Sunny Cove, East Portlemouth, Salcombe, Devon
Sunny Cove is one of the East Portlemouth beaches, across the estuary from Salcombe; to get here it’s either a 10 minute walk down through the woods from the car park at Mill Bay, or you can rock up by boat. Because it’s not easily accessible and there are no facilities (no loos, no beach cafes) it doesn’t tend to draw the crowds, so if you like a quieter beach this is for you.
The best thing to do is to plan your visit and take everything you might need; pack a picnic, take your buckets and spades, your inflatables and your sunshades, claim your spot on the sands and just chill out and enjoy it. On a baking hot day in high summer it can feel like the Med at Sunny Cove; the sands are soft and golden-white, the waters turquoise and sparkling. It’s a good little beach for swimming, making sandcastles and rockpooling at low tide; if you want a peek at the other sheltered coves along this stretch of the estuary, you can stroll along the shore to Mill Bay or Smalls Cove – but only when the tide is in.
And that’s something you really do need to remember – the Salcombe estuary is tidal and when it comes in, it can come in fast so keep an eye on things because the last thing you want to do is get cut off here.
Dogs are allowed on the beach at Sunny Cove all year. Beach fires and barbecues are a no-no.
All information correct at the time of writing