Maidencombe’s red sand and rock pools

The red sand of Maidencombe is one of the bay’s small geological wonders – ground from Permian sandstone that’s 250 million years old. The whole 50-mile stretch of “red cliffs” between Exmouth and Torquay is the same rock, but the cove at Maidencombe is where you can scoop a handful and see the colour up close.

The rock pools at the western end of the cove are some of the deepest in the bay – some hold water all year, even at the lowest spring tides. Children with nets find blennies, hermit crabs, prawns, the occasional juvenile lobster.

Access: park at the village car park (free, fills early in August), walk down the National Trust footpath. Ten minutes down, fifteen back up. No facilities on the beach.

Combine with: a walk south to Watcombe Beach (one mile) or north to Labrador Bay RSPB reserve (cirl bunting territory, rare in Britain).