Watcombe Beach

Watcombe Beach is a near-perfect crescent of sand set inside a natural amphitheatre of red sandstone cliffs and steep wooded hillsides north of Torquay, reached by a long path down through the trees from the car park at the top of the hill. The walk down is rewarding: the path winds through mature woodland with glimpses of the sea through the trees before arriving at a cove that feels genuinely enclosed and separate from the surrounding town. A seasonal cafe operates near the bottom and there are toilets above the beach. The council no longer actively maintains the site, and some of the buildings above the beach show signs of long-term neglect, but the beach itself and the swimming are unaffected. Kayak hire is available in season.

Dogs are welcome at Watcombe year round with no restrictions, and the combination of good swimming, a sheltered position and a path that discourages casual visitors in large numbers makes it a consistently pleasant dog beach. The walk down is steep and sometimes slippery in wet weather: sturdy footwear is worth wearing. Coming back up is a proper workout. The car park at the top of the hill is the only parking option, and the path from there to the beach is the only practical access route. Rock fall from the cliffs above has been an occasional issue at this beach, as at several others on this stretch of coast, so awareness of conditions overhead on stormy or wet days is sensible.