I found a stunning UK beach with crystal clear water and no crowds – it felt like being in Greece

FINDING a pretty UK beach devoid of crowds can often feel like looking for a needle in a haystack. But in Devon there is a beach spot I will always head to for both peace and feeling as if I’ve been transported to another country. The mix of pebble and shingle beach feels more like Greece Credit: Getty Elberry Cove sits between Paignton and Brixham in Devon Credit: Cyann Fielding Elberry Cove sits on the South West Coast Path between Paignton and Brixham. Instead of the busier Broadsands Beach next door, head along the South West Coast Path for 15 minutes from Broadsands Beach car park and you’ll reach the cove. Sign up for the Travel newsletter Thank you! Alternatively, you could head down Elberry Lane where you will find a path down to the beach, which is less rocky and steep. Every time I have visited, that moment where the beach comes into view makes me feel warm and fuzzy, and as if I have been picked up and dumped on some remote Greek island. Read more on travel inspo The beach features a mixture of shingle and pebbles, so I would recommend bringing a chair as well as beach shoes. And then as you head down to the water, you’ll find crystal clear water that is actually relatively warm. At the eastern end of the cove there is even a ruin of an 18th-century bathhouse, that was built for Lord Churston. It essentially let him swim directly into the sea through a gated doorway. Most read in Travel At one end of the beach there is even an historic ruin Credit: English Riviera Tourist Board And the spot features in one of Agatha Christie’s novels Credit: English Riviera Tourist Board The bathhouse also had an early version of a hot tub, which was heated by a fire. The cove is even believed to have connections to the famous crime author Agatha Christie, who grew up in the area, and used it as a setting in her novel The ABC Murders. The cove is a designated waterskiing area too, which means when sitting on the beach you can watch them whizz up and down. You can swim off the beach, but make sure to not enter the ski lane. The cove is home to large eelgrass beds as well, which are where many seahorses breed. I’ve even been lucky enough to spot seals from the beach. You can get to the beach by walking along the South West Coast Path Credit: Getty And make sure to keep an eye out for seals Credit: English Riviera Tourist Board And I’m not the only one who thinks the beach is special… One recent visitor said in a review: “This picturesque location boasts mesmerizing blue-green waters reminiscent of a tropical paradise. “Personally, I consider it to be the most captivating spot in the region.” Another visitor said: “Elberry Cove is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve stumbled into a secret.” Don’t expect a cafe or toilets at the beach (you’ll need to go back to Broadsands for that) and dogs are permitted year-round. With all the lovely weather in the UK right now, you know where you’ll find me… Comment now