How to Keep the Stunning South Devon Beaches Clean

From protecting marine wildlife to preserving delicate coastal ecosystems, cleaning up our beaches has never been so important.

With over 120 miles of sweeping coastline and 50 beautiful beaches, South Devon is one of the most popular UK holiday destinations. Rivalling the top Mediterranean holiday hotspots, the English Riviera is home to rugged coves, golden sandy beaches and picturesque villages.

As scenic as South Devon’s beaches are, you only need to walk a few steps before you find plastic netting, household rubbish and other signs of pollution. Protecting our beaches is vital to maintaining the health and safety of our wildlife and ourselves and there are many ways we can help to reduce pollution on our beaches.

Together, we can make a big difference in keeping the South Devon beaches in pristine condition.

How to Keep South Devon Beaches Clean

Whether it’s taking your rubbish home with you, abiding by beach rules or participating in an organised beach clean, there are many ways to keep our beaches in tip-top shape. Here are 7 small but mighty ways to help clean up our beaches.

A group of people participate in a beach cleanup at sunset, with a focus on one person placing a plastic bottle into a blue bag on the sandy shore.

Leave no trace

It sounds simple enough but when you visit the beach, make sure you leave it exactly as you found it and take any beach equipment and rubbish home with you. You can take it a step further by bringing a plastic bag and bagging up any rubbish you find. Turn it into a fun challenge by seeing who can collect the most beach litter, you never know what you might find...!

Three people in jackets and gloves collect litter on a sandy beach, placing trash into large bags, with trees and a clear sky in the background.

Join a beach clean

South Devon beaches have organised cleans that have become regular events along the coast and are essential in the fight against beach pollution. Beach cleans provide a brilliant opportunity to meet like-minded people whilst doing your bit for the environment. Surfers Against Sewage, The National Trust and a number of local businesses and holiday resorts regularly run beach clean-ups.

Bags and litter pickers are often provided but bring your own gloves.

A hand holds a foil tray filled with tangled plastic debris and ropes collected from a beach, with blurred ocean waves in the background.

Be BBQ savvy

Few things are more relaxing than watching the sunset on a peaceful South Devon beach while enjoying a beach barbecue. Before you pack the sausages, check whether the beach you are planning to visit allows barbecues and make sure to remove all traces when you leave.

Charcoal can contaminate sand and buried disposable barbecues have been known to cause burns so it’s essential to take your barbecue away after use. Make sure the barbecue is fully cooled before you attempt to move it, you can use seawater to help cool things down.

A French Bulldog with a black and white face sits on a sandy beach, gazing toward the ocean under a bright blue sky.

Follow the dog rules

Taking your four-legged friend for a run along one of the many South Devon beaches is one of life’s simple pleasures. With something for all the senses, visiting the beach does wonders for both human and canine wellbeing.

It’s essential to pick up any dog waste from the beach and be sure to check that the beach is dog-friendly before visiting, many are, and those that aren’t in Summer usually allow dogs during the cooler months of the year.

A discarded blue plastic bottle lies among smooth rocks in a shallow, reflective pool of water, highlighting pollution in a natural environment.

Pass on the plastic

Plastic is one of the main culprits when it comes to beach pollution. Plastic bags, bottles, single-use cutlery and fishing nets are among the most common plastics found in the ocean. The chemicals within plastic are harmful to marine wildlife and, crucially, it doesn’t decompose.

Try to avoid single-use plastics if you can and turn to metal drinking bottles and reusable plastic containers instead of cling film and foil. If you do use single-use plastic, be sure to take it home for recycling.

A scenic coastal trail winds along a grassy cliffside, overlooking a calm blue sea with distant rolling hills under a partly cloudy sky.

Stick to coastal paths

Good beach health isn’t just about reducing rubbish, it’s also important to protect the marine environment. Overuse of sand dunes and cliff faces can cause erosion and damage leading to catastrophic consequences.

Sand dunes can accumulate vast amounts of rubbish from as long as two decades ago. Walking on dunes and the consequent erosion can release some of this rubbish into the marine environment so it’s key to stick to the designated trails. Avoid climbing cliff faces as not only is this dangerous, but it can speed up coastal erosion along the South Devon beaches.

A large pipe discharges water onto a rocky beach, with hills and a distant coastal village under a cloudy sky in the background.

Filter what you flush

Even if you don’t live near the beach, you can continue to keep beaches clean from home. Unfortunately, much of our sewer waste finds itself in rivers and oceans so taking care not to flush anything except human waste and toilet paper down the loo can collectively make a noticeable difference.

Leonards Cove

Perched on a stunning clifftop location, overlooking the scenic Start Bay, Leonards Cove Holiday Park is one of the best places to stay in South Devon.

We offer a wide range range of self-catering accommodation to suit all budgets.

Choose from luxurious mobile homes, private lodges and cottages or book exclusive use of the farmhouse.

With easy access to South Devon’s beautiful beaches, coastal and woodland walks and a range of fantastic cafes and restaurants on our doorstep, we offer the perfect base for your Devon holiday.

Click here to view our current offers. We look forward to welcoming you.