Meadfoot Beach

Meadfoot is a shingle beach about a mile from Torquay harbour, below a row of cliffs, with a row of colourful beach chalets along the promenade. It is the Torquay beach for a day with parking next to the sand, a cafe and rock pools at low tide, and it carries an Excellent classification under the English Riviera Beach Standards.

Getting there and parking

Access from the road is easy, via a sloping path to the promenade with steps leading directly to the beach, and there is also a slipway to the beach 100 yards away. A pay and display car park sits right next to the beach, and there are toilets including disabled toilets. A popular beach cafe stands on the front.

Dogs

Torbay Council splits the beach. The north-eastern part is open to dogs all year. The south-western part, between notices displayed on the foreshore, is closed to them from 1 May to 30 September. Pick up after your dog, and keep it on a lead on the promenade beside the restricted stretch.

Swimming

There is no lifeguard cover. Tor Bay beaches are not patrolled or monitored by lifeguards, so swim with a buddy, tell someone when you expect to be back and keep to the shallows close to the shore.

What to do

Meadfoot is a popular spot for diving and fishing, with good rock pools exposed at low tide. The split-level promenade backs onto a tree-covered hillside with good access to the coastal paths. For a quieter cove, try Anstey’s Cove or head east to Babbacombe.