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Guide to Bigbury on Sea holiday cottages

Guide to Bigbury on Sea

Caroline Abbott 16 January 2025

You may not have heard of Bigbury on Sea in South Devon – it’s a very small village, after all – but it’s not hard to understand why it attracts so many holidaymakers. It overlooks South Devon’s biggest sandy beach, and the iconic Burgh Island, so it’s a popular destination for outdoorsy families, nature lovers and history buffs.

By the time you’ve read through this guide, you’ll know all you need to know about visiting Bigbury on Sea – including what makes it such a special place, the things to do there and some great places to eat. 

If Bigbury on Sea sounds up your street, next you’ll be thinking about where you can stay. We have lots of self-catering holiday cottages in the area, from properties with a sea view to dog-friendly accommodation. You can browse these by clicking on the button below.


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Bigbury on Sea FAQs

Absolutely – if you love the great outdoors and appreciate natural beauty. Bigbury on Sea is a picturesque spot for relaxation and recreation, while the unique sea tractor that transports people to the dramatic Burgh Island at high tide helps to make the destination memorable.

Bigbury Beach is dog-friendly. However, they are only allowed on the main beach from the beginning of October to the end of April. Dogs are welcome all year round on the smaller beach to the left of the causeway.

Bigbury on Sea car park, off Marine Drive, is managed by RCP Parking. There are more than 300 spaces, including several disabled spaces, and it’s open 24 hours a day. The pay-and-display machines accept payment by card only (but not AMEX). The tariff is £1 for 30 minutes, £2 per hour, and £14 for all day up until midnight.

Burgh Island is accessible by 4x4 vehicle but only if you’re staying at the hotel there. You can walk to the island when the tide is low. At high tide, you’ll need to take a ride on the famous Burgh Island sea tractor.

Accessibility depends on the tide times, which change daily and can easily be found online, for example at Devon Tides. The causeway across to the island is accessible for around two hours either side of low tide.

The Burgh Island sea tractor, affectionately named Trundle, is the only one of its kind in the world and has been transporting people to Burgh Island when the tide is in since the 1970s. It’s primarily for the use of hotel guests, but non-guests can ride to and from the island for a fee of £2 each way.

Burgh Island, and the hotel there, has featured in many TV shows and films, from the 1965 film Catch Us If You Can to the 2023 TV shows Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, Susan Calman’s Grand Day Out, and World’s Most Secret Hotels. Adaptations of Agatha Christie novels that feature Burgh Island include Evil Under the Sun (2001) and Nemesis (1987).


About Bigbury on Sea

View across Bigbury on Sea beach to Burgh Island.

Bigbury on Sea is a family-friendly coastal village in the South Hams district, at the heart of South Devon’s National Landscapes and is not to be confused with the nearby village of Bigbury which is around a mile inland. It’s one of the prettiest villages in Devon. It sits above the largest sandy beach in South Devon, which is very popular for wave and wind-based watersports.

Burgh Island lies around 250 metres offshore and is accessible by foot at low tide and by sea tractor or boat at high tide. The island is home to the 700-year-old Pilchard Inn and an Art Deco hotel, which was built in 1929 and has welcomed celebrity guests including Agatha Christie (who wrote two of her novels, And Then There Were None and Evil Under the Sun, while staying there), Noel Coward, Winston Churchill and The Beatles. There are fantastic views of the coastline from the island.

Bigbury on Sea once consisted of just a few fishermen’s cottages, but it grew with the rise of holidaymaking. Today it’s widely regarded as a jewel in South Devon’s coastal crown.


Where is Bigbury on Sea?

Bigbury on Sea on the map.

Bigbury on Sea is a village in the South Hams district on the South Devon coast. It is situated between the popular beaches of Bantham and Challaborough, which are both among the best surf spots in South Devon.

The town of Salcombe, which is loved by sailing enthusiasts and foodies, is 11 miles away, while the towns of Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, and the city of Plymouth, are all less than 22 miles away.

Bigbury on Sea has a large pay-and-display car park off Marine Drive (see FAQs above) which is the best place to leave your car if you’re enjoying a day out at the beach.


Things to do in Bigbury on Sea

Aerial photo of Bigbury on Sea at sunset.

Bigbury on Sea has a wonderful beach with a large expanse of sand, clear and shallow waters for paddling and swimming, and rock pools to explore. There’s a surf school if you fancy improving your surfing skills, or you may prefer to go kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding. You can rent equipment such as wetsuits and bodyboards. Windsurfing and kitesurfing are also popular activities at this beach. There’s a beach shop where you can buy any essentials you’ve forgotten to bring with you, and there are public toilets by the car park.

At low tide you can walk across the causeway to reach Burgh Island, but it’s more exciting to travel to the island by sea tractor when the tide is in. Burgh Island attracts nature-spotters, artists, history buffs and Agatha Christie fans. The island was the setting for Agatha Christie novels including And Then There Were None which is one of the best-selling books of all time.

The beach is a great start for walks along the South West Coast Path, from which you can admire rocky cliffs and rolling countryside. 


Eating in Bigbury on Sea

Bigbury on Sea isn’t a large place, but it has some brilliant places to eat on its doorstep, which can be enjoyed as part of your day out or as a break from relaxing in your holiday cottage.


The Oyster Shack

Plate of oysters on ice with sauce.

The Oyster Shack, by the River Avon, is the place to go if you want to enjoy seafood, oyster and shellfish in rustic and cosy surroundings indoors in the winter, or al fresco in the summer. The menu changes daily depending on the time of year and what’s available off the boats.

Good to know

  • Location: Milburn Orchard Farm, Stakes Hill, Bigbury TQ7 4BE
  • Opening times: Varies depending on time of year
  • Dog-friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome
  • Stay nearby: The Sea Garden | sleeps 4 + 1 dog

Venus Cafe

Friends eating tacos outside.

Venus Cafe is situated right on the beachfront and has indoor and outdoor seating so you can take advantage of the spectacular views. It’s open daily from 9am to 4pm, and the menu includes cooked breakfasts, burgers, burritos and ice creams.

Good to know

  • Location: Lower Car Park, The Warren, Bigbury on Sea TQ7 4AZ
  • Opening times: Open daily from 9am–4pm
  • Dog-friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome
  • Stay nearby: 11 Beachdown | sleeps 8 + 1 dog 

The Pilchard Inn

Friends enjoying meal inside pub.

The Pilchard Inn is one of England’s oldest pubs, having been serving thirsty customers since 1336, and it has a cosy, wood-beamed interior that oozes history. You can also sit outside and watch the tides ebb and flow. It offers classic British cuisine and it’s dog-friendly too.

Good to know

  • Location: Burgh Island, Bigbury on Sea TQ7 4BG
  • Opening times: Open daily from 11am–10pm
  • Dog-friendly? Yes, dogs are welcome
  • Stay nearby: Rock Cottage | sleeps 2 + 2 dogs 

The Nettlefold Restaurant

Seafood linguine dish.

The Nettlefold Restaurant, within Burgh Island Hotel is open to non-residents but you’ll need to book in advance. It’s the place to go for fine seafood dishes served within the splendour of a historic Art Deco island retreat. It serves afternoon tea as well as lunch and dinner.

Good to know

  • Location: Burgh Island, Bigbury on Sea, TQ7 4BG
  • Opening times: Open daily, lunch and afternoon tea served between 12pm–3pm and dinner served between 6:30pm–9pm
  • Dog-friendly? No, unfortunately dogs aren’t welcome in The Nettlefold Restaurant 
  • Stay nearby: 3 Gabberwell Cottages | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs

Stay with us in Bigbury on Sea

Have you booked your holiday to Devon yet? We have an excellent range of large and small self-catering holiday homes in Bigbury on Sea and the surrounding South Devon area. Whether you’re travelling with your loved one for a romantic getaway, or your family or friends for a change of scenery, we have the perfect retreat for you. 

Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing, please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.

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