Ayrmer Cove

Ayrmer Cove sits at the foot of a steep valley just west of Challaborough, tucked between silver-white cliffs and the rolling hills of the South Hams. The beach is a mix of sand and pebbles with rock formations at either end, and at low tide the pools on both sides of the cove fill with marine life: anemones, small crabs and the usual cast of intertidal inhabitants that reward a slow, low-level investigation. The middle section clears to give easy access to the water, which is generally calm and sheltered inside the cove. There are no facilities here and no phone signal, and the only way in is on foot, either down a steep countryside path from the National Trust car park at Ringmore with a bench halfway that earns its place, or along the South West Coast Path from Challaborough or Bigbury. That effort is what keeps it quiet.

Dogs are welcome here all year round with no restrictions, which makes Ayrmer Cove one of the more reliable options on the South Devon coast for owners who want to avoid the seasonal juggling act that most nearby beaches require. The cove never draws the crowds that Bigbury or Bantham attract, partly because of the access and partly because there is nothing to do here except be at the beach, which, depending on your dog, is either a limitation or the whole point. Water-loving dogs will find calm, accessible swimming at most tide states, and the rock pools provide excellent sniffing territory. Bring everything you need including food, water and a lead for the path down, and time your visit to arrive around low tide when the pools are at their best and the beach is at its widest.