Even though Bigbury is only an hour away from where I live, I hadn’t been there for many years so this trip was long overdue. Just as you round the corner at the top of the hill, your suddenly faced with a spectacular view of the beach and Burgh Island. The road takes you straight to the car parks below, but just before you reach them there are a few spaces on the left hand side that are free with the only restriction of no overnight parking. We were lucky as a couple were just loading their car to leave, so we didn’t have to pay to park.

We wandered around the beach for a bit, it may look like a gorgeous sunny day, but it was very windy and we were being blown away and pummeled by sand. The beach is a mixture of mainly sand and some shingle, perfect for a family holiday. It is backed by low cliffs, and lies on the side of the estuary of the River Avon. There are toilets, disabled access to the beach, a slipway and, during the summer, first-aid assistance and lifeguards are on hand. The beach has a dog restricted area, and there is an area for moored bathing rafts.

Of course we wanted to go across to the Island, but it was pretty much high tide, so we needed to use the famous sea tractor. There were no times on display, so we walked back up to the shop to ask and were told it basically runs on Island time and to just keep an eye out for when it comes.

We decided to walk around the Island first to work up a thirst before entering the pub. The walk is very easy, but can be a little muddy and there are a few steps so not accessible for wheelchair users.   At the top of the hill you’ll find the ruins of the old St. Michael’s chapel and of course the best of the panoramic views.

Dartmouth and Plymouth are only a few miles drive away if the weather is not so good.