Short answer: Yes. Bigbury has a shallow, gently shelving beach with RNLI lifeguards in season, which makes it one of the safer places to swim in the South Hams. Swim between the flags and be aware of the currents around the causeway.
Yes. Bigbury on Sea is a wide, flat, sandy beach with a shallow incline into the water and RNLI lifeguards in season. It is one of the better swimming beaches on this stretch of coast, and much easier with children than the coves either side.
The lifeguard service is seasonal, so it does not cover the whole year. When the flags are up, swim between them — it is the patrolled area and lifeguards are watching it.
The water around the causeway to Burgh Island. The tide comes in from both sides and the two flows meet, which is exactly the sort of place currents behave unpredictably. Keep swimming to the open beach rather than the sandbar.
This is the south coast, so it is a little kinder than north Devon, but it is still the English Channel. June to September is the comfortable window without a wetsuit for most people.
Hope Cove, fifteen minutes down the coast, is sheltered and calm. Challaborough is the next bay north with its own parking. Mill Bay and Sunny Cove, reached by the Salcombe ferry, are quieter still.
Bring cash for the car park — the app rarely works in the poor signal.
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