Quick Facts — Babbacombe & Oddicombe
Location
Babbacombe, Torquay, TQ1 3LF
Beach Type
Shingle coves, sheltered, faces E
Nearest Town
Torquay (2 miles from centre)
Dogs
Welcome year-round — no seasonal restrictions
Lifeguards
RNLI seasonal at Oddicombe
Parking
Cliff top car park (Babbacombe Downs); cliff railway access
Swimming
Excellent — calm and sheltered
Cliff Railway
Historic funicular, takes you to beach level
Facilities
Café at beach level, toilets, cliff railway kiosk
Contents
The Beaches
Babbacombe & Oddicombe — Two Adjacent Coves
Babbacombe and Oddicombe are two adjacent shingle coves sitting in the red limestone cliffs north of Torquay's main seafront, separated from each other by a rocky headland but sharing the same essential character: sheltered, east-facing, calm and genuinely beautiful. Together they form one of the most distinctive beach destinations on the English Riviera — quieter and more characterful than Torquay's town beaches, yet fully accessible and well served by the famous cliff railway that descends from the clifftop at Babbacombe Downs.
Oddicombe is the larger and more accessible of the two coves. It is wide for a shingle beach, faces east into the shelter of Lyme Bay, and is reached either by the cliff railway or by a steep footpath from the clifftop. The beach sits at the foot of dramatic red limestone cliffs that rise sheer from the shingle, and the combination of the deep red rock, the green water and the sheltered bay produces a scene that is quite unlike anything else on the Devon coast. A café and basic facilities operate at beach level during the season. RNLI lifeguards patrol Oddicombe in summer, giving it the safety infrastructure of a larger resort beach in the setting of an intimate cove.
Babbacombe Beach itself is smaller and more enclosed — a compact shingle cove with a more sheltered, almost secret quality. It sits slightly south of Oddicombe, separated by the rocky headland, and is accessible by a footpath from above or from the coastal path at beach level connecting the two. The Cary Arms, one of Devon's most celebrated boutique beach hotels, sits directly at Babbacombe Beach level — its presence gives the cove a particular atmosphere of relaxed, understated luxury that makes it feel distinct from its larger neighbour. Even in high summer, Babbacombe Beach itself tends to be quieter than Oddicombe.
The red limestone cliffs here are part of the Devonian geology of Torbay and their distinctive red colour against the blue-green of the sea is one of the most photogenic coastal scenes in Devon. The rock dates from the Devonian period — approximately 380 million years old — and the folded, fractured cliff faces contain fossils and geological features that reward close inspection. The cliffs are steep and should not be climbed, but viewed from the beach below or from the clifftop above they are genuinely extraordinary — an ancient geology made vivid by their colour in good light.
Best time to visit: Early morning at Oddicombe, when the east-facing beach catches the first light directly and the cliff railway has not yet opened its doors, is among the most peaceful beach experiences in Torbay. In July and August, arrive before 10am to secure a good spot and enjoy the beach before the main crowds descend from the cliff top. September is exceptional — warm water, lower crowds, and the red cliffs at their warmest in the afternoon sun.
Cliff Railway
Babbacombe Cliff Railway
The Babbacombe Cliff Railway is one of the last surviving funicular cliff railways in England — a remarkable piece of Victorian engineering that has been carrying passengers up and down the 240-foot cliff face since 1926. It is not merely a convenient means of access to the beach; it is a piece of living heritage, a working machine that has outlasted countless more modern transport innovations by virtue of its elegance, simplicity and extraordinary setting. A ride on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway is, without question, one of the most enjoyable two minutes in Torbay.
How It Works
The railway operates on a water-balance counterweight system of considerable ingenuity. As the ascending car fills with passengers at beach level, the descending car at the top is simultaneously filled with water from a tank — balancing the load across the cable that connects them. The gradient is steep and consistent, the cars are traditional open-sided wooden carriages, and the journey descends through the clifftop vegetation before emerging onto the cliff face proper with increasingly dramatic views opening out across Torbay. The mechanics of the system are visible to anyone who watches carefully, and the engineering is genuinely clever — the same basic principle used by funicular railways around the world, executed here with a grace and simplicity that makes it feel timeless.
The Experience
The journey takes approximately two minutes each way. What those two minutes deliver is quite disproportionate to their brevity. As the car descends, Torbay opens progressively — Torquay's harbour to the south, the sweep of the bay, Berry Head at Brixham in the distance, and beneath you the red limestone cliff plunging to the shingle of Oddicombe far below. Children find the descent genuinely thrilling and most adults do too. The car arrives at beach level to a small lower station where the railway kiosk and the beach café sit side by side, and the shock of being suddenly at sea level after the clifftop walk is one of those pleasurable spatial experiences that good coastal geography delivers.
A Piece of Living Heritage
What makes the Babbacombe Cliff Railway particularly special is that it continues to function as a working piece of public transport rather than a heritage attraction preserved behind glass. It serves a genuine practical purpose — getting people to and from the beach without requiring the steep footpath descent — while also being intrinsically interesting as a machine and as a historical object. The railway has survived the pressures of changing tourism patterns and significant maintenance demands because the community it serves values it, and because there is simply no modern equivalent that would deliver the same experience. It is one of the pleasures of visiting Babbacombe and should not be missed.
Cliff railway tip: The railway operates seasonally — roughly Easter through to October, weather permitting. Check current operating hours before planning your visit, particularly in spring and autumn when the season may be curtailed by maintenance or weather. There is a charge for each journey direction. The footpath alternative exists but is steep — particularly on the return, uphill, in summer heat.
Geology
The Red Limestone Cliffs
The cliffs at Babbacombe and Oddicombe are composed of Devonian limestone — the characteristic deep, warm red that defines the geology of Torbay and distinguishes it sharply from the red sandstone of East Devon. This is an important distinction: the East Devon cliffs near Sidmouth and Exmouth are Triassic sandstone, relatively soft and prone to collapse; the Torbay limestone is a harder, more ancient rock, formed in a tropical shallow sea during the Devonian period some 380 million years ago when the land that is now Devon lay near the equator. The colour comes from iron oxide within the limestone — the same mineral that gives Devon's soil its distinctive red hue — but the stone itself is denser, more durable and more dramatically sculptural than sandstone.
At Babbacombe and Oddicombe the cliffs are steep, folded and fractured — the rock has been compressed and contorted by the tectonic forces of subsequent geological ages, and the result is a cliff face of considerable complexity. From the beach you can see clearly the layering and folding of the strata, the veins of calcite running through the red limestone, and the overhanging sections where harder rock protects the softer material beneath. Geologists value Torbay's limestone precisely for this exposed complexity — the rocks here record events from deep geological time in a way that is visible to a careful observer at beach level.
The cliffs support a remarkable flora on their faces and the clifftop grassland above. The thin, limestone-rich soil of the cliff edge sustains a wildflower community that includes plants characteristic of chalk and limestone grasslands — early purple orchids in spring, rockrose and thyme in summer, scabious and knapweed through July and August. The limestone cliff faces themselves support specialist ferns and bryophytes in the crevices, and the sheltered south-facing aspects below the clifftop have a mild microclimate that extends the season for warmth-loving species.
Nesting seabirds use the cliff faces at Babbacombe and Oddicombe throughout the spring and early summer. Fulmars are the most conspicuous — large, tube-nosed seabirds that glide along the cliff faces with extraordinary precision and efficiency, riding the updrafts generated by the cliffs with barely a wingbeat. They nest in crevices and on ledges in the rock, and can be observed from the beach below gliding and turning at close range — close enough to appreciate the detail of their distinctive grey and white plumage and their stiff-winged, albatross-like flight style. Rock doves may also be seen using the cliff faces, and in spring the cliff vegetation rings with the song of whitethroats and other warblers passing through.
Geology note: Do not attempt to climb the cliffs at Babbacombe or Oddicombe. Despite their ancient solidity, the limestone faces can shed blocks and the cliff edges are unstable. The cliffs are best appreciated from the beach below, where their scale and colour are fully visible, or from the clifftop path above, which provides long views along the coast.
Rock Pools
Rock Pools at Babbacombe & Oddicombe
The rock platforms at either end of both beaches provide excellent rock-pooling, and this is one of the genuine pleasures of visiting Babbacombe and Oddicombe — particularly for families with children. The pools at Oddicombe are better for this purpose than at Babbacombe Beach itself, primarily because the limestone platform at the northern end of Oddicombe extends further out to sea and is exposed more fully on low spring tides, giving access to a larger area of intertidal habitat with greater diversity in the pools.
The limestone substrate here supports a rich intertidal community that rewards patient exploration. Anemones — both beadlet anemones in their vivid red-brown and green forms, and the larger snakelocks anemone with its long, waving tentacles — colonise the deeper pools in considerable numbers. Shore crabs shelter beneath every overhanging rock; turn them gently and replace them carefully. Small fish are plentiful in the larger pools: blennies, gobies and the occasional juvenile wrasse. Hermit crabs occupy shells across the platform, and in summer the pools often contain sea urchin fragments — the empty test of the common sea urchin, worn smooth by the water. Patient observers sometimes find five-beamed brittlestars beneath flat rocks at the lower pool edges. The limestone surface itself is colonised by barnacles, limpets and periwinkles in the upper intertidal zone, giving way to mussels, topshells and dense beds of serrated wrack and bladder wrack lower down.
The pools at Babbacombe and Oddicombe are best accessed in the two hours around low tide, when the platform is most fully exposed and the pools are at their most productive. Spring low tides — which occur twice monthly around the new and full moon — expose the most extensive areas of platform and reach the outermost, deepest pools that are rarely accessible at neap tides. At neap tides the platform is still interesting but more limited in extent. The rocks throughout the intertidal zone are slippery, particularly where covered in weed, and shoes or water shoes are strongly recommended — bare feet on wet limestone are precarious, particularly for children. Rock pool etiquette matters: replace every rock you lift, handle creatures gently if at all, and leave everything where you found it.
Rock pooling tip: The best pools at Oddicombe are at the northern end of the beach where the platform is most extensive. Approach them quietly — rapid movement shadows the pools and causes fish to hide. Crouch low, move slowly, and look carefully before touching anything. The pools on the lowest level of the platform, accessible only on spring low tides, hold the greatest diversity and are worth the wait if the tide is right.
Dogs
Dogs at Babbacombe & Oddicombe
Both Babbacombe Beach and Oddicombe Beach are open to dogs year-round with no seasonal restrictions — a significant advantage over the majority of Torbay's beaches, where dogs are restricted from the main beach during the summer months. For dog owners visiting Torbay in July or August who want a beach where their dogs can swim and play freely without restriction, Babbacombe and Oddicombe are among the most practical and attractive options in the area.
The shingle beaches suit many dogs well — the absence of sand means no sandy coat to deal with on the way home, and the water at both coves is calm and clear, making for safe dog swimming without the uncertainty of surf or estuary currents. The gently shelving shingle at Oddicombe in particular gives dogs an easy entry to the water at any state of tide. The beach is relatively quiet compared to Torquay's main seafront beaches, which means dogs can exercise freely without the congestion that makes some busier beaches uncomfortable for both dogs and their owners.
The clifftop walk at Babbacombe Downs is also fully open to dogs and provides excellent views across Torbay in both directions — south to Torquay and north toward Watcombe. The Downs is a long, flat clifftop promenade with Victorian-era gardens and benches, well suited to a gentle walk before or after the beach. Dogs should be kept under close control near the cliff edges, which are unfenced in some sections and drop sharply to the rocks below.
The coastal path north from Oddicombe toward Watcombe Beach and Maidencombe is an outstanding year-round dog walk on a footpath that is away from roads, with genuine coastal scenery and limited exposure to other beach users outside the summer months. The path climbs and descends through the red limestone cliff landscape, passing through areas of scrub and rough grassland that provide varied terrain for dogs. In spring and early summer, care should be taken near nesting seabird areas on the cliff face, though the path itself keeps well clear of the cliff edge in most sections.
Dog walk tip: Combine the cliff railway descent to Oddicombe with a beach walk north along the base of the cliffs toward Watcombe, then return via the coastal footpath at clifftop level. The contrast between the beach-level and clifftop perspectives on the same stretch of coast is striking, and dogs can swim at Oddicombe before or after the walk. Allow two to three hours for the round trip at a relaxed dog-walking pace.
Getting There
Cliff Railway — Practical Information & Getting to Babbacombe
Babbacombe Cliff Railway
The Babbacombe Cliff Railway operates roughly from Easter through to October, with the exact season varying by year depending on maintenance requirements and operational decisions. It is advisable to check current opening information before planning a visit, particularly at the margins of the season — early April and late October — when the railway may not be reliably open. The railway charges a small fare for each journey, paid at the upper or lower station. Charges apply in both directions; there is no single-ticket option that covers both ways. At the time of writing a return ticket represents good value given the steepness of the footpath alternative, particularly on the ascent.
The Footpath Alternative
A steep footpath provides access to both Oddicombe and Babbacombe beaches when the cliff railway is not operating — or for visitors who prefer to walk. The path is manageable on the descent but becomes a significant physical effort on the return, particularly in warm weather or with tired children. It is not recommended for visitors with mobility limitations. On a hot summer day, the ascent with beach equipment and young children is genuinely tiring. If the cliff railway is operating, use it — particularly on the return journey.
Parking at Babbacombe Downs
The main parking for Babbacombe and Oddicombe is at Babbacombe Downs car park, TQ1 3LF. This clifftop car park sits on Babbacombe Downs itself — the long Victorian clifftop promenade that overlooks the coves — and provides easy pedestrian access to the cliff railway upper station. The car park is paid and spaces fill quickly in summer, particularly on fine weekends. Arriving before 10am is strongly recommended in July and August. Torquay town centre is approximately two miles south and provides extensive parking and bus connections if the Babbacombe Downs car park is full.
By Bus from Torquay
Babbacombe is well served by local bus from Torquay town centre — the route connects the town centre and Babbacombe Downs in approximately 15 to 20 minutes. This is a genuinely useful option in summer when parking is difficult and allows visitors to combine Babbacombe with Torquay town and harbour without needing to move the car. Check current timetables with Stagecoach South West or Traveline South West, as frequency varies by season and day of week. The bus stop for Babbacombe Downs is on the clifftop promenade close to the cliff railway upper station.
Parking tip: On busy summer weekends, consider arriving by bus from Torquay town centre and avoiding the car park stress entirely. The town centre has large multi-storey car parks and the bus service is frequent and inexpensive. It also means you can explore both Babbacombe village and the beach without being anchored to a single location by your parking ticket.
Swimming
Swimming at Babbacombe & Oddicombe
Both Babbacombe Beach and Oddicombe Beach offer excellent swimming conditions — among the best in Torbay outside of the main Torquay harbour. The east-facing orientation of both coves, combined with the shelter provided by the limestone headlands on either side, means that the water here is typically calm even when conditions on more exposed Devon beaches are rough. Wind is rarely a serious factor within the coves themselves, as the high cliffs provide significant shelter from the prevailing south-westerly winds. The result is a pair of swimming beaches that offer genuinely reliable calm water for much of the season.
The water at Oddicombe is clear and the shingle bottom shelves gradually — there is no sudden shelf or drop, which makes entry and exit comfortable and predictable. The clarity of the water is a function of both the sheltered conditions, which allow little stirring of sediment, and the relatively low freshwater input from land — there is no significant stream or river entering either cove. On a calm summer day the water over the limestone rock platforms at the edges of the beach takes on a green-blue translucency that is genuinely striking. Visibility underwater is typically good, making snorkelling around the rock platforms at either end of Oddicombe a rewarding activity at low to mid-tide.
RNLI lifeguards operate at Oddicombe during the main season, typically from late May through to mid-September, with exact dates varying by year. When lifeguards are present, swimming between the flags is strongly recommended and their safety information should be followed. Outside lifeguard hours — early morning and evening swims are particularly beautiful at Oddicombe — swimmers should exercise normal sea swimming caution and ensure they are comfortable in the conditions. The coves are sheltered but the sea is always unpredictable.
Open water swimming conditions at Babbacombe and Oddicombe are good in summer. The water temperature in Torbay is typically among the warmest on the South Devon and North Devon coasts — Torbay's enclosed geography means the water warms more effectively through the summer than more exposed coastal sections. By late July and into August, sea temperatures of 18 to 20°C are common, making these genuinely comfortable swimming beaches without the need for a wetsuit for most swimmers. The calm conditions also make them accessible to less confident swimmers who might find the surf beaches of North Devon intimidating.
Open water swimming: For more experienced open water swimmers, the traverse along the base of the limestone cliffs between Oddicombe and Babbacombe Beach at high tide is a beautiful and intimate experience — the cliff faces rising sheer from the water, the lack of boat traffic in these small coves, and the clarity of the water make this one of the more unusual coastal swimming routes in the area. Do not attempt this traverse without experience in open water conditions and be aware of the difficulty of exit if conditions change.
The Village
Babbacombe Village
Above the cliff at Babbacombe there is a small, charming village that retains much of the quiet, residential character of a Victorian seaside community — distinct in atmosphere from the resort energy of Torquay's town centre two miles to the south. Babbacombe village was developed primarily in the late Victorian and Edwardian periods, when the combination of the mild climate, spectacular clifftop position and improving rail connections to Torquay made it an attractive destination for visitors seeking a quieter alternative to the main town. That essential character has survived largely intact. The village is genuinely pleasant to walk around.
The commercial heart of the village clusters around the junction of Babbacombe Road and St Marychurch Road, where independent shops, cafés and pubs occupy Victorian terraces in a way that has become rare in British seaside resorts. There is no significant chain retail presence. The cafés are small and individual, the pubs are proper local establishments, and the general tone is of a community that has maintained its own identity rather than being absorbed entirely into the tourism economy of greater Torquay. Walking up from the cliff railway to explore the village before or after a beach visit is well worth the additional time.
The Babbacombe Theatre is one of Devon's most active variety theatres — a genuine repertory and variety venue that has been presenting summer seasons of comedy, music and drama for many decades. It attracts a loyal following and its programming is considerably more diverse than its traditional seaside theatre origins might suggest. Checking the current season programme before visiting is worthwhile, as the theatre operates through the summer months and evening performances provide a complete Babbacombe day: beach in the afternoon, dinner in the village, show in the evening.
The Babbacombe Model Village, a short walk from the clifftop, is one of the most popular family attractions in Torbay and has been operating since 1963. The model village recreates a miniature landscape of Devon countryside, buildings and coastal scenes across a substantial outdoor site, with lighting effects for evening opening in summer. It is a genuinely elaborate and well-maintained attraction that appeals to adults as well as children, and its long history means many visitors returning to Torbay have childhood memories of it. It is not a beach activity but pairs naturally with a Babbacombe beach day as a complete family outing.
Village tip: St Marychurch, adjacent to Babbacombe, is another characterful village worth exploring — its pedestrianised shopping precinct and the remarkable Church of the Holy Trinity (rebuilt after bombing in the Second World War) make it an interesting short detour. The two villages together give a good sense of the quieter, residential Torquay that exists away from the seafront.
Food & Drink
Food & Drink at Babbacombe & Oddicombe
The Beach Café at Oddicombe
At the foot of the cliff railway, a café at beach level serves the standard needs of a beach day well — hot drinks, cold drinks, ice creams, sandwiches, pasties and simple hot food during the season. The location is excellent: directly on the beach, with tables outside facing the sea. It is the natural first and last stop for visitors descending by the cliff railway, and its convenience is considerable given the effort involved in getting to beach level at all. The café operates seasonally and its hours are tied broadly to those of the cliff railway, so it is open when visitors most need it.
The Cary Arms, Babbacombe Beach
The Cary Arms is in a category of its own among Devon beach venues. A luxury boutique hotel occupying a historic inn at the very edge of Babbacombe Beach — the hotel's terrace is effectively part of the beach — it operates a beachside restaurant and bar that non-residents can book for lunch and dinner during the season. The menu is high-end, the wine list extensive, and the setting — tables on a stone terrace at the foot of the red limestone cliffs, directly above the water — is extraordinary. Booking is essential throughout the season as the restaurant is consistently in demand. It is expensive relative to the café options, but the experience of dining at sea level in this setting is one that Torquay does not otherwise offer, and the food quality is genuinely high.
For a more casual option, the Cary Arms also serves drinks and lighter snacks on the terrace — the prospect of a cold drink on a warm afternoon with the limestone cliffs behind you and the sea in front is a compelling one even for those not staying at the hotel. Again, particularly in high summer, planning ahead is wise.
Babbacombe Village — Pubs & Cafés
The village above the cliff offers a range of more casual and budget-friendly options. Several traditional pubs in the village serve food at lunch and dinner — the type of reliable, unpretentious pub food that pairs naturally with a day at the beach. The cafés along the main village street offer teas, coffees, cream teas and lunches in a comfortable, unhurried atmosphere. These village establishments represent significantly better value than resort prices on the main Torquay seafront and serve a local clientele that keeps standards honest. Torquay town centre, two miles south, provides the widest choice of restaurants if an evening meal is required after a day at Babbacombe.
Holiday Cottages in Babbacombe & Torquay
Clifftop villas, English Riviera apartments and holiday cottages above Babbacombe Downs with views across Torbay — browse options for a Torbay stay.
Walks
Walks from Babbacombe
Coastal Path North — Oddicombe to Watcombe and Maidencombe
The coastal path north from Oddicombe toward Watcombe Beach and Maidencombe is one of the finest short clifftop walks in Torbay — approximately two miles of excellent walking on a well-marked footpath that stays close to the cliff edge for much of its length. From the top of the cliff railway at Babbacombe Downs, the path heads north through the clifftop scrub and grassland before descending toward Watcombe, a smaller and less accessible cove that rewards the additional walking effort with greater seclusion. From Watcombe the path continues to Maidencombe, a charming village set back slightly from the coast with a pub and a footpath to a quiet beach. The full circuit, returning along the inland path, takes around two to three hours at a comfortable walking pace and offers consistently fine views across Lyme Bay.
Coastal Path South — Toward Anstey's Cove and Meadfoot
Heading south from Babbacombe Downs along the South West Coast Path takes you into some of the most dramatic limestone cliff scenery in Torbay. The path passes above Anstey's Cove — a sheltered and beautiful limestone cove approximately one mile south of Babbacombe that is accessible via a steep path and has no vehicle access, giving it a genuine sense of seclusion even in summer. Beyond Anstey's Cove the path continues south toward Meadfoot Beach and eventually into Torquay town, with the harbour and the main seafront providing a natural destination for a one-way walk with a bus or taxi return. The stretch between Babbacombe and Anstey's Cove in particular passes through some of the most striking limestone cliff scenery in South Devon, with the red and grey rock alternating above the clear green water far below.
Babbacombe Downs Clifftop Walk
The Babbacombe Downs itself — the long clifftop promenade that runs above both coves — is a shorter but satisfying walk in its own right. The Downs were laid out in the Victorian period as a public promenade and retain their original character: a wide, flat walkway along the cliff edge with gardens, benches and a series of lookout points that give panoramic views across Torbay south toward Berry Head and the Brixham headland, and north along the red limestone cliffs toward Watcombe. On a clear day the views extend across the bay to Start Point in the south and to the mouth of the Exe estuary northward. The Downs walk is accessible to all mobility levels, fully surfaced, and pleasant at any time of year — particularly on winter mornings when the bay is calm and the light on the red cliffs has a particular quality.
Walk combination: A particularly satisfying half-day route: descend by cliff railway to Oddicombe for a swim and coffee at the beach café, then ascend via the cliff railway and walk north along the coast path to Watcombe for lunch, before returning via the inland path through the clifftop woodland. Total walking distance approximately four miles; the cliff railway reduces the effort at either end and adds to the experience considerably.
Tides & Safety
Tides & Safety at Babbacombe & Oddicombe
The sheltered, east-facing orientation of both Babbacombe and Oddicombe means that the sea here is generally calmer and less affected by tidal currents than more exposed Devon beaches. The coves sit inside the broader shelter of Lyme Bay and receive limited direct swell from the Atlantic, which arrives from the south-west and is largely blocked by the Torbay headlands. This makes for excellent swimming conditions on most days, but the tides and sea conditions still require attention.
- Low tide: Rock platforms at both ends of Oddicombe fully exposed — excellent for rock pooling. The beach is at its widest and the water shallow for a considerable distance from shore. Best time for exploring the intertidal zone.
- Mid-tide (rising): Best swimming conditions. Water clear and depths comfortable for most swimmers. Rock pools still partially accessible at the outer edges.
- High tide: Both beaches narrow considerably at high tide — at Babbacombe Beach, high water can reach close to the seawall or the base of the cliffs. At Oddicombe, the beach remains usable but narrower. Good swimming depth but the flat beach area is reduced.
- Spring tides (new and full moon): The most extreme tidal range — rock pools at their most extensive at low water, beach at its narrowest at high water. Plan accordingly and be aware of how quickly the tide rises.
Safety on the Rock Platforms
The limestone rock platforms at Oddicombe and Babbacombe are slippery when wet, particularly where covered with weed. Shoes or water shoes are essential on the rock platforms — bare feet on wet limestone are treacherous even for careful adults, and children should never explore the platforms barefoot. The outer edges of the platforms, exposed only at low spring tides, are the most weed-covered and the most slippery. Move slowly and keep a close eye on children near the water's edge on the platforms — the sea can be deceptively powerful even in these sheltered coves, particularly in onshore conditions.
Neither beach has easy egress from the water other than via the shingle beach itself. At high tide, if conditions deteriorate quickly, do not attempt to scramble up the cliff faces or the rock platforms. Stay in the water and move along the base of the cliff toward the beach area. The RNLI lifeguards at Oddicombe are the primary safety resource in season — follow their instructions and always swim between the flags when they are present.
Cliff Safety
The limestone cliffs at Babbacombe and Oddicombe should not be climbed under any circumstances. While Devonian limestone is harder and more stable than the red sandstone of East Devon, the cliff faces at these coves are steep, exposed to salt spray and frost, and prone to sudden block falls that can occur without warning. Sitting or standing directly beneath the cliff face should be avoided. The base of the cliffs is safest when accessed along the beach at the foot of the cliff rather than directly under overhanging sections. If rocks are falling — even small pieces — move clear of the cliff base immediately.
Tide times: The nearest tide gauge for accurate tide time information for Babbacombe and Oddicombe is Torquay. Use the BBC Weather coastal forecast for Torquay or the Torbay Council tide tables available online. The RNLI beach safety page at rnli.org provides current flag status and beach conditions information for Oddicombe when lifeguards are on duty.
When to Visit
Seasonal Guide to Babbacombe & Oddicombe
| Month | Beach | Water Temp | Swimming | Cliff Railway | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January–March | Wild & empty | 9–11°C | Brave swimmers only | Closed | Very quiet |
| April | Opening up | 11–13°C | Wetsuit recommended | Easter opening | Light |
| May | Excellent | 13–15°C | Bracing but enjoyable | Open | Light–building |
| June | Very good | 15–17°C | Good without wetsuit | Open, RNLI arrives | Building |
| July–August | Peak season | 17–20°C | Excellent, warm | Busy — check times | Busy — arrive early |
| September | Outstanding | 17–19°C | Warmest water of year | Open | Manageable |
| October | Dramatic | 14–17°C | Still good for hardy swimmers | Closing mid-late month | Quiet |
| November–December | Wild & quiet | 11–13°C | Wild swimming only | Closed | Very quiet |
September is the finest month to visit Babbacombe and Oddicombe. The water retains the warmth of summer — consistently 17 to 19°C — the crowds of July and August have thinned considerably as the school holidays end, and the quality of light on the red limestone cliffs in September is exceptional. The afternoon sun hits the cliff faces at a lower angle than in high summer, picking out the texture and colour of the rock with particular intensity, and the sea takes on a deeper, richer blue against the red stone. The cliff railway continues to operate through September and typically into October, so the full Babbacombe experience remains available.
Winter visits to Babbacombe have their own distinct appeal. The beach at Oddicombe in January — empty, with the red cliffs towering above and the sea a cold, clear grey — has a severity and beauty that is entirely different from the summer experience. The clifftop walk at Babbacombe Downs in winter, with the full sweep of Torbay visible on a clear day and the wind coming off the bay, is one of the great free experiences of the English Riviera in its off-season. The cliff railway will not be running, and the beach café will be closed, but the village pubs are open and the walk down via the steep footpath — manageable in winter without the heat — delivers you to a beach that belongs entirely to those willing to make the effort.
Nearby
Nearby Beaches & Attractions
- Oddicombe Beach (adjacent): The companion cove immediately north of Babbacombe Beach, larger and with RNLI lifeguard cover in season — both beaches form a natural pair.
- Anstey's Cove (1 mile south): A sheltered, secluded limestone cove between Babbacombe and Torquay — no vehicle access, accessible only on foot via a steep path, with a small café at beach level in season. One of the most beautiful and intimate coves on the English Riviera.
- Meadfoot Beach (2 miles south): Torquay's quieter alternative cove — a long shingle and sand beach in a sheltered bay with excellent views of Thatcher Rock, year-round dog access, and a characteristically English Riviera atmosphere.
- Watcombe (1 mile north): A small, secluded cove accessible only on foot via the coastal path — red cliffs, clear water, no facilities, and a genuine sense of escape from the resort world of Torbay.
- Torquay Harbour and Town Centre (2 miles south): The main resort town of the English Riviera, with Torquay's harbour beaches, the Agatha Christie trail, the town's museums, restaurants and shopping — easily reached by bus from Babbacombe.
- Babbacombe Model Village (5 minutes walk): One of the most elaborate and long-established model villages in England — a full family afternoon in its own right, directly adjacent to the Babbacombe Downs clifftop.
- Cary Arms Hotel: The beachside boutique hotel at Babbacombe Beach — worth a lunch booking for the extraordinary setting even for non-residents, and one of the most celebrated small hotels on the Devon coast.