A fantastic dog friendly beach. Parking along the beaches edge is free for one hour. Carparks available at both ends, including 3 public toilets & a fantastic little café outside the commodore hotel everyday.

Attractions The Great Outdoors Family & Kids

Instow beach

Welcome to Instow Beach, a dog-friendly and stunning stretch of golden sand located on the North Devon coast in England. This picturesque beach is a popular destination for families, sunbathers, and water sports enthusiasts alike, offering a wide range of activities and breathtaking views.

At Instow, you’ll find miles of soft sand, perfect for building sandcastles, playing games, or just soaking up the sun. The beach is on the edge of the river Torridge, part of the Torridge estuary.

You can take a leisurely stroll along the beach, enjoy a picnic on the sand, or simply relax and watch the world go by.

For families, Instow sands offers a safe and shallow paddling area, making it a popular destination for families with young children. There are also plenty of amenities nearby, including toilets, showers, and cafes, as well as a large car park for visitors. A word of caution though, the water is not safe for swimming. There are many, many options nearby if you would like to get really wet!

Beyond the beach, Instow is a charming village with a selection of shops, pubs, and restaurants, pick up souvenirs, or just enjoy the relaxed atmosphere.

Frequently there is a coffee shop from an old caravan (very stylish) with chairs outside, plus Instow is the perfect place to each some fish & chips from “Mr Chippy” and watch the sun go down over Bideford and Appledore (it takes 5 minutes by car and they’ll still be warm when you get there!).

So, whether you’re looking for a day of sun, sea, and sand, or a more active adventure, Instow is the perfect destination. With its stunning scenery, wide range of activities, and excellent facilities, Instow is the perfect place to escape, relax, and recharge.

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Instow Beach Reviews

Below are the latest reviews of Instow Beach.

4.6

Based on 817 reviews

Review on

Address: Instow Beach, Bideford EX39, UK

Julie Condron

2 months ago

First beach i visited when i moved down. Love it special memories

Peta Ashbee

2 months ago

I love the beach, because I have 3 dogs, and this is a dog beach. It is not a beach to sit and play on or to paddle, it is known as the 5th dirtiest beach in UK. But nice for a walk with your dog and meet other dogs and owners, some come back year after year, because they can take their dogs. There are plenty of watering holes for the humans, and dogs are welcome. You do get the little boats and the odd paddle boarder, but not recommended for most people because of the water quality.

Daniel O'Grady

2 months ago

One of the best places to walk our dogs. Plenty of space for them to run around. A great view of Appledore, and at the right time of year a cheeky Hockings ice cream or two

Donna DaSilva

2 months ago

Would rate 4.8 out of 5 but don’t know how. Instow is great for views, sand dunes, and best of all, dog walks. The dogs love all the space to run around. The sand dunes are also a beautiful sight. Go to the top of them and look across the vast river over to the pretty town of Appledore. The only reason I took 0.2 off is because the river isn’t clean nor suitable to swim in. Overall, strongly consider visiting Instow if you live in North Devon. You won’t be disappointed sitting down in the Sun.

simon smart

4 years ago

A nice beach. Very good pub food but parking can be tight on the high street so would advise heading to the beach parking lots to avoid disappointment. We ate at the instow arms and were happy with the food and the service. A busy place in the summer

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Location

The address for Instow beach we have is: Instow beach, Bideford. Use the map below for a closer view. Do check with your host for a definite location.

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Here are the related things to see and do Instow beach which are also in and around Bideford.

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