Blackpool Sands

BeachSouth Hams District Council🐾 Seasonal daytime dog ban

A privately managed, Blue Flag shingle-and-sand beach in a wooded bay between Dartmouth and Strete, Environment Agency-classified Excellent.

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Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: Seasonal RNLI/beach lifeguard cover in summer (exact dates not separately confirmed)

Hazards: Sheltered bay; shelves moderately, watch for shingle underfoot near the tideline.

Amenities: toilets · car-park · cafe · watersports-hire

Dogs

Blackpool Sands' own official FAQ page states: 'dogs will not be permitted on the beach or in the café or car parks from 1st May – 30th September each year.' Service/assistance dogs on a lead are exempt year-round.

Official source: View the rule at source →

Family

A managed, Blue Flag beach with lifeguards, cafe, watersports hire and a wooded backdrop — one of South Devon's most popular family beaches.

Fishing

Quick-shelving shingle and clean ground support bass, rays, dogfish, smoothhound, gurnards and winter whiting. Rocky ends add wrasse, pollack, mackerel and garfish.

Species reported: Bass, Rays, Lesser-spotted dogfish, Smoothhound, Gurnards, Whiting, Pollack, Ballan wrasse, Mackerel, Garfish

Crabbing

unknown

Access & parking

Direct beach access from the A379 roadside car park. Sat-nav: TQ6 0RG. Get directions →

Researched 2026-07-24 — sources & disclaimer

https://www.blackpoolsands.co.uk/faqs/

https://www.blackpoolsands.co.uk/facilities/

https://wheresthefish.uk/south-west/devon/start-bay

Rules and conditions change, so always check current signage and tides before you go. We do our best to keep this accurate but can't promise it's error-free.