Bantham Beach
Bantham Beach guide: estate car park, summer dog rules on the main sand and the River Beach, RNLI lifeguard patrols and surfing at the Avon mouth.
At a Glance
Beach Type
sandy
Dogs
Seasonal restrictions
Lifeguard
Yes (seasonal)
Parking
Available
Facilities
Activities
Stay near Bantham Beach
Closest cottage just 800m away
Bantham is a big, open sand beach at the mouth of the River Avon, and the Bantham Estate runs it. It suits families who want space and surfers who want a reliable wave. The sandy beach and shallow water are ideal for families, and it counts as one of the best surfing beaches in Devon. It sits in the South Devon National Landscape, with Burgh Island across Bigbury Bay. If you are staying in Salcombe or Kingsbridge, Bantham is within easy driving distance.
Swimming and lifeguards
The RNLI patrols Bantham seasonally, and its Bantham Beach page carries the current dates and patrol times. The rule is plain: no flags, no lifeguards. The Bantham Surf Life Saving Club, near the entrance to the beach, also provides lifeguard cover every Sunday through the summer. Kitesurfers can get advice from the South Devon Kitesurf Club, linked from the Estate’s surfing page.
Parking and getting there
The Bantham car park holds over 1,000 cars, and the beach is about 75 metres away over the sand dunes. There is no overnight parking. Check the Estate’s page for current charges and gate times before you set off. Food trucks stand around the lawn in the car park, and The Sloop Inn is a short walk from the beach.
The Estate lends a free TerraWheel beach wheelchair for hire, booked by email. It works on the main beach but cannot go into the water.
Dogs
Under the Estate’s dog rules, dogs are welcome on all of the beach for most of the year. Between 1 June and 1 September they are not allowed on the main beach and should use the River Beach on the estuary side, which dogs may use all year. Bantham is also listed as a partial ban within the 1 May to 30 September summer closures, so look for signs from May. The walk from the car park to the River Beach takes about 5 to 10 minutes through Bantham Ham, down steps at the end. Keep dogs under control and clean up after them, because the Estate asks you to keep its livestock safe.
Nearby
Further along the South Hams coast, South Sands at Salcombe and Mothecombe are two other South Hams beaches worth knowing.
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bantham Beach?
- Bantham Beach is in the South Hams at the mouth of the River Avon, with views over Bigbury Bay and Burgh Island. The Bantham Estate runs it.
- Are dogs allowed on Bantham Beach?
- Dogs are welcome on the whole beach for most of the year. Between 1 June and 1 September dogs are not allowed on the main beach, but they may use the River Beach all year. Bantham is also listed as a partial summer ban from 1 May, so check the signs.
- Is Bantham Beach lifeguarded?
- The RNLI patrols Bantham seasonally, and its page lists the dates. Where there are no flags there are no lifeguards, so check before you swim.
- Where do I park at Bantham?
- The Bantham Estate car park has room for over 1,000 cars, and the beach is about 75 metres away over the dunes. There is no overnight parking.