Ness Cove

BeachTeignbridge District Council🐾 Dog-friendly all year

A secluded shingle-and-sand cove below Shaldon, reached through the historic Smugglers' Tunnel, with excellent water quality and sheltering red cliffs either side.

📍 View on the map

Beach & safety

Water quality: Excellent

Lifeguard: Not confirmed — no RNLI lifeguard patrol found for this cove

Hazards: Shingle underfoot near the tideline; cove narrows and covers at high tide.

Amenities: toilets · car-park

Dogs

No Teignbridge District Council byelaw or beach-specific dog page could be confirmed directly for Ness Cove (the council's dogs-on-beaches page could not be retrieved to verify). Secondary dog-walking guides describe it as welcoming dogs year-round with no seasonal restriction, but this has not been confirmed against an official council source for this exact site.

Unofficial source: View the supporting source →Not an authority; check current signage.

Family

Sheltered swimming cove, good rockpools, but steep steps/tunnel access make it awkward with buggies or limited mobility.

Fishing

Mixed sand, shingle and rocky margins support bass, pollack, pouting, whiting, dogfish and summer mackerel. The separate headland is more exposed and technical.

Species reported: Bass, Pollack, Pouting, Whiting, Lesser-spotted dogfish, Mackerel

Crabbing

unknown

Access & parking

Via the Smugglers' Tunnel from the Ness car park at the top (steep steps down to the cove). Sat-nav: TQ14 0HP. Get directions →

Researched 2026-07-24 — sources & disclaimer

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bathing-waters-in-england-compliance-reports/bathing-water-classifications-2025

https://www.devonlovesdogs.co.uk/out-about/ness-cove-at-shaldon

https://www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/things-to-do/ness-cove-beach-p242403

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKTDC/bulletins/41568aa

https://wheresthefish.uk/south-west/devon/ness-beach

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.