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Sugary Cove

(Dartmouth Castle Beach)

Devon, England


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Sugary Cove, located near Dartmouth in Devon, is a small sand and shingle beach that offers a unique and relatively wild experience for visitors.

Dartmouth Castle and Sugary Cove are situated at the mouth of the River Dart on the south coast of Devon. The beach is approximately 60 metres wide, backed by cliffs, and overlooked by the historic Dartmouth Castle. The castle is a fortress that has been overlooking the River Dart estuary for centuries, and it also features toilets, a café, and a car park.

The closest parking to Sugary Cove is at Dartmouth Castle, about 100 metres from the beach. From the castle car park, visitors can access the beach via a 5-10 minute walk down a steep path with steps. However, this path may not be suitable for pushchairs or those with mobility problems.

The beach is surrounded by cliffs, rocks, and trees, and it can be easy to miss as it is hidden by trees until visitors are almost on top of it. There are no signposts to the beach, but along the path that leads from the castle, there are a few other coves, including Deadmans Cove and Ladies Cove. The small beach disappears during high tide, so visitors should plan their trip accordingly. Dogs are currently welcome on the beach all year round.

In contrast, Blackpool Sands is a privately managed, award-winning family-friendly beach located in Start Bay, Devon. It is a shingle beach in a sheltered crescent shape, surrounded by green rolling fields and woodland. The water quality is excellent, and lifeguards are on duty in July and August. The beach offers various activities, including sand pits, a bathing raft, kayaks, snorkels, and stand-up paddle boards for hire. Blackpool Sands has a car park directly behind the beach, providing easy access for wheelchairs, pushchairs, and buggies. However, dogs are restricted from March to November.

Sugary Cove is on the South Devon Heritage Coast, and adjacent to the South West Coast Path.

Cove Estuary Sand

Weather and tides for Tuesday 8 July

Today
Chance of rain 1%
Max temp. 22°C
(feels like 21°C)
Wind 9mph
Max UV Index
Tonight
Chance of rain 5%
Min temp. 11°C
(feels like 11°C)
Wind 7mph

The tide at Sugary Cove is currently falling. Low tide will be at approximately 11:12 PM, and the next high tide will be at approximately 5:48 AM tomorrow.

Today's air pollution levels are forecast to be Low

Approximate sea surface temperature:   16.8°C  

Detailed weather and tides »
  • Facilities

    Food available Toilets Shops
  • Popular Activities

    Sunbathing
  • Features

    Museum
  • Parking

    Car parking by the castle.

  • Lifeguard

    No lifeguard cover at this beach

  • Awards

    Marine Conservation Society Recommended

  • Water Quality

    Excellent water quality

    Excellent water quality

Recommended holiday cottages near Sugary Cove

Things to do and see in the area

Dartmouth Yacht Club (0.8 miles)
Dart Harbour (0.8 miles)
Paddle Steamer Kingswear Castle (0.8 miles)
The Picnic Boat (0.9 miles)
Greenway Ferry & River Boat Cruises (0.9 miles)
Hockings Dairy Cream Ices (0.9 miles)
Dartmouth Museum (1 miles)
Wistman's Wood (1.2 miles)
Sea Kayak Devon (1.2 miles)

All distances are approximate

Other beaches nearby

Location: Warfleet

Location type: Rural

OS Grid: SX886500

County: Devon

Country: England

Local Authority: South Hams

Parish: Dartmouth

Nearest postcode: TQ6 0JN

(for sat-nav purposes only, a beach does not have a postal address!)

Important! Beach information is compiled from a variety of different sources and is correct to the best of our knowledge at the time of compilation. However, information may be incorrectly supplied by our sources or go out of date after publication. BritishBeaches.uk makes no warranty as to the accuracy of any information on this page.

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Visitor information for Sugary Cove, Devon, England. Weather, tides, visitor comments, beach facilities, photos, nearest postcode, beach information and nearby accommodation.

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18.97.9.173 Tue, 08 Jul 2025 17:53:23 +0100