A sheltered sandy cove at the mouth of the River Erme, officially Meadowsfoot Beach, and open to everyone every day
Look this beach up on a map and you might find it as Meadowsfoot Beach, which is its official name. Most people just call it Mothecombe, after the village up the hill. It’s a sheltered sandy cove right at the mouth of the River Erme, with a freshwater stream running across the sand to the sea, inside the South Devon National Landscape.
The beach belongs to the Flete Estate, and since 2017 the estate has opened it to the public every day of the year. You park in the estate’s big car park up the hill (there’s a charge in the summer season) and walk about 500 metres down a gravel path through the woods. There’s no disabled access to the beach, and the facilities are all up at the car park, where there’s a seasonal café and toilets.
Dogs aren’t allowed on Mothecombe from 1 May to 30 September. If you’ve got one with you in summer, Coastguards Beach, a short way up the estuary, lets dogs on all year, though the Environment Agency rates the water there Poor and advises against swimming. Mothecombe itself is a designated bathing water rated Good. There are no lifeguards, and like much of this coast the water quality can dip after heavy rain.
The South West Coast Path passes the beach, and there’s no bridge or ferry over the Erme here. Walkers wade across between the slipways at Mothecombe and Wonwell, about an hour either side of low tide, and heavy rain or rough seas can make that crossing dangerous, so check the tide times before you set off. Miss the tide and it’s a walk of several miles round by the lanes. Burgh Island is about 5 km to the south-east, across the bay.
