Slap bang in the centre of the large crescent-shaped bay that sits between Looe and the majestic Rame Head peninsula on Cornwall’s serene south coast near its border with Devon is Downderry Beach. This is a family standard bearer for the area as it’s great for kids with some excellent facilities to hand. Like a pub. It’s also popular with anglers and a little portion of the sands are frequented by those who like to go au naturel.
Downderry Beach in Cornwall is at the eastern end of a huge stretch of grey shingly sand that goes all the way to Looe at low tide. It shares this stretch with neighbouring Seaton Beach and, at low tide, you can indeed wander between the two. Both beaches have villages to their rear and both can be a hive of activity during the high season. Downderry actually sports a warm local feel compared with some of Cornwall’s more traditional holiday honeypots, though. Beach life is centred around the slipway to the sands and the local pub, the Inn on the Shore. It should be renamed ‘the inn practically on the sand’, though.
That slipway offers the best access to the beach and it can be reached along a well-marked path from the village’s small car park. It’s well worth a visit here, especially if you are bringing a family because kids love exploring the masses of rock pools along the water’s edge at low tide or skimming stones into the sea at high tide. In rough weather, though, the currents can get treacherous out there so care should always be taken, particularly as there is no lifeguard cover at Downderry.
For those wanting to keep things moving, that walk to Seaton Beach at low tide is recommended or, at high tide, head along the path that straddles the sea defences at the back of the beach. Good news for barking mad types too: both Downderry Beach and Seaton Beach are open to dogs all-year-round, so expect to see plenty of four-legged frolicking down on the sands.
At the eastern end of Downderry Beach is a rocky outcrop called Bass Rock. This beast slices the main beach at high tide, creating a secluded half-mile of sand that becomes quiet and difficult to access, with a steep path winding down from the road above the cliffs. As a result, this portion has garnered a reputation as a decent naturist beach over the years. We wouldn’t be able to comment about that, though. It’s also here that the shoreline reef recedes, leaving a beach with a more, ahem, sandy bottom. Incidentally, the aptly named Bass Rock is also a popular spot with fishing fanatics. So expect to see plenty of tackle down at that end of the beach…
Parking can be limited in Downderry village, especially in the summer, but if you’re stuck, there’s a load of spaces a mile down the road in Seaton. Downderry Beach, in short, is a great spot for taking in some seaside fun and exploring the shoreline in an area of southern Cornwall that can be as tranquil as it can be fun, especially for families.