From country to coast, there are many places in South Devon that offer perfect vantage points for watching incredible sunrises. Here are just some of our favourites.
The perfect way to hail the start of a new day, sunrise watching is truly magical. If you’d like to find out some of the top places to watch sunrises in South Devon, keep on reading. Once you’ve picked your favourite location, just remember to plan your route carefully before you set off and pack warm gear and torches as you’ll be setting off in the dark.
Start Point
Start Point is Devon’s most southerly point, stretching out for nearly a mile into the sea. A sublime beauty spot as well as a designated SSSI, it is one of our favourite places for sunrises in South Devon. If you’re lucky, dolphins and porpoises may make an appearance in the waters below too.
Paignton
The jewel in the crown of the English Riviera, the palm-tree, beach-hut lined seaside resort of Paignton has long been a favourite for days by the sea. It also happens to be one of the best places to watch sunrises in South Devon too, either from its traditional pier, seafront prom or beach.
Haytor
For somewhere a little different, Haytor within Dartmoor National Park is another great spot for sunrising watching. Thanks to its elevated position and uninterrupted views, it provides a uniquely beautiful vantage point to watch the sun burst over the horizon.
Berry Head
Berry Head is a headland and National Nature Reserve, featuring an iconic lighthouse and Napoleonic Fort. Standing 200 feet above the English Channel, it affords jaw-dropping views across Torbay and beyond and an unrivalled position from which to watch sunrises paint the sky.
Hope’s Nose
On the opposite side of Torbay to Berry Head is Hope’s Nose, a coastal headland jutting out from Torquay. Overlooking Torbay and Babbacombe Bay, it’s beautiful at any hour yet is particularly spectacular when the tangerine streaks of sunrise light up the horizon.
Budleigh Salterton
The charming town of Budleigh Salterton is home to picturesque gardens and a 2-mile-long pebble beach that unfurls for over 2 miles along the Jurassic Coast. Extending from Littleham Cove in the west to Otterhead in the east, it’s perfect for watching the sun rise with a flask of hot tea at low tide.
Great Staple Tor
Great Staple Tor is located on the western fringes of Dartmoor National Park. Its peak can be reached after a relatively short walk from nearby parking areas and offers superb sunrise panoramas from the top – boasting magnificent vistas of a sun-streaked South Devon.
Feeling inspired? Take a look through our luxury Devon retreats here.
