Enjoy a 360 virtual tour of Institute beach a quiet little cove backed by red sandstone cliffs tucked away behind the Livermead Cliff Hotel on Torquay seafront road and looks across to Abbey Sands.
- 17/04/21 Still Closed.
- 04/08/20 Closed.
- 18/08/19 Closed.
- 09/05/19 Closed.
- 05/11/18 Closed.
- Sadly the beach is currently closed due to storm damage.
Unfortunately the usual beach access has been damaged and cordoned off due to storm Emma and the severe snow and ice in March 2018. The protective surface on a section of the cliff suffered extensive damage so access is prohibited until the area is made safe. However it can still be easily accessed at low tide from Livermead or by kayak or by squeezing past the barrier. Obviously if you do go on the beach, you do so at your own risk.
This is usually a quiet forgotten beach, I often come to sit and enjoy my lunch. It’s also a great place to watch the Corbyn Head fireworks. You can often see swans swimming around here.
Institute Beach is right next to Livermead Sands beach and is tucked in behind the Livermead Cliff Hotel. It is made up of sand shingle and rocks, and it’s really sheltered from westerly winds. There is a life buoy but no other facilities are available. Dogs are allowed.
Strong currents
Tidal cut-off
Unstable Cliffs
There doesn’t seem to be a definite reason for the name’ Institute’. There are a few suggestions. One possibility is that ‘institute’ is a term associated with the priesthood. Institute Beach is the location of Torquay’s original medieval harbour, which served Torre Abbey – you can still see the remnants of the harbour at low tide.
- Kayaking
- Paddle boarding
- Sunbathing
- Rock pooling
Facilities are available at the neighbouring Corbyn’s Beach and Torre Abbey Sands.
- Livermead Cliff Hotel (£££)
Easy access to the beach, although only via a set of steps, so disabled access is difficult. Beware that the adjacent Livermead beach is dedicated to water skiing.
Sat-nav: TQ2 6RQ.
- Bus, The nearest bus service runs along the seafront Torbay Road – No. 12 bus.
- Car, is by far the easiest option, but there are only a limited amount of on street spaces right next to the beach on Cliff Road. Free parking is available in Wheatridge Lane (postcode TQ2 6QZ), which is about a 5 to 10 minute walk.
- Walking, the South West Coastal Path runs along the seafront Torbay Road
- The beach disappears at high tide.
- Beware the rocks are cut off by the incoming tide.
- Lifebuoys are available all year round.
- At low tide there are rock pools.
- Dog friendly all year round.
- Limited on-street parking in Cliff Road.
- Type: sand shingle and rocks.
- Get £25 off your first Airbnb trip of £55 or more click here.
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Have you been to Institute Beach? Did you like this beach? Is it still closed?
Originally Published on: 10 May 2019 at 20:22
