Devon beach walk #2 Blackpool Sands
I’ve always lived by the sea, so walks on the beach are nothing new. What is new is our location. Since moving to Devon in December we’ve been able to explore lots of different pieces of coastline as we walk Tin Box Dog and try to tire out our girls.
In January I shared our walk on Strete Gate, which is about 15 minutes from where we live in Dartmouth. This month my Devon beach walk is even closer to home: Blackpool Sands.
About Blackpool Sands
Despite the name, Blackpool Sands is a shingle beach. It is located in a picturesque cove and has a Blue Flag. If you visit in the summer, when the waters are crystal clear, it’s not hard to understand why. The beach is also cleaned daily and has lifeguards from July to September.
At one end of the beach is a fresh water river running down to the sea and at the other end there are rocks, so it’s great for little explorers. Closely supervised, of course.
The sloping car park is free during the winter months and there is a daily charge during the summer when more spaces are made available on an adjoining field.
There’s loads of facilities at Blackpool Sands including a toilet block, showers, cafe, beach shop and equipment hire.
The beach only allows dogs between November and March – check the exact dates before your visit as these vary.
Our walk
This section should really be called ‘Our walks’ as we’ve been to Blackpool Sands many times. And not just since moving the Devon. I visited Blackpool Sands as a child and can remember swimming out into the turquoise waters and feeling a little unnerved that I could see quite far down. The waters really are very clear. I visited again in 2003, this time with Mr Tin Box but well before we had kids. So beautiful Blackpool Sands is not new to us at all. In fact I have to pinch myself that it is now our closest beach.
In recent weeks we’ve been making the most of the opportunity to visit Blackpool sands with Tin Box Dog before the dog ban and the beach becomes packed with tourists.
My first walk at Blackpool Sands this year was with the girls while Mr TB was working. We walked along to the river and Tin Box Tot enjoyed throwing stones. It began to rain while we were there so we decided to make a slow plod towards the cafe.
While it’s not cheap I can highly recommend Venus Cafe for its great choice of children’s and adult meals. You certainly get good value.
When I told Mr Tin Box about our walk he thought it sounded so good that we returned the next day too. This time we explored the rocks to the north end of the beach. Tin Box Tot thought it was great fun to play hide and seek among the boulders. Although she hadn’t quite mastered the game and kept giving away her position with great shrieks of delight.
Our visit concluded again at the cafe. A trip to Blackpool Sands is not complete without a latte and piece of cake.
Our most recent walk at Blackpool Sands was last weekend on Mother’s Day when there was also a dog show and fun day at the beach.
Tin Box Tot had her usual fun sliding down the shingle and exploring the rock pools before having a go on the giant inflatable slide and having her face painted. Of course we ended our visit with a Mother’s Day lunch in the Venus Cafe.
Blackpool Sands – great for
- Swimming
- Watersports like paddle boarding and kayaking (hire available)
- Exploring rock pools
- Dog walks (out of the main season)
- Enjoying a hot chocolate or coffee on a cool day.
Have you been to Blackpool Sands? Are there any other Devon beaches you would recommend?
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This beach looks lovely, I secretly prefer the shingle and stone beaches as they are often more interesting to look through the ‘sand’. Beaches are a favourite place of mine to visit, although we unfortunately don’t live near any! I love that they had a Mothers Day event whilst you were there and TBT had fun on a bouncy slide, my boys love those. Thanks so much for linking up to #Whatevertheweather 🙂 x
That looks beautiful there, I love those HUGE rocks. My son would enjoy climbing those!
Yes, it’s a mini rick climber’s dream 🙂
What a beautiful beach to be able to explore, I bet it’s being so close to your favourite beach and being able to visit as often as you’d like. Tin Box Tot looks so happy to be exploring the beach with Mr Tin Box, I remember the shrieks of joy from hidden children in the early games of hide and seek, it’s just fab isn’t it? I bet the Mother’s Day walk was lovely, it’s great that they had a family day on the beach with lots of things to enjoy together. Thanks for linking up with me on #CountryKids.
The family day was lovely and ideal for us to enjoy with Tin Box Dog too. I just wish it hadn’t been quite so chilly. Then again, we wouldn’t have had such a good excuse to visit the cafe! 🙂
We love the beach, this looks gorgeous. I think I prefer beach walks out of the summer season. Lovely pictures huni. Thanks for linking up to #PointShoot x
To be honest, that’s when we visit beaches the most because we also have the dog x
The beach just looks fantastic. Going to have to visit this next time I visit devon. Love the pics aswell
What a fab beach to be so close to and able to explore so frequently. Hope the move went relatively smoothly and you are all settled in. #countrykids
Yes thank you. We’re really settled into Devon life, although we don’t seem to have sat still long since we’ve been here. When we do, we really appreciate the beauty of the place x
Blackpool Sands looks lovely- it’s so great to get out in the fresh air! Coastal walks are the best! The weathers been great this week!
It was lovely there last weekend – so bright. On the downside it was freezing, but I’d prefer that to rain! x
I am quite jealous that you have a ‘closest’ beach among many, being such a drive from the sea – and what a perfect one to live nearby. Gorgeous water, plenty to keep everyone amused and a good cafe. And toilets, which rank much higher up my list now I have a preschooler! #countrykids
We are spoilt for choice around here and all the facilities seem really good. Yes, toilets are high up our priority list at the moment 🙂 x
I’m loving your posts about yours tours of the beaches. We want to go camping in Devon soon but we can never be too far from the beach, so we’ll be looking at your recommendations closely! This beach looks so fab, especially with the little rocks to explore. It must be so lovely to have so many memories of that beach and to now live so close by and with a new generation of explorers. Your pictures are so beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures with #whatevertheweather and your captures with #curiouslittleexplorers xx
Thank you! I hope you get to visit it soon x
What a lovely place! The landscape is just amazing and the view stunning! #countrykids
I just love walks on the beach and this looks like a great one! #countrykids
Looks like a great beach. Great pictures x
Thanks! We love this one and feel so lucky to have it as our local x
I used to live in Kingston, a small village just outside of Modbury so also recommend all the beaches that Hannah G has suggested above, brings back great memories! Now I’m about as far inland as it’s possible to get in this country so a trip to the beach is quite an undertaking. Oh to be able to pop to one for a dog walk 🙂
Living so close to these lovely beaches is a real treat. I must try not to take it for granted – who knows where Mr Tin Box’s next job will take us?!
This makes me feel happy and validated for dragging my kids to the beach when they have to wear gloves and boots. And this beach sounds fantastic any time of year!
Absolutely! But funnily enough it was warmer when we were there in January!! 🙂
We live in Plymouth, Blackpool Sands is such a wonderful place for walks and your little definitely seemed to enjoy herself (our toddler has the same puddle suit and yellow wellies!!) I would highly recommend Bigbury-On-Sea, Bantham, Slapton Sands, Mothercombe and Wembury. I must say I’m a little jealous of you living in Dartmouth, such a beautiful place #PointShoot x
Hello neighbour 🙂 We do feel so lucky to be here! Thanks so much for the recommendations. We got a lot of beach walking to do! x
Looks so beautiful, I haven’t been to Devon since I was a kid but try to convince the Hubs to take a trip soon and your pictures have made me want to do it even more! I adore that last picture of Tin Box Tot too! so cute!
Thank you. It is lovely here. We feel very lucky. I hope you get your trip soon 🙂
Blockpool is so beautiful. I had no idea. I always think of the Bloackpool fun faire the first thing about Blackpool. I really like the second photo, and how you have enhanced the rockiness of the pool. #PointShoot
Thanks! I’m not sure if you are confusing this Blackpool of the south with the one in the north. They’re definitely two very different beaches 🙂
Oh! Yes! I think I am. haha x
That looks like such a great beach with plenty of rocks to hide behind and explore. #pointandshoot
Yes, it’s the type of place I absolutely loved when I was a kid 🙂