Maidencombe Beach in 360º

Enjoy a 360º virtual tour of Maidencombe Beach Torquay, a quiet relaxing haven surrounded by towering red stone cliffs.

Location/Facts Awards Potential Hazards History Things To Do Where To Eat Getting Around Getting There Helpful Tips Weather Water Quality Sunrise & Sunset Tide Times Nearby Beaches Destinations

Update: 14th March 2023

Added Drone images

This is a beach often forgotten as it lies on the edge of Torbay with difficult access as it has around 100 steps to negotiate to get down to the sand and the café. It’s because of this, you’ll often find you have the beach to yourself. If you’re looking for a quiet haven to relax and spend the day, where dogs are allowed all year round, with lots of rock pools at low tide then Maidencombe Beach is the perfect retreat. It’s far from the hustle & bustle of the town centre. There is a small pay & display car park with a height restriction, but the times I have come I have been lucky and found a free space available on the road.

If you like a walk then there’s the South West Coastal Path taking you to the similar Watcombe Beach, another small cove with coarse sand if you head toward Torquay or in the other direction there’s Shaldon where the River Teign meets the sea. This path isn’t easy though, with lots of uneven ground, steps and hills to negotiate.

There is a nice easy circular walk that makes it’s way through the rolling countryside offering some great views from the top. As you come back down into the village and through the orchard don’t miss the Judas tree opposite the cattle barn, especially if you’re here in the spring while it’s in full bloom. You’ll find it outside the Court House and it dates back to the sixteenth century when a young sapling was brought back from Lebanon. It’s even mentioned in the 1066 Doomsday book.

Click here For More Tiny Planets

Location/Facts

Maidencombe Beach is a small sandy cove in Torquay just a few miles north of Babbacombe in the hamlet of Maidencombe (mentioned in the Domesday Book, 1086) the most northerly reach of Torbay.

The Judas Tree outside the Court House dates back to the sixteenth century when a young sapling was brought back from Lebanon.

Awards

Good Beach Guide.
Seaside Award.

Potential Hazards

Deep shelving beach
Unstable Cliffs

History

While living at Orestone Manor Victorian artist J C Horsley, designed the first Christmas card. In 1840 Sir Henry Cole commissioned him to design a card with a brief message that could be reproduced and sent to all the people that Cole’s busy life at the Public Records Office prevented him from contacting personally. Horsley came up with a greetings card saying ‘A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year To You’. The idea was so successful that in 1843 the first batch of 1000 cards was produced commercially, selling at one shilling each.

Things To Do

BBQ
Circular Walk
Coasteering
Diving
Judas Tree
Picnic
Rock Pooling
South West Coastal Path
Sunbathe
Swim

Where To Eat

Beach Cafe Rio
The Thatched Tavern (17th century)

Getting Around

Not the easiest as the car park is some distance from the beach (about a 10 minute walk) down a narrow path and around 100 steep steps which lead to the café and beach area.

Getting There

Steep Hill, Maidencombe, Torquay TQ1 4TS.

Bus, stagecoach bus route Number 22 between Torquay and Teignmouth runs through Maidencombe
Car, There is a small pay & display car park with a height restriction. You may just be lucky enough to grab a free space on the road, but there are only a few on the hill.
Walking, The South West Coastal Path runs right past the beach.

Helpful Tips

Access is down a narrow path and around 100 steep steps which lead to the café and beach area.
You may just be lucky enough to grab a free space on the road, but there are only a few on the hill.
Beach cleaned daily during the summer.
Toilets are seasonal (April to Oct).
There is a life buoy
Dogs are allowed all year round
Bins and dog bins are available.
Beach type: Shingle & sand