Beaches, Lake & Rivers & National Parks
Go to listing ↓Browse Beaches, Lake & Rivers & National Parks on Mapzest. Sort by distance to find the closest options. Listings are kept up to date by the businesses themselves.
Nature across South Devon takes in beaches, lakes and rivers, national parks and nature reserves — a genuine strength of the area, from Brixham's Berry Head clifftop reserve to the wider South West Coast Path threading along the coastline between towns, and Dartmoor National Park inland.
Because a lot of South Devon's natural landscape sits between and around its towns rather than neatly inside any one of them, this global page is a good starting point for browsing every real listing at once; a specific town's own Nature category (under its Places page) narrows things down to what's directly local to it.
Every listing here is added and kept current by the venue or managing organisation. Whether you're after a beach, a coastal nature reserve, or a route into the wider national park, start with the categories above or browse by town for what's closest to where you're staying.
Sub-categories separate out beaches, lakes and rivers, national parks, parks and nature reserves, so you can narrow down to the kind of natural site you're after rather than browsing everything at once. Results can also be sorted by distance from you, useful for finding whichever's nearest to where you're staying.
Some of the area's best-known natural sites, like Brixham's Berry Head, sit right at the edge of a specific town, while others — the wider South West Coast Path, or Dartmoor National Park inland — genuinely span the whole region rather than belonging to any one town. Check a specific town's own Nature category for what's directly on its doorstep.
Breakwater Beach
Breakwater Beach, Berry Head Road, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 9AF
A clean, pebbled beach beside Brixham’s harbour wall
HOLT. Sauna
a wood-fired coastal sauna, right in the middle of broadsands beach! swim in the sea, heat up in the sauna, take in the views from our one-of-a-kind hexagonal window and wash it all off in the outdoor shower. wellbeing is what the HOLT. experience is all about.
Broadsands Beach
Broadsands Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6HL
A broad, sandy bay with family-friendly amenities
Elberry Cove
Car park at Broadsands Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6HL (then access on foot via coastal path)
A picturesque bay with ruins and calm, clear water
Dolphin Boatyard
Galmpton Creek Brixham, TQ5 0EH
Welcome to the Dolphin Boatyard The largest and oldest boatyard on the River Dart which is now privately owned and operated by an excellent team of friendly and professional staff. Well worth visiting
Point Field Smallholding C.I.C
Mill Lane Galmpton TQ5 0ER
Point field Smallholding C.I.C. is a community-focused smallholding offering hands-on animal experiences that promote wellbeing, learning, and connection with nature. Visitors can enjoy activities suc
Goodrington Beach
Goodrington Sands, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6LN; accessible from Goodrington Resort and promenade off A379
A vibrant beach with attractions and golden sand
Fishcombe Cove
Fishcombe Cove, Fishcombe Hill, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8RU
A peaceful, sheltered cove framed by red cliffs and woodland
Torre Abbey Sands
Torre Abbey Sands is Torquay’s primary beach, offering a beautiful, long stretch of fine red sand and safe, shallow waters. Located right on the seafront, it is exceptionally popular with families and water sports enthusiasts.
Churston Cove
Churston Cove, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 0JE (Fishcombe Road/Brixham TQ5 8RU for parking before a woodland path descent.)
A hidden pebble beach accessed by woodland paths
Berry Head
Berry Head Nature Reserve wildlife and historical site, Brixham
St Mary’s Bay
Access via South West Coast Path, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 9QF
A secluded sandy beach backed by dramatic cliffs
Rock and Moor
We specialise in outdoor adventures: expertly guided rock climbing, caving, hiking, scrambling and mountaineering, rock climbing skills coaching, hill and moorland navigation training and other outdoor skills development. Based in beautiful South Devon, we cover areas such as Dartmoor, Cornwall, Somerset, the Westcountry coast as well as mountainous areas in the UK. We provide personalised activities for individuals, couples, friends, small groups and families. Importantly, we keep our instructor to client ratio small, enabling you to have the most valuable, authentic and enjoyable adventure experience.
Paignton Green
A large seaside public space on the English Riviera. It serves as a central hub for major community festivals, family entertainment, and recreational activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What natural sites are there in South Devon?
Beaches, nature reserves, lakes and national park access all feature — browse the categories above, or check a specific town's own Nature page for what's nearby.
Where can I access Dartmoor National Park?
Access varies depending on which town you're based in — check a specific town's own guide for the nearest routes in.
Which town has the best beaches?
Several towns Mapzest covers have real beach listings — browse the categories above, or check a specific town's own Nature page.
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