There’s something rather lovely about winter in Devon and Cornwall, particularly when you have the beach almost to yourself. In the colder months, the crowds disappear, the sea can put on quite a show and there’s a whole different side to the coast to discover.

Yes, you might swap your sun hat for a beanie and your swimmers for a wetsuit, but winter beach days can be every bit as enjoyable – and often a little more adventurous. From beachcombing and storm watching to coastal walks, horse riding and rockpooling, there are plenty of reasons to head to the beach whatever the season.

Here are a few of our favourite ways to enjoy the coast during the quieter months.

 

Ways to enjoy the coast in winter

There’s plenty to do by the sea when summer is long gone. We love to wrap up warm and head to the beach – it always surprises us how many simple pleasures there are to experience on the coast if you know where to look.

Beachcombing and Sea Glass in North Devon

No metal detectors required. This sort of treasure hunting requires only your eyes and fingers (and maybe a couple of toes), and you’re guaranteed to never come up empty-handed.

Shell and rock fragments glisten high up on the shore and banded pebbles as smooth as silk lie at the water’s edge. Depending on where you are, you may find cowrie, fan or mussel shells, and perhaps even the best find of all – sea glass.

If you’re heading to North Devon for a stay in the cooler months, we recommend spending an hour or two on Barricane Beach and Combesgate for some of the best shell and sea glass hauls around. Expect to discover tusk shells and other exotics, as well as bits of sea-worn green, clear, blue and brown glass.

Cold Water Swimming in Fowey

Cold-water swimming has become a bit of a thing, and if you’re one of those people who thinks nothing of getting into the sea when everyone else is wrapped up in coats, there are some brilliant places to do it along the Cornish coast.

Readymoney Cove in Fowey is a lovely spot for a dip. Tucked just around the corner from Fowey, the little sandy cove is sheltered from much of the wind and swell, making it a popular year-round swimming spot when conditions are right.

For something a little more wild, there are plenty of beaches and coves to choose from along the coast, including Fistral Beach in Newquay for those who like their sea swimming with a healthy dose of Atlantic swell. Just make sure you check the conditions, tides and water quality before getting in, and swim with someone else.

And if the thought of plunging into the cold sea doesn’t quite appeal, there is always the Jubilee Pool in Penzance – where you can enjoy a sea swim without quite so much of the cold bit. Its geothermal pool is heated to up to 35°C, which feels like a rather good compromise to us!

Visit a Coastal Lighthouse in Brixham

As beautiful as the Devon and Cornwall coastlines are, they were treacherous for the sailors of yesteryear. There are over 3,000 wrecks around the Cornish coast and a further 1,600 lying off Devon’s north and south coastlines.

It’s clear to see that lighthouses played an invaluable role in saving lives at sea, and there are 28 operational lighthouses that remain in use along this stretch of coastline.

The lighthouse at the end of the Breakwater in Brixham is a highlight of one of our favourite South West Coast Path walks, between Breakwater Beach and Churston Cove. Built in 1916, it perches proudly at the end of the flat, 1-kilometre-long breakwater, with stunning views across the bay.

 

Horse riding on Woolacombe Beach

Cue the romantic vision of cantering along the beach, hair blowing in the wind. Not quite – you’ll be wearing a riding hat, after all!

But a horse ride along the beach is hard to beat, and Woolacombe is a pretty special place to do it. With two miles of golden sand backed by dunes, it’s a beautiful stretch of North Devon coastline to explore on horseback.

And you don’t need to be an experienced rider to give it a go. Woolacombe Riding Stables offers accompanied rides for all abilities, so beginners can enjoy a gentle walk while more experienced riders can trot and canter along the beach.

The routes take you through the village and along the beach, as well as through the countryside, sand dunes and bridleways behind Woolacombe. A very different way to see one of North Devon’s best-known beaches.

Spy on Seals at Godrevy Point near Gwithian

Cornwall is home to some brilliant marine conservation projects, including the National Lobster Hatchery in Padstow and the Cornish Seal Sanctuary near Helston, both of which do important work to protect marine life in our local waters.

If you’re staying near Hayle, the walk from Gwithian towards Godrevy Point is a lovely one, and there’s a good chance of spotting seals along the way. Mutton Cove is home to a colony of Grey Seals, who can often be seen resting in the sheltered bay below.

At low tide, you can watch them from the clifftops as they laze on the sand and rocky outcrops. Visit in January and you may even spot around 100 seals gathered together below – quite a sight from the coast path.

You have to sea this

@luxurycoastal

Let's stay in touch...

Sign up to the Luxury Coastal newsletter to find out about our latest properties, competitions and holiday inspiration.