires a sure foot and hanging onto a rope!
Where to Stay Nearby: Treen, Porthcurno, and Penzance are ideal bases for exploring the far west tip of Cornwall.
2. Woolacombe, North Devon
Best for: Massive sandy expanses, world-class surf, and family days out
Location: North Devon Coast (Near Ilfracombe & Braunton)
The antithesis to Pedn Vounder. Easy to reach, huge, and extremely popular—but the crowds don't go there for nothing. With fabulous golden sand and rolling Atlantic surf, this is England's answer to California. If you want to escape the summer hordes, you can always take a walk along the vast sand dunes toward Baggy Point.
Where to Stay Nearby: Woolacombe, Mortehoe, and Croyde offer excellent coastal hotels, cottages, and holiday parks right on the doorstep of the surf.
3. Beer, East Devon
Best for: Old-world coastal charm, fresh seafood, and traditional seaside heritage
Location: East Devon Jurassic Coast (Near Seaton & Sidmouth)
Not the booze, but the wonderful old-fashioned cobble beach set beneath the towering white chalk cliffs of East Devon. Think excellent tea shops housed in wooden beach huts, clinker-built motorboats available to hire, local fishermen hauling their crab boats up on winches, and families who have been coming here for generations.
Where to Stay Nearby: The picturesque village of Beer itself, or neighboring coastal towns like Sidmouth and Seaton.
4. St Martin’s Bay, Isles of Scilly
Best for: Subtropical white sand, crystal-clear snorkeling, and utter tranquility
Location: St Martin's Island, Isles of Scilly
Simply the finest, purest white sand to be found anywhere in Europe. This is where the West Country turns into the Caribbean—the blue-green waters are so clear you can easily see the fine sand 40 feet down when snorkeling. Remote, pristine, and completely unforgettable.
Where to Stay Nearby: Stay directly on St Martin's for luxury island retreats and island guesthouses, or base yourself on St Mary's and take the local ferry across.
5. Doniford, Somerset
Best for: Fossil hunting, rock-pooling, and fascinating coastal geology
Location: Somerset Coast (Near Watchet & Williton)
The complete opposite of the Scillonian paradise above. You can't see an inch through the silty waters of this Bristol Channel beach, and it isn't "beautiful" in the classic sandy postcard sense. But it is deeply fascinating. Daniel Defoe was amazed when he visited in 1724, discovering huge prehistoric fossils embedded directly in the sweeping natural stone pavements exposed at low tide.
6. Maceley Cove, South Devon
Best for: Remote horseshoe coves, crystal-clear swimming, and rugged solitude
Location: South Hams (Near East Prawle & Start Point)
If you adore distant, empty coves where a small horseshoe of golden sand is bordered by rock pools and a restless, crystal-clear sea, then Maceley Cove is for you. Wonderfully wild, picturesque, and surprisingly Mediterranean in feel, the coast around the charming village of East Prawle sits right at the top of my personal list of favourite places.
Where to Stay Nearby: East Prawle, Salcombe, or Kingsbridge make brilliant bases for exploring the hidden coves of the South Hams.
7. Porthcothan, North Cornwall
Best for: Classic Cornish surf, dramatic headlands, and TV film location hunting
Location: North Cornwall (Between Padstow & Newquay)
One of the finest beaches on the Seven Bays stretch of North Cornwall. Excellent sand and surf with a maze of alluring rock pools uncovered as the tide retreats. You might even recognise the surrounding cliff-tops where Ross Poldark galloped in the hit BBC television series.
Where to Stay Nearby: Padstow, St Merryn, and Mawgan Porth provide fantastic hotel, cottage, and culinary bases nearby.
8. Lantic Bay, South Cornwall
Best for: Boating access, sweeping coastal vistas, and quiet sandy retreats
Location: South Cornwall Coast (Near Polruan & Fowey)
Another classic horseshoe of sand bordered by rocky reefs and translucent water. Like Maceley, Lantic Bay is a bit of a steep trek on foot from nearby Polruan—which is precisely why it remains so unspoilt and proves immensely popular with visiting yachts and leisure craft all summer long.
Where to Stay Nearby: Fowey, Polruan, or Bodinnick across the estuary offer stunning water-front stays.
9. Portheras Cove, West Cornwall
Best for: Untamed wilderness, ozone sea breezes, and quiet perfection
Location: Far West Cornwall (Near Pendeen & St Just)
Tucked away beneath the imposing Pendeen Watch Lighthouse in West Penwith, Portheras is a true jewel among coves. A golden sand beach of near-perfect proportions, this remote stretch of rocky littoral hangs in the memory like an oceanic, ozone-filled dream.
Where to Stay Nearby: St Just, Pendeen, or the artistic hub of St Ives just up the coast road.
10. Vault Beach, Roseland Peninsula
Best for: Secluded coastlines, wild swimming, and untouched natural beauty
Location: South Cornwall (Near Mevagissey & Dodman Point)
Tucked away miles from anywhere on Cornwall's quiet Roseland Peninsula, somewhere between Mevagissey and the high headland of Dodman Point. Vault Beach is one of the true sandy jewels in the West Country crown—a vast, curving sweep of shingle and sand. (Watch out for naturists who enjoy the quiet far end!)
Where to Stay Nearby: Gorran Haven, Mevagissey, or Portscatho along the gentle Roseland coast.
Frequently Asked Questions: Visiting West Country Beaches
Which West Country beaches are best for avoiding summer crowds? Remote coves that require a walk or steep descent—such as Maceley Cove in South Devon, Lantic Bay in South Cornwall, or Portheras Cove near Pendeen—remain relatively quiet even in high season compared to main resort beaches.
Are these beaches dog-friendly year-round? Many of the more secluded coves like Portheras, Pedn Vounder, and Maceley Cove do not have seasonal dog bans, whereas main resort beaches like Woolacombe enforce seasonal restrictions in designated zones.
Where can I find Caribbean-style white sand beaches in the UK? St Martin’s Bay in the Isles of Scilly offers fine, pure white sand and turquoise sea so clear you can see 40 feet down to the seabed.
