Seaton Beach Devon England
Seaton Beach offers a unique grey-sand coastline in Devon, perfect for walks, swimming, and surfing, with stunning coastal paths nearby.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
Best Time
Pleasant weather, fewer crowds
Seaton Beach Devon England
Best Time
Pleasant weather, fewer crowds
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Seaton Beach offers a unique grey-sand coastline in Devon, perfect for walks, swimming, and surfing, with stunning coastal paths nearby.
"A lovely clean beach with good parking and facilities, great for families and dog walkers."
🥾 Wear Sea Shoes
Protect your feet from weaver fish, especially during warmer months.
🚗 Parking Tips
Free parking is sometimes available on the grassed area. Otherwise, expect reasonable paid parking.
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Seaton Beach's Grey Sands
Seaton, Devon
Expansive grey-sanded beach perfect for walks, with lifeguards during holidays. A great spot for surfing when choppy.
Coastal Path Adventures
Seaton to Downderry / Hessenford
Enjoy stunning walks along the coast or through a beautiful wooded valley. The path offers scenic views and leads to charming villages.
Sunset Views
Seaton Beach
Experience breathtaking sunsets over the English Channel, painting the sky with vibrant colors.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Planning Your Visit
Beat the Crowds & Sewage Concerns
Getting There & Amenities
Best Times
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
🥾 Wear Sea Shoes
Protect your feet from weaver fish, especially during warmer months.
🚗 Parking Tips
Free parking is sometimes available on the grassed area. Otherwise, expect reasonable paid parking.
🚶♀️ Coastal Walks
Explore the stunning coastal path to Downderry or the wooded valley to Hessenford.
🐶 Dog-Friendly All Year
Seaton Beach welcomes dogs throughout the entire year.
Tips
from all over the internet
🥾 Wear Sea Shoes
Protect your feet from weaver fish, especially during warmer months.
🚗 Parking Tips
Free parking is sometimes available on the grassed area. Otherwise, expect reasonable paid parking.
🚶♀️ Coastal Walks
Explore the stunning coastal path to Downderry or the wooded valley to Hessenford.
🐶 Dog-Friendly All Year
Seaton Beach welcomes dogs throughout the entire year.
☀️ Avoid Peak Summer
August can be extremely busy; opt for spring or early autumn for a more relaxed visit.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Seaton Beach is a beloved spot for its expansive grey sands and coastal beauty, offering opportunities for swimming and surfing. Visitors appreciate the dog-friendly policy and the presence of lifeguards during peak season. However, concerns about river sewage, potential weaver fish, and significant crowds during summer can detract from the experience.
"I have a long history with seaton and I do love it but there is one big issue here at the moment and that's the sewage coming down from the river. This place also gets absolutely rammed on a sunny day as the car parks quickly fill up and there is nowhere else too park the third issue here is the weaver fish I'd wear sea shoes here. Its a good swim when its calm and a good place to surf when its a bit choppy, as I said the place gets rammed in summer so avoid during August. The road in and out of the village floods regularly ever winter. There are no shops here at all, you have the beach house restaurant and the smugglers in pub, seaton cafe has been shut for a few years and downderry has the inn on the shore pub and inn, something different veggie/vegan cafe, bewsheas a tapas place. The shop in downderry has been shut for about 3 years, the nearest shop is treddinick farm shop going left out of hessenford. If you walk here from Looe bear in mind it can be difficult to get a taxi back as there are no local firms except looe and torpoint and no direct buses back to Looe and the coast path from Looe is much harder going then it might originally seem and poorly maintained. Other things of note.. the walk from seaton too hessenford through the wooded valley is stunning and the Copley Arms is a great pub in hessenford. Public transport will take you to either liskeard, torpoint or plymouth but buses are few and far between (three and day none on Sunday). Like a lot of places in cornwall Seaton is most enjoyable in spring, early summer and early autumn best avoided peak season. The beach is dog friendly all year round."
David Goosey
"Lovely beach that has life guards on duty during holiday season. On the day that we visited Seaton beach it was 24 degrees and very busy with both local residents and holiday makers. We arrived here via walking along the sea wall and beach from Downderry.
Seaton has toilets and a place that you can purchase food and drink. We enjoyed a delicious ice-cream each while watching everyone else having so much fun. During the week a bus pass through here every two hours."
tracey axford
"Great beach for walking with dogs
If you're lucky free parking round grassed area"
Clive Nelson
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
🚇 🗺️ Getting There
Seaton Beach is best accessed by car, with parking available nearby. Public transport options are limited, with buses running infrequently and not on Sundays. The nearest train stations are Liskeard or Plymouth, requiring further bus connections.
Yes, there is parking available. Some visitors mention finding free parking on a grassed area, while paid parking is also available and generally considered reasonably priced.
You can walk from Looe to Seaton via the coast path, but be aware it can be challenging and poorly maintained. Taxis back to Looe are scarce, and direct buses are infrequent.
Buses pass through Seaton every two hours during the week. However, public transport is generally sparse, with only three services a day and none on Sundays.
Yes, the road in and out of Seaton is known to flood regularly during winter.
🎫 🎫 Tickets & Entry
Seaton Beach itself does not have an entry fee. Parking fees may apply depending on the area you choose to park.
Yes, lifeguards are on duty at Seaton Beach during the holiday season, making it a safer choice for families.
Seaton Beach is a public beach and is accessible at all times. Lifeguard services operate during specific holiday periods.
No, tickets are not required for Seaton Beach as it is a public access area.
Yes, Seaton Beach is dog-friendly all year round, making it a great destination for pet owners.
🎫 🧭 Onsite Experience
Seaton Beach offers toilets, a pub (The Beach House), cafes, and a small park. Lifeguards are present during the holiday season.
Seaton Beach is good for swimming when the water is calm. It can also be a good spot for surfing when conditions are a bit choppy.
Seaton Beach features an interesting grey sand. Visitors enjoy walking along the rocks by the cliffs at low tide.
There are no general shops directly at Seaton Beach. The nearest shop is Treddinick Farm Shop, located a drive away.
Activities include walking along the beach and cliffs, swimming, surfing, and enjoying the coastal scenery. It's also a great spot for dog walking.
🍽️ 🍽️ Food & Dining
Dining options include The Beach House restaurant and The Smugglers Inn pub. Seaton Cafe has been closed. Nearby Downderry has The Inn on the Shore pub, a vegan cafe, and a tapas place.
While Seaton Cafe has been closed, there are other cafes available in the vicinity, and visitors have enjoyed ice cream purchased there.
Options range from pub fare to tapas. Downderry offers a vegan/vegetarian cafe and a tapas restaurant.
Yes, The Beach House restaurant and The Smugglers Inn pub are located at Seaton.
Yes, there are places to purchase food and drink, including ice cream, at Seaton Beach.
📸 📸 Photography
Capture the expansive grey sands, dramatic cliffs, and the English Channel. Sunsets offer particularly stunning photographic opportunities. 
Early mornings and late afternoons/evenings offer softer light and beautiful colors, especially for sunset shots.
The unique grey sand, coastal cliffs, and the vastness of the English Channel provide distinctive subjects. Waves can also make for dynamic shots.
A wide-angle lens is great for capturing the landscape. Consider a polarizing filter to enhance sea and sky colors.
Drone regulations vary; always check local bylaws and airspace restrictions before flying a drone.
For Different Travelers
Tailored advice for your travel style
👨👩👧 Families with Kids
Pack plenty of snacks and drinks, as dedicated shops are limited. The nearby cafes and pubs offer dining options. For a change of scenery, the walk through the wooded valley to Hessenford can be an enjoyable family adventure, offering a different natural landscape to explore.
🐶 Dog Owners
Remember to bring water and waste bags for your dog. The coastal paths also offer great walking opportunities for dogs, allowing them to explore the beautiful Devonshire coastline.
🚶♀️ Hikers & Walkers
A particularly recommended walk is the scenic route through the wooded valley to Hessenford, which provides a beautiful contrast to the open coastline. Be prepared for varied terrain and check weather conditions before setting out.
Deep Dives
In-depth insights and expert knowledge
Navigating Seaton Beach: Practicalities & Pitfalls
Despite these challenges, Seaton Beach offers a rewarding experience. The grey sand provides a unique texture, and the beach is suitable for both swimming (when calm) and surfing (when choppy). The presence of lifeguards during the holiday season adds a layer of safety, particularly for families. While there are no general shops directly on the beach, you'll find essential amenities like toilets, a pub, and cafes nearby.
When planning your visit, consider the accessibility. Public transport is limited, making driving the most practical option for many. However, be aware that the road leading to Seaton can flood in winter. The surrounding area offers stunning coastal walks, including a beautiful path through a wooded valley to Hessenford, which is highly recommended for its scenic beauty.
Seaton Beach: A Photographer's Delight
For the best photographic results, consider visiting during the golden hours – early morning or late afternoon. The softer light at these times can enhance textures and colors, creating a more atmospheric image. Wide-angle lenses are excellent for encompassing the vastness of the beach and the sea, while a polarizing filter can help to deepen the blues of the sky and reduce glare on the water.
Beyond the main beach, the coastal paths leading from Seaton offer further photographic potential. The walk through the wooded valley to Hessenford, for instance, provides opportunities for capturing intimate forest scenes and dappled light. Remember to check the tide times if you plan to explore the rocky areas by the cliffs, as this can reveal interesting formations and textures.
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