Sandy Cove Beach

You have to earn Damage Cliffs. There is no shortcut, no easy access road and no hint from the main path that anything special lies beyond. But when you find the small gate marked Damage Cliffs on the South West Coast Path near Lee Bay, and you make your way down the steep wooden steps to the beach below, the sense of discovery makes every step worthwhile.

The beach at the base of Damage Cliffs is a sheltered mix of sand and shingle, hemmed in by dramatic coastline that rises sharply on all sides. The seclusion here is absolute: on most days you are likely to have it entirely to yourself. The dark, ancient cliffs that give the spot its name create a natural amphitheatre around the beach, and when the sea is calm, the feeling of stillness here is quite extraordinary.

Wild swimmers love Sandy Cove Beach for the privacy and the unspoilt water quality. The beach sits on a stretch of coast that sees very little footfall, meaning the sea here feels genuinely clean and remote. Swimming close to the cliffs at the edges of the beach reveals sea caves and rock formations that are well worth exploring at low tide.

The access path is steep and requires reasonable fitness. The climb back up is a good workout, and suitable footwear is strongly recommended as the steps can be slippery in wet weather. The beach is best visited at low to mid tide when the full extent of the cove is accessible.

The view from the cliff path above is nothing short of breathtaking, looking east and west along one of the most dramatic stretches of the North Devon coast. This is wild North Devon at its most uncompromising and its most beautiful. Come on a calm evening, bring a flask and settle in. There is nowhere quite like it.