Elberry Cove is a beautiful little swimming spot situated along the South West Coastal Path, between Brixham and Broadsands beach. The waters along this patch of the English Riviera are stunningly blue, complemented by the deep greens of the lush surrounding greenery. I’ve been trying to take in some sea swimming on a regular basis and this seemed like a great spot for a splash, as well as plenty of photo opportunities.
This pebble beach requires a little trekking but it does mean it’s a quieter spot for beachgoers. We took a boat from Torquay to Brixham and followed the coastal path through the welcome shade of woodland and over the hilly landscape. The walk from Broadsands is much shorter and flatter, but it lacks the fun of a boat trip.
In one corner of the beach lies the ruins of Lord Churston’s bathhouse. While it may look crumbling and peppered with plants growing through the walls, it isn’t cordoned off and there were a handful of explorers clambering over and through it when we visited.
What I love about this beach is the way forest and beach abruptly butt up against each other. There’s no gradual emergence of stone and sea as you descend from the forest. Instead, it’s as if these two terrains have clearly marked out their territories and avoid encroaching on each other.
From the water, the forest seems to rise up around the beach and on a warm day it wouldn’t be difficult to imagine yourself to be many miles away from the British coast. But its this particular spot that was such a favourite of Agatha Christie's that it became a location in her novel, The ABC Murders.
Elberry Cove is dog friendly too, so we were able to bring along the pooch to get his thumbs up too. This secluded spot certainly isn’t the quietest spot i’ve explored but it’s definitely worth a visit, I recommend packing swim gear, a bbq and maybe a murder mystery novel.
