Challaborough Beach

Challaborough Bay is a small, horse-shoe shaped beach on the South Hams coast. Challaborough beach has the European Blue Flag award. There is a small Parkdean Holiday Park behind the beach, who also own the small car park that charges £4.50 in season. Challaborough beach is quiet out of season, but may become busy in season, due to the size of the beach and the people staying in the holiday park. There is a private slipway here for boats. Lifeguards patrol during the summer. Beware for children especially near high tide, where waves breaking on the steep beach can drag you in to seep water quickly.

Challaborough Bay Holiday Park, Parkdean

A good static caravan park just behind the beach. Facilities include a restaurant and bar on the beach, a large indoor swimming pool and sauna, play park, entertainment for adults and children.

Surfing at Challaborough

The beach does not pick up as much swell as the north coast, but the steeply shelving beach creates a fast wave at higher stages of the tide. Best from Mid tide on the push where, depending on good sand banks, an almost perfect fast left can be had at the south end of the beach. The takeoff area is small. Not really any rips to speak of. At a very low tide on a big swell, there can be a long slower left wrapping in from the bay the other side of Warren Point. At this stage of the tide there is a very fast right hand point break off the rocks at the north end of the beach, a long paddle out. For an easier surf, try Bigbury and Bantham nearby.

Walking

A steep coastal path above slipping cliffs, heading north takes you shortly to Ayrmer Cove. This is a very pretty small cove, owned by the National Trust, with good rock pools and interesting coloured and shaped rocks. Ayrmer Cove can also be accessed by an easier path from the National Trust car park just south of Ringmore village, where a circular walk is possible around the valley.The coast path south takes you to Bigbury, where it is possible to walk to Burgh Island whish is only an island at high tide.

Facilities, Where to Eat

Not really much to chose from in Challabrough, Fryer Tucks is a small fish and chip, cafe and takeaway on the beach. The holiday park does takeaway Pizza. The best pub is at Ringmore and the closest selection of restaurants and cafes is at Modbury. Modbury also has the best local supermarket, the Co-op on the main road, which is bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside, Also a good local shop at St Ann's Chapel. There is a small, overpriced supermarket by the slipway, the Costcutter. Another good local shop at the top of the hill between Challaborough and Bigbury, the Bigbury Post Office and Stores.

For a mobile phone signal, walk up to the National Trust sign on the coast path up the steep cliff to the north of the bay.

From May to September, lifeguards patrol and dogs are not allowed on the beach during the season.

How to get there

Challaborough beach is reached by two narrow lanes from either St. Ann's Chapel or Bigbury village. Turn right at the Old Chapel Inn for the less narrow road via Ringmore. No bus service, but can walk from Bigbury via the coast path.

Last Updated: 2010-01-26 11:09:55

About | Copyright | Privacy Policy | Sitemap