The UK is blessed with dozens of beautiful beaches, and some of the most stunning are located on the Devon coast. The seaside is one of the main attractions of the south west region and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
But a handful of the reviews of Devon’s most popular beaches left on Tripadvisor suggest they don't quite live up to some people’s high expectations. The most common complaint about Devon’s beaches concerns parking – whether it’s the charges, availability or accessibility,
Some complaints are perfectly legitimate, and worth a read as a fair warning to other beach-goers, our sister title Devon Live reports, but others come across as rather harsh.
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Devon Live has taken a look at some of the odd, unfair and downright hilarious comments left about the county's seaside hotspots. Here are some reviews which are saltier than the seawater.
Blackpool Sands – not sandy
Blackpool Sands is one of the UK’s most Instagrammable beaches but 60 people went on Tripadvisor to say it’s “terrible.” These reviewers could always have done a little bit of research before paying a visit.
Peter K wrote: “Should be called Blackpool Stones not Sands.” Mark G titled his review “Stressful!” He wrote: “Not what you are led to believe! Take a pair of pit boots with you as it’s bloody painful on the feet!”
Westward Ho! – too much sand, too much rock and not enough water
Out of 1,637 reviews, 1,028 were “excellent” but 28 were “terrible.” It’s a shame the following three reviewers couldn’t get together and share notes. One said there’s too much sand, one said there’s too much rock, and one complained that this part of the seaside didn’t have enough *checks notes* sea.
DanH said: “A vast expanse of sand. Can’t really think of a less appealing place to visit, but then, cards on the table, I’m not really a beach person.” DB70 from London titled their review “Too rocky.” They wrote: “Western end where we were staying is just rock and a pebble beach.”
Declan from Sheffield wrote: “This was a terrible beach. You can’t go below your knees in the water and you can’t swim in it. I find it a bit annoying because in every other beach you can.”
Saunton Sands – too many dogs
Saunton Sands was named “Devon’s most Instagrammable tourist hotspot” earlier this year, but while 634 reviews out of 980 on Tripadvisor were “excellent,” there were 46 which were “terrible.” A couple of the most recent one-star reviews were from people who obviously aren’t dog lovers.
Katie H from Oxfordshire said she had expected a lovely day at the beach but left after just an hour. “Too many dogs! Barking at nothing, barking at each other, flicking sand everywhere.” Steveioids from Exeter moaned: “When I finished my enjoyable surf was greeted by a dog shxxing in front of me.” There was no suggestion that the dog’s owner didn’t clear it up straight away. But he added: “A new dog area needs to be formed further down the beach please do we can have a breathing space from dogs.”
According to the National Maritime Museum, in this country you’re never more than about 70 miles from the sea. But Coletteh from Yorkshire took to Tripadvisor to say that Saunton Sands was hard to find. She said: “Poor signposting so hard to find. We never found the sea.”
Exmouth – lacking public order
Exmouth is one of the biggest beaches on the South Devon coast and attracts hordes of visitors. But Arkangel67 from Lutterworth wasn’t impressed, writing: “The beach is just a wide expanse of rather dirty sand littered with families with screaming children and dogs everywhere.”
41intheshade from Southampton said the beach “seems completely lawless” and moaned: “On our visits this week, lads with a massive sound system had climbed onto the cliff area and were booming their music across the beach.” Martin P from Rugby complained about the “drunk twits” and “endless noise.”
Heather-Chris G from Exeter complained there was seaweed on the beach and wondered why the council didn’t get it removed, calling it “very unsightly and smelly.”
Woolacombe – too busy
Woolacombe is regularly listed among the very best beaches in the country, and out of 3,752 reviews on Tripadvisor, a whopping 3,065 gave it five stars. But 34 gave it just one star.
Most of the complaints were about the parking, but Dlagerbo from Littleton said: “This is a beautiful beach with too much population pressure on it. It is packed to the gills.” Peepers75 from Worcester called the council “weak” because it “will not stop the whole of the seafront being taken over by surfers and their vehicles.”
Broadsands Beach – too much seaweed
This beach near Paignton has 99 “excellent” reviews out of 169, but also a handful of “terrible” and “poor” reviews. It’s far from the only beach to disappear at high tide, and tide times are readily available online, but Nelly Jones wrote: “Very disappointing. Tide in so nowhere to sit and masses of seaweed. Toilets, you needed to pay by card! Shocking!” Celia C wrote: “This year beach covered in green slime very slippy and attracted thousands of flies, needs clearing up such a shame.”
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