We do like to be beside the seaside: our beautiful South Hams beaches!
Our picturesque beaches in South Devon are all within striking distance of Ivybridge and include unspoilt coves, jagged cliffs and stunning shorelines.
Thurlestone Sands
Thurlestone Sands is a popular choice with our clients when they’re looking for a trip to the beach. It is part of an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has won an award from the Marine Conservation Society thanks to its clear, clean waters. There is National Trust parking with disabled parking bays and board walk ramps leading down to the beach over sand dunes. The beach itself is split into two beaches by a rocky outcrop. To the south end, towards South Milton, is the main larger beach which is where you’ll find the famous Thurlestone Rock; this is an ancient arch-shaped formation made famous by Turner and is best seen at high tide. Closer to Thurlestone, next to a golf club, is a smaller stretch of sand. Both are very beautiful, providing wildlife spotting opportunities from the rock pools and safe shallow waters for swimming or paddling.
Mothecombe Beach
The beach at Mothecombe lies at the mouth of the River Erme. It is large and unspoilt with a rocky shore, fine sand and sheltered, shallow bathing. It is one of the quieter beaches and a little further to the south there is a small, circular stone wall that used to be used as a swimming pool as it fills with water when the tide comes in. The beach is part of the privately owned Flete Estate and is only open to the public on Wednesdays and weekends.
There’s a car park which gives access to the beach down a narrow path to the sands. Our Care Professionals say it’s about a 15 minute walk down from the car park and could be difficult for wheelchair users but an alternative would be to visit the popular café, the School House, with lovely views overlooking the bay and easily accessed from the car park.
Slapton Sands
If you love a beach that offers more than just sand, sea and swimming then Slapton Sands is the perfect choice for a trip out. It is popular with visitors for its interesting history: in 1943, the beach was taken over by the allied forces to use as a rehearsal area for the D-Day Landings; unfortunately, a combination of live ammunition and poor visibility resulted in the deaths of 749 American servicemen. A stone monument was set in place on Slapton Sands to commemorate the ill-fated ‘Operation Tiger’, along with a Sherman Tank at nearby Torcross.
As well as history, the beach offers visitors the chance to observe wildlife in the Nature Reserve, a freshwater lake called Slapton Ley with a variety of plants and animals. The beach has the added advantage of being accessible to wheelchairs and there is a beachside café and toilets when you need a cup of tea and a rest!
Wembury Beach
Wembury Beach with its stunning views and dramatic coastline is the perfect place to sit and watch the boats moving in and out of the River Yealm or skim pebbles across the water or while away the time rock pooling. There are good facilities here including toilets and a café housed in a 150 year old mill, well worth a visit. There is also a Marine Conservation Centre centre which is free to visit – run by Devon Wildlife, the Marine Centre has displays about the local sea life and runs regular events. The beach is owned by the National Trust and there are lovely cliff walks to Bovisands, Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo.
Bovisand Beach
Located, like so many of our South Hams beaches, within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and situated on the South West Coastal Path, Bovisands is a lovely sheltered bay enclosed by cliffs. When the tide is out, the yellow sandy beach is exposed and is perfect for paddling, swimming and snorkelling. There are steps down from the car park so the beach itself is not wheelchair accessible but the cliff top café is popular with our Care Professionals and clients looking for a trip out – from here they can sit and enjoy beautiful views across Plymouth Sound and enjoy a cup of coffee and cake!
Seashore code
If you’re visiting with the family or grandchildren, remember to follow the seashore code and help keep our South Ham beaches a special place for you and for the wildlife that makes a home here:
Handle with care: be gentle when handling soft-bodied animals like sea anemones; rough handling can harm them
Buckets: to avoid causing sea creatures stressed, only keep one animal at a time in your bucket and not for too long
No nets: Nets can rip seaweed off the rocks and animals like crabs can lose their legs and claws if they get tangled up in the net so its better to use a bucket and your hands to catch rock pool creatures rather than a net
Be careful what shells you collect: Only collect empty shells so that you don’t make a sea creature homeless
Leave as you find : Always replace animals, rocks and seaweed as you found them.
Litter- free beaches: Take your rubbish home
Keep yourself safe: enjoy our beaches but remember to stay safe – tides can change quickly, rocks can be slippery and stay away from cliff edges!
With so many beaches just a short drive from Ivybridge, we are spoilt for choice when planning a day out! The South Hams has beaches to suit all tastes and preferences, whether you’re looking for somewhere bustling and busy with ice cream shops galore or somewhere peaceful and quiet where you can listen to the waves break on the shore. Remember that even on a warm day you might need to take an extra layer to keep you warm in the sea breeze!
Find out more about home care in the South Hams area and see if Home Instead Ivybridge could be right for you or your loved ones by giving us a call on 01752 938220.