Features
When we head to Teignmouth and Shaldon, it’s like getting two brilliant crabbing locations for the price of one. The kids absolutely love it here because we can split the day — starting at Teignmouth’s Back Beach in the morning, then heading over to Shaldon in the afternoon for some rockpool exploring.
🎣 The crabbing itself
On the Teignmouth side, the Back Beach is perfect for crabbing. You’ve got calm water, a sandy edge, and loads of spots to drop a line from the quay or pontoon. The crabs here seem to be particularly bold — we’ve had buckets full in under an hour on a good day.
Across the water in Shaldon, you get a slightly different experience. You can crab from the ferry steps or near the harbour wall, and at low tide the beach reveals rockpools that keep the kids busy for ages. It’s a proper mix of traditional quay crabbing and hands-on rockpool hunting.
🪱 Where to get bait and gear
Both villages cater for crabbing fans. In Teignmouth, you’ll find little shops along the back beach selling buckets, lines, and pre-packed bait. Over in Shaldon, there are beachside kiosks and small gift shops that do the same. If you’re picky about bait, I’d still bring some bacon or mackerel from home, but honestly, you can easily get everything locally.
🚗 Parking
Teignmouth has several car parks close to Back Beach — Quay Road Car Park is the handiest. Shaldon’s Ringmore Car Park is just a short walk to the waterfront. In summer, both can get busy, so it’s worth getting there early, especially if you want to bag a spot near the water.
🍦 Nearby facilities & food
Teignmouth’s Back Beach has cafés, pubs, and ice cream huts right along the shore — you’re never far from a snack or a coffee. Shaldon is smaller, but it’s got a couple of lovely tea rooms, a bakery, and a good fish and chip shop. Toilets are available on both sides, which is always a win when you’ve got kids.
🦺 Safety & accessibility
Teignmouth’s quay is flat and pram-friendly, but there’s no barrier between you and the water, so supervision is a must. Shaldon’s ferry steps can be slippery, and the rockpools are uneven, so I stick close to the younger ones when we’re over there.
📝 Final thoughts
Teignmouth and Shaldon give you a proper Devon seaside day out — two different crabbing experiences, plenty of facilities, and that holiday vibe that makes you want to linger. Whether you stick to one side or hop on the ferry and do both, you’ll leave with a bucket of memories (and hopefully a bucket of crabs).