BEACHES

Beesands Beach (0.7 miles north): A 1.5-mile stretch of shingle backed by a freshwater lake. It’s highly dog-friendly and features a great seafood cafe (Britannia on the Beach) and the village pub (The Cricket Inn). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Great Mattiscombe Sand (0.7 miles south): A beautiful, secluded sandy beach that's a bit of a hidden gem, accessible via the South West Coast Path near Start Point. It's quieter than the main beaches and is great for swimming, though it requires a bit of a hike from the Start Point car park. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Lannacombe Beach (1.5 miles west): A quiet, sheltered sandy cove with rocky outcrops that is excellent for rockpooling. It's dog-friendly year-round and features a small car park right by the beach. [1, 2, 3]
Slapton Sands (1.5 miles north): A massive, award-winning 3-mile shingle beach that spans from Torcross up to Strete Gate. It's very popular for water sports, dog walking, and families, and offers a level walk directly from the nearby parking bays. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Blackpool Sands (approx. 5 miles north): A stunning, privately-owned Blue Flag shingle beach known for its clear, turquoise waters. It is highly accessible and offers great amenities, including a beachfront cafe and water sports rentals. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

For the most up-to-date accessibility and facility details, it's worth checking the ⁠Visit South Devon or ⁠South Devon Beach Bible guides. [1, 2]

BOAT TRIPS

Sea N Shore RIB Rides: Depart from Whitestrand Pontoon in Salcombe to take high-speed, 2-hour coastal tours. Their itineraries specifically feature the ruined village of Hallsands, Start Point Lighthouse, and the wreck at Prawle Point. You can check availability and packages on the ⁠Sea N Shore website. [1, 2]
Salcombe Cruises: For a more relaxed, educational experience, you can take authentic estuary and creek cruises on a traditional Salcombe launch. These 1-hour and 90-minute guided tours focus on local wildlife (like the resident ospreys) and maritime history. Details and bookings are available via ⁠Salcombe Cruises. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Adventure South: Located on Mill Bay Beach, they offer guided water-based excursions, paddleboarding, and kayak rentals for exploring the coastline at your own pace. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Horse Riding

There are no equestrian centres located directly in Hallsands, but you can find a couple of excellent riding schools and hacking facilities a short drive away in the South Hams region. [1, 2]

Location: Slapton, Kingsbridge (Approx. 10 miles north of Hallsands)
Drive Time: About 20 minutes
Services: This family-run, British Horse Society (BHS) approved centre offers friendly, progressive lessons and supervised hacks for all skill levels, from beginners (starting at age 5) to advanced riders. You can ride their horses or ponies or bring your own.
Website: Check ⁠Dittiscombe Equestrian Centre for contact details and lesson availability. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Location: Wrangaton, South Brent (Approx. 20 miles northwest of Hallsands)
Drive Time: About 40 minutes
Services: A 5-star BHS commended facility. It features excellent indoor and outdoor arenas. They offer everything from introductory lessons for small children to scenic hacking and gallops across Dartmoor for highly competent riders.
Website: Book online and check requirements on Cheston Farm Equestrian Centre. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

WALKING

• Beesands and Hallsands Circular
  • Distance: 3.75 miles (6 km)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Route Highlights: This popular loop starts at the ⁠Beesands Beach car park. It tracks along the high clifftops south to the ruins of Hallsands, before turning inland through the quiet country hamlets of Bickerton and Beeson. Note that the formal clifftop viewing platform at Hallsands may have restricted access due to cliff instability, but the ruins remain visible from the path. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
• Start Point Lighthouse Walk
  • Distance: 1.3 miles (2 km)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Route Highlights: A short, direct route starting from the ⁠Start Point Car Park down the old lighthouse tarmac road to the absolute southernmost tip of Devon. This is an exceptional spot for viewing seabirds and seals. [1, 2]
• South Hallsands to Start Point & Great Mattiscombe Sand Loop
  • Distance: 5.4 miles (8.7 km)
  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Route Highlights: Starting from the car park at South Hallsands, this loop takes you past the jagged headlands of Peartree Point out to the iconic Start Point Lighthouse. It drops down to the beautiful sandy beach at Great Mattiscombe Sand before circling back through rural country lanes. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• East Prawle to Hallsands Cross-Country Circuit
  • Distance: Approx. 7–8 miles
  • Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous
  • Route Highlights: Ideal for hikers looking for a full-day excursion. This trail starts at East Prawle, utilizes ancient, wildflower-lined bridleways inland to reach Hallsands, and returns entirely along the dramatic, exposed coast path via Lannacombe Beach. [1, 2, 4]

• Footwear: Coastal paths are heavily exposed to the Atlantic, featuring steep, rocky, and sometimes slippery clay sections—sturdy hiking boots are highly recommended. [1, 2, 4]
• Terrain Care: Coastal paths can get overgrown with gorse and brambles; wearing long trousers will protect your legs. [, 2]
• Dog Friendliness: Most sections of the coast path, as well as the beaches at Beesands, Hallsands, and Great Mattiscombe Sand, are completely dog-friendly year-round. [, 2, 3, 4, 5]