Bantham has a beautiful expanse of sandy beach owned by The Bantham Estate overlooked by the stunning Burgh Island, perfect for families and water sports enthusiasts with RNLI lifeguard cover from May to October. The beach is a few minutes drive away or about a 15/20 minute walk. Bear in mind there is a 11.50 car parking fee in the summer. You can get there on foot via the road or if you turn right at the ‘farms only’ sign and left at the bottom of the hill, a footpath leads down to the beach along the stunning Avon estuary. There are toilets and the ‘Gastro Bus’ which sells food and drink at the beach and Bantham Stores in the village offers tea, coffee, drinks, snacks and ice creams plus a shop selling newspapers, food supplies and beach accessories. The Sloop Inn pub also offers a full lunch and dinner menu.
Surfing, kite surfing, stand up paddle boarding and windsurfing are all very popular on the beach and there is a separate swimming area designated by the red and yellow flags which is monitored daily by the lifeguard service. For surfing/paddle boarding lessons, try Discovery Surf School with lessons offered at Bantham and Bigbury Beach, Surf board and wetsuit hire is available from Discovery or TriOcean Surf Shop at the South Hams business park in nearby Churchstow.
For a not so sunny day, you could go to Woodlands Leisure Park in between here and Totnes, or the Leisure Centre in Kingsbridge. For an amazing forest adventure, try Forest and Beach near Beesands where children can learn shelter building, outdoor cooking, explorations and more.
Bantham Estate tours are free and run twice a month 10am – 12 noon
For more information about things to do and places to see, try the Kingsbridge Tourist Information Centre.
For walking routes go to the Thurlestone Parish community WebSite
WHERE TO LAUNCH WATER CRAFT, PADDLE BOARDS, KYACKS, DINGHIES (OR YOURSELF!) ON THE AVON ESTUARY
1. BANTHAM QUAY.
You can take paddle boards, kyacks etc down to Coronation Quay in Bantham village. Just before the entrance/ ticket booth to the beach car park, on your right is a small turning circle and a small road that leads down to the quay. Would recommend parking in the beach carpark as close as you can to the entrance on the left hand side of the road. (charges apply) You can go on foot down to the quay from here.
You can’t drive down here if you’re towing a small boat, but the Estate can do this for you by arrangement and with some notice 01548 560897
2. AVETON GIFFORD QUAY
On the high tide, you can launch any water craft at Aveton Gifford by the Timbers Carpark. Drive all the way up the Bantham road, turn left at the top at the roundabout, carry on for about 2 miles, down the hill, over a small bridge and then at the roundabout, turn left and then immediately right into the car park – This is also leads to the tidal road which takes you to Bigbury – only accessible at LOW TIDE and about 2 hours either side. If you paddle down the Estuary, you end up at Bantham beach so you need to have a game plan to pick up your vehicle later from AG.
3. SOUTH MILTON/THURLESTONE SANDS BEACH
An alternative is to drive over to South Milton, also known as Thurlestone Sands, a beach further along the coast – about 2 miles away. There is a National Trust carpark so free to members or a charge if not. There’s a hire place called Surfin’s Sams if you want to hire equipment. It’s an easy walk from the car park onto the beach and you can launch water craft straight onto the water. A nice paddle is around Thurlestone Rock which you’ll see in front of you but be careful of the rocks leading to it and around it, especially when the tide is going out. Generally more sheltered and calmer than Bantham.
