ituated between Paignton and Brixham on the English Riviera, Broadsands beach, also known as Broad Strand beach, is a beautiful sweep of fine red sand backed by wooded cliffs.
The gently sloping shoreline means it’s an ideal beach for a family day out. Children will enjoy building sandcastles, and there are plenty of rockpools at the southern end of the beach to explore at low tide. The calm water is perfect for a swim, although be aware at high tide the water comes up almost as far as the sea wall so check tide times to make sure you don’t get cut off.
Watersports, including paddle-boarding and kayaking are popular, and there is a watersports centred located on the beach that offers lessons and wetsuit and equipment hire. You can even hire a buoyancy aid for your dog if you want to take it for a paddle!
Small boats can be launched from the slipway at the northern end of the beach and there is a designated windsurfing area.
For a level walk from one end of the beach to the other, the long promenade offers lovely views of Combe Martin Bay. It’s lined with colourful beach huts which can be hired by the council for the day. Each hut has a kitchen unit and electricity for power and lighting.
For a longer walk, head up onto the cliffs and take the South West Coast Path towards Brixham. There are plenty of seats on the way where you can pause and take in the wonderful views across to Paignton and Torquay, and on a clear day, Exmouth and beyond.
Carry on to the pebble beach at Elberry cove where you’ll pass the ruins of an 18th century bathhouse, and then past a golf course before reaching the edge of Brixham. The route back to Broadsands takes you through woodland and farmland.
On some hilly farmland, between the beach and the tracks of the Dartmouth Steam Railway, is the Broadsands Chambered Tomb, a neolithic burial chamber and Torbay’s oldest surviving manmade structure. Constructed at some point between 4,000 and 3,000 BC, it comprises a megalithic chamber with a single parallel-sided entrance passageway.
It was excavated in 1958, when it was found to contain the remains of two adult males and two children along with some shards of polished, black pottery.
The mix of sea, beach, farmland, and coastal marsh makes Broadsands an excellent spot for bird watching. Cormorants, shags, and gannets can be seen fishing in the water all year round, while in spring look out for chiffchaffs, wheatears, and warblers in the hedgerows in the surrounding countryside. During the winter, grebes and divers can be spotted offshore, and birders travel from across the UK to see the flock of cirl buntings that gather in reedbeds around the car park.
Behind the beach is an extensive area of parkland where dogs can be exercised. Bring a picnic and enjoy some time playing football or a game of rounders.
There are two cafes that serve food all day, including breakfasts, locally caught fish, homemade burgers, tacos, and wraps, as well as a selection of ice cream, cakes, milkshakes, hot and cold drinks, wine, cider, and beer. A dog menu is available too, offering natural treats and doggie ice cream.
Showers, changing rooms, and toilets with disabled facilities can be found on the beach, and the watersports centre rents out pedalos, deckchairs, windbreaks, and parasols. The centre also provides lifeguard cover, a safety jetski, and holds life-saving equipment.
There is a large pay and display car park underneath the Brunel viaduct. The car park leads directly to the promenade, but access to the beach is via steep steps and ramps, which means it may not be suitable for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility.
