“You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth” Our last week on holiday and we packed in as many visits to the best family beaches in the South Hams as we could. Last week we had spent some time at the unspoilt beaches at Beesands and Hallsands and walked the south west coastal path, which you can read about here. This week we spent most of our last beach days on some of our favourite beaches Torcross, NT Mill Bay and Bantham / Bigbury on Sea. Our aim this holiday was to have as many beach days as possible as that is what we all miss when we’re back home in York. For our family and our age gaps it’s such a good all rounder of a day out. The older ones love surfing and paddle boarding and the younger ones digging, rock pooling and paddling.
National Trust Mill Bay beach is top of our kids list of best family beaches in South Hams and most probably mine as well. You have to get down early for a parking space and the road to the beach is narrow and not easy to navigate. Once you’ve got over getting there it’s well worth it. The boast and the chilled vibe provides you with plenty to watch and enjoy. There is a stream running down the coastal pathway behind onto the beach which makes for a perfect spot for younger kids to dig and build dams. This kept Teddy entertained for hours as he plucked up the confidence to join the other children and make some friends for the afternoon. Florence stuck close to me and Rusty. It’s been wonderful to see her become closer to Rusty.
Bantham beach is always a lovely day out but as we had the dog with us we drove a little further along the coast opposite Bantham to Bigbury on Sea. Having sat on Bantham beach the past few summers looking out at Burgh Island we finally made the effort to visit the island.
Home to an Art Deco hotel with Agatha Christie links it really is an intriguing little island. We walked past the Pilchard Inn and followed the footpath up to the viewpoint at the top of the island where the fisherman used to hue and cry when the pilchards were in the bay. the island is accessible on foot at low tide and by a very interesting sea tractor belonging to the hotel when the tide is in. We sat on the beach whilst the older two surfed and it was such a lovely afternoon. Bigbury-on-sea has now made it to our best family beaches in the South Hams
Lastly we enjoyed visiting Torcross in the morning for a coffee and a play on our last day as well as for an ice cream on our last evening. It’s a rocky beach which makes it perfect for swimming and paddle boarding. It’s never overcrowded and the cafes and the pub all serve good food. When watching the sunset that last night we even saw a seal bobbing around the shoreline as there is plenty of fish there.
This was our last photo of the four of them before we headed off to spend our last 2 nights in Mid Devon before arriving home for the weekend of unpacking, washing, catching up with friends and some much needed sofa time!
I feel like whenever we go anywhere we should ask you to tell us some hidden gems, it feels like you know everywhere! The beach looks great for a family day out x
What a gorgeous day at the beach. xx
I have loved watching your beach adventures. We visited Burgh Island for the first time this year too and loved it. Really like the picture of the four of them together on the stones x
It sounds like you had an amazing holiday. I’m really not a big beach fan but I think on our next holiday I just need to suck it up and take the boys because I bet they would love it!