Wonwell Beach
Wonwell Beach
4.5
Full view
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
43 within 3 miles
Attractions
43 within 6 miles
Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
66 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
8
Average
4
Poor
3
Terrible
5
Carolynne W
3 contributions
May 2023 • Friends
Difficult to get to, but so worth it! A bit of This beach has everything; sand, rocks, tide, and so many species of birds., I was blown away. The beach is dog friendly and all the dog owners were very respectful, and cleaned up after their dogs. It was a joy to see children, families, singles, and dogs enjoying their time at the beach in harmony.
Written May 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chammp
Modbury, UK1,371 contributions
Jul 2010
This beach is found by driving through Kingston towards the coast; it is very pleasant, but as other reviews have pointed out, it is difficult to get to (narrow lanes with few passing places) and, once you're there, you may find parking an issue (just a line wide enough for two cars with a turning space at the end. If you're in Plymouth on holiday then you may find the relatively easy to get to Bigbury on sea/Burgh Island a better option for the day, although this is a lot more touristy. Mothecombe, on the other side of the estuary is also pleasant, and is better for parking.
Written February 4, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greenwave R
south hams52 contributions
This is just gorgeous but only about a dozen cars can park along the road verges of narrow, dead end devon lane. If you go, go early morning or late late evening and not a weekend. Be prepred for a long downhill wlak from where you have to leave your car...not much fun going back up hill - or get someone to drop you all off and pick you up! Or walk to it via the coast path or from Mothecombe beach which does have a car park, which is the other side of the dividing river, crossable at LOW TIDE which, once it starts coming in, comes in very very quickly so watch out. It is a beautiful location.
Written June 30, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sharon99_13
Exeter, UK3 contributions
May 2021
Beware! No car park or any loos or facilities. Access can be very difficult and cars trying to get down to the beach and return cause frequent log jams particularly at weekends and in tourist season. Had to back up a narrow lane for miles with cars either side and cars still trying to push me on down when there was no parking and absolute chaos everywhere. Don’t even attempt on a bank holiday! You have been warned! Lovely for a walk in the winter when there is no one else around. More of a dog walking and locals beach than a family or long stay beach. Dogs run free so there is often dog poo on the beach.
Written July 7, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charlottemoore727
london11 contributions
Jun 2011 • Friends
having spent a week in rained out Devon, we were really lucky to stumble across this beach. The tide was out for miles and it made a great place for us and our dog to stretch our legs.
Written June 26, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jannerbloke
Plymouth, UK12,454 contributions
Known for generations to South Hams folk this idyllic long sandy esturine beack is set in the vast area of the unspoilt Fleet Estate which straddles the mouth and lower reaches of the River Erme. Best on week days and at lower tide.
Written August 22, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tweedledum39
Saltash32 contributions
Aug 2011
Perfect estuarine setting. Lots of fine sand. fantastic surroundings. nice people. The parking problem is an asset because a lot of people who know, do get down here, there are never too many.
Written August 23, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rob M
Plymouth1 contribution
May 2011
No parking, car got damaged, no facilities, beach was smelly and covered in rank seaweed, easy to get cut off, footpath really muddy , dogs running riot all over the place, dog poo everywhere, noisy drunken chavs and weird nude guys on beach. go to Mothercombe its much better.
Written May 11, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JanieP55
Exeter, UK22 contributions
Aug 2011 • Family
This is one of the gems of South Devon, but no-one who knows Wonwell Beach wants anyone else to know about it. I know. I'm one of them. I hate it when people tell me how wonderful it is, because I want to keep it a secret, like all the hundreds of other people who know about it. Or it's probably thousands. But Wonwell Beach is so big that if everyone who knew it went there to picnic, there would still be plenty of room to swing lots of cats. It's only because it's raining and I'm busy, and I can't get there today that I'm writing about it.
Now, if you want easy parking, ice cream vans, toilets and dog poo bins, go to Bigbury up the road, or Bognor, or somewhere else. Don't go to Wonwell. There's nothing like that there. Well, of course there's stuff there, but none of that sort of stuff. For starters, dogs run free on Wonwell Beach, all year, all the time, and run they do. And splash, and race through the water, and wee on picnics and poo on the sand, and do all the things that dogs do when they are out having fun. And nobody minds because Wonwell Beach is for NORMAL people who live NORMAL lives and don't want the world covered in tarmac, and signs, and policed by health and safety nerds.
Now, if you're normal. you train your dog, and if it does wee on picnics, you rush up to the picnickers with big apologies and perhaps a glass of wine. If it poos on the sand, you use your hands and your wits, and bury it terribly deep so it will be reabsorbed by nature and not stored forever in a polythene bag hanging from a tree. And you will stop your dog rushing up to small children and bowling them over in the river, although that is quite good fun for everyone concerned. And even if you don't have a dog, you will revel in the wide beauty of the estuary, the exquisite line of trees and sloping fields and huge expanse of sand at low tide, and giant pool of blue, or green, or grey at high tide. And you will listen to the owls, and drink from the streams running in through the woods, and watch the paddle boarders and the babies paddling for the first time, and the old ladies walking their herds of dogs, and you will think how lucky you are to be alive and at Wonwell Beach.
Now, if you want easy parking, ice cream vans, toilets and dog poo bins, go to Bigbury up the road, or Bognor, or somewhere else. Don't go to Wonwell. There's nothing like that there. Well, of course there's stuff there, but none of that sort of stuff. For starters, dogs run free on Wonwell Beach, all year, all the time, and run they do. And splash, and race through the water, and wee on picnics and poo on the sand, and do all the things that dogs do when they are out having fun. And nobody minds because Wonwell Beach is for NORMAL people who live NORMAL lives and don't want the world covered in tarmac, and signs, and policed by health and safety nerds.
Now, if you're normal. you train your dog, and if it does wee on picnics, you rush up to the picnickers with big apologies and perhaps a glass of wine. If it poos on the sand, you use your hands and your wits, and bury it terribly deep so it will be reabsorbed by nature and not stored forever in a polythene bag hanging from a tree. And you will stop your dog rushing up to small children and bowling them over in the river, although that is quite good fun for everyone concerned. And even if you don't have a dog, you will revel in the wide beauty of the estuary, the exquisite line of trees and sloping fields and huge expanse of sand at low tide, and giant pool of blue, or green, or grey at high tide. And you will listen to the owls, and drink from the streams running in through the woods, and watch the paddle boarders and the babies paddling for the first time, and the old ladies walking their herds of dogs, and you will think how lucky you are to be alive and at Wonwell Beach.
Written July 17, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harriet W
Plymouth, UK25 contributions
Feb 2012 • Friends
The narrow,single track lane is a bit of a problem if you meet traffic coming in the opposite direction as the passing places are few and far between and when you get there parking is limited and so can be problematical , but get past those obstacles and it's a great sandy, un-spoilt and uncrowded beach. You do need to check the tide tables before going as the sandy areas are limited at high tide.
Written February 8, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jo T
Plymouth, UK66 contributions
Can you take dogs on the beach.
SouthBrentFamily
South Brent, UK4 contributions
Yes you can. There aren't any bins so you'll need to take any poo bags away with you.
Wonwell Beach (Plymouth) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Wonwell Beach
- Hotels near Wonwell Beach:
- (0.22 mi) Rosanne Bed & Breakfast
- (0.31 mi) Lower Coombe Royal
- (0.19 mi) Higher Barnfield
- (0.34 mi) Welle House
- (0.35 mi) The Coach House at Lower Coombe Royal- great for families/friends. Dogs welcome.
- Restaurants near Wonwell Beach:
- (0.29 mi) Mangetout
- (0.48 mi) Twenty Seven
- (0.48 mi) Maha-Bharat Indian Restaurant
- (0.51 mi) The Old Bakery Restaurant
- (0.46 mi) La Ranchera
Wonwell Beach Information
Excellent Reviews | 45 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 8 |
Wonwell Beach Photos | 14 |