Caroline Abbott
09 January 2025
Brixham’s identity has largely been shaped by its rich maritime history. The picturesque South Devon harbour town, which forms part of the South Devon region known as the English Riviera, is packed with old, colourful fishermen’s cottages and remains one of the busiest fishing ports in the UK.
Unsurprisingly, there are a number of beaches in and near Brixham, which vary in terms of size, accessibility and facilities. Whether you’re looking for a Brixham beach where your family can enjoy an ice cream near the town centre, or somewhere you can let your dog have a good run, there’s a beach for you – and we’ve rounded up the best to help you decide where to go.
Many of the other top things to do in Brixham are also connected to the sea, from wildlife-watching boat trips to a visit aboard the permanently-moored replica of explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake’s galleon, The Golden Hind. You can taste some fresh seafood at one of Brixham’s best places to eat and drink. You won’t be short of things to do if you holiday in Brixham, and you can browse our collection of holiday cottages in the town by clicking on the button below.
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Breakwater Beach

Breakwater Beach is a small, shingle beach next to the long breakwater, which you can walk along and admire the view. It’s the closest beach to the bustling harbour, Brixham's heart and soul. It’s also the best on the list for disabled access. Just head along the flat path towards the marina and past the RNLI Torbay Lifeboat Station. The water is clear and relatively calm, making it a popular spot for swimming, snorkelling and SCUBA diving. Seals can regularly be spotted snoozing on the marina pontoons or swimming close to the shore, so keep your eyes peeled and your camera close to hand!
Good to know:
- Location: Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AF
- Facilities: There are toilets just behind the beach as well as a café and beach shop
- Parking: There is a pay-and-display Torbay Council car park just behind the beach
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog friendly? Dogs are banned between 1 May and 30 September
- Stay nearby: Breakwater | sleeps 6
Shoalstone Beach
Photo credit: Shoalstone Pool
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Between the breakwater and the impressive Berry Head Nature Reserve (which is well worth exploring) is Shoalstone Beach. This small, shingle and rocky beach is a great place for children to explore the rockpools and look for marine life. It is next to an outdoor, saltwater swimming pool; Shoalstone Pool was built on a natural rock pool and first opened to the public in 1896. It is open from May to September and there’s no entry charge, although a voluntary donation is requested to help with the running costs.
Good to know:
- Location: Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AG
- Facilities: There are public toilets open from April to October and a café with great views across the bay
- Parking: There is a pay-and-display car park a very short walk away
- Lifeguards: Shoalstone Pool has lifeguards on duty between May and September
- Dog friendly? Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, but they are not allowed in the area surrounding the pool. Dogs on the promenade above the pool must be kept on leads.
- Stay nearby: Seaspray | sleeps 6 + 2 dogs
Fishcombe Cove

A visit to Fishcombe Cove could be combined with a walk-through Battery Gardens – formerly a Second World War battery point with remnants of this still visible. This little beach is a bit trickier to get to as it’s accessed via a steep pathway from the car park or via the steps from Battery Gardens, but the reward is a relatively peaceful and sheltered shingle beach, surrounded by tall, red cliffs, with calm waters for swimming.
Good to know:
- Location: Fishcombe Road, Brixham TQ5 8RU
- Facilities: There’s a café and toilets but these are only open in the summer
- Parking: Freshwater Car Park, which is a pay-and-display council car park, is around a 5-minute walk away
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed all year round
- Stay nearby: Sandpiper 2 | sleeps 4
St Mary’s Bay

St Mary’s Bay is a large, secluded, mostly sandy beach on the outskirts of Brixham. It’s usually quiet as there are no facilities and steep steps from the coast path to the beach. Be careful, as signs warn that the cliffs are unstable. If you fancy adding a walk to your beach visit, there are some brilliant panoramic views from Sharkham Point, the headland to the south of the beach, as well as from the coastal path above.
Good to know:
- Location: Brixham TQ5 9FE
- Facilities: None, but it’s a short walk to the café and toilets at Berry Head
- Parking: Pay-when-you-leave parking is available at Sharkham Point
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed all year round
- Stay nearby: Seahorses at St Marys | sleeps 4
Churston Cove

One of the best reasons to visit this small, shingle beach is the stunning woods and cliffs which surround it. Seals are often spotted here too as it’s calm and peaceful. Access is via a long, steep, narrow and sometimes uneven path, which can make disabled access difficult. While there are no facilities, Fishcombe Cove is a short walk and has a café and toilets which are open in the summer.
Good to know:
- Location: Brixham TQ5 8RA
- Facilities: None
- Parking: The nearest parking is along Fishcombe Road, around half a mile away (TQ5 8RU)
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed all year round
- Stay nearby: 3 Avocet, The Cove | sleeps 4
Elberry Cove

This beautiful small-to-medium-sized pebble beach, sometimes spelt Elbury Cove is located between Brixham and Paignton, is surrounded by woodland. You can walk along the grassy coastal path from the parking and facilities that are located at sandy Broadsands Beach. Many people enjoy swimming in the clear waters, and you can often watch people jet skiing or flyboarding in a designated area nearby. The landmark at the end of the beach is the 18th-century ruin of Lord Churston’s bathhouse. This beach was one of the favourite bathing spots of crime novelist Agatha Christie and features in her book The ABC Murders.
Good to know:
- Location: Elberry Cove, Paignton TQ5 0JH
- Facilities: None
- Parking: Park at Broadsands (Broadsands Road, Paignton, TQ4 6HX), a pay-and-display council car park
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog-friendly? Dogs are allowed all year round
- Stay nearby: The Pink Bungalow | sleeps 6 + 1 dog
Broadsands Beach

Broadsands, located between Brixham and Paignton, is not to be confused with the Broadsands Beach near Combe Martin in North Devon. It is a very popular choice for families due to its large, sandy beach – but it disappears at high tide so remember to check the tide times! The promenade is long and flat, but access to the beach is via steps with handrails. The water is usually calm, making it a good spot for swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking and other water sports. There’s parkland behind the beach if you fancy a game of football or cricket. If it’s too crowded for you here, Elberry Cove is walkable and likely to be much less busy.
Good to know:
- Location: Broadsands Road, Paignton TQ4 6HX
- Facilities: There are two cafés, toilets, and you can hire equipment from kayaks to deckchairs
- Parking: There is plenty of parking in Broadsands pay-and-display council car park
- Lifeguards: None
- Dog-friendly? Dogs are not allowed on this beach from May 1 to September 30
- Stay nearby: The Gimbals | sleeps 4 + 2 dogs
Brixham beaches map
Find all the best beaches in Brixham mentioned above with the help of our handy map.
Stay with us in Brixham
Whether you’re planning a family holiday, a romantic retreat with your loved one or a getaway with a group of friends, you’ll find plenty to see and do in this corner of the English Riviera – with the seaside towns of Paignton and Torquay a short drive or even boat trip away, to extend your options further still. We have a wide range of self-catering accommodation in and around Brixham, and many of the cottages welcome your four-legged friends too, so why not check it out and start planning your Brixham holiday today?
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.