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Serenity Stays Holiday Rentals in South Devon

Salcombe

The Santorini of south Devon. Picturesque beaches as far as the eye can see – oh and Salcombe Gin Distilary!

Britain’s answer to Santorini, Salcombe is by far one of my favourite places to visit in South Devon. This gorgeous town is situated in the South Hams district of Devon within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). With a distinctly Mediterranean feel, palm trees litter the colourful, pastel streets of Salcombe. Wander down Salcombe’s narrow winding side streets and you will discover cafes and shops galore!

Beaches to visit on you holiday in Salcombe, South Devon

Beaches Near Salcombe

North Sands – family fun and fine food

A short, pleasant stroll from the centre of Salcombe will take you to North Sands, a popular family beach whose shallow water makes it perfect for paddling and swimming safely. Dogs are welcome to join in the fun all year round too. When the tide is in the sand all but disappears – a great excuse to head to the Winking Prawn, a beachside restaurant that serves some of the best food in Salcombe.

South Sands – ideal for Water Sports

Half a mile south of North Sands, you’ll come to South Sands, another popular Salcombe beach with excellent facilities. To save some energy for your day of sand and sea, why not take the seasonal South Sands Ferry from Whitestrand Quay? South Sands is home to Sea Kayak Salcombe, from whom you can hire kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and more. Bo’s Beach Café provides refreshments so there’s everything you need for a whole day out. Please note that dogs are not permitted on the beach between May and September.

East Portlemouth – sandcastles, sunbathing & swimming

East Portlemouth manages to be beautiful, conveniently located and well served with excellent facilities, while also being relatively quiet for most of the year. Sitting on the other side of the estuary from the town, this dog-friendly beach (actually a series of sandy coves) is best accessed by the all-year-round passenger ferry, which departs from the ferry steps. Venus Café provides high-quality snacks, drinks and meals on site.

Mill Bay – a sizeable sandy beach great for spreading out

When the tide’s out, you can easily walk the 300 metres from East Portlemouth beach to Mill Bay along the sand (although due care is advised to avoid getting cut off). When it’s in there’s an easy alternative route, so the East Portlemouth Ferry is still the best way to get there from Salcombe. There is a small car park at Mill Bay for those who would rather drive or are coming from the other direction. Mill Bay is a great spot for rockpooling and it’s dog-friendly too.

Gara Rock beach – one of Salcombe’s best kept secrets

Gara Rock beach illustrates the amazing contrasts provided by our part of South Devon. Around one mile from Mill Bay car park, you’ll come to this secluded sandy cove. Gara Rock beach is close enough to reach in 15 minutes or so on foot but secluded enough to provide a feeling of quiet serenity even in the summer season. Craggy rocks line the edges of the beach, giving excellent opportunities for exploring the rockpools with children.
Eating out at Restaurants in Salcombe, South Devon

Eating Out

Salcombe Harbour Hotel

Cliff Road, Salcombe | harbourhotels.co.uk/salcombe/the-jetty | 01548 844 444

Dick and Wills

Fore St, Salcombe | dickandwills.co.uk | 01548 843408

The Winking Prawn

Beadon Rd, Salcombe | winkingprawngroup.co.uk | 01548 842326

Gara Rock

East Portlemouth, Near Salcombe | gararock.com/eat-drink | 01548 845946

Boatswains Brasserie

20 Fore St | boatswainsattheka.com | 01548 842202

East Soar Walker's Hut

East Farm, East Soar, Salcombe | eastsoaroutdoorexperience.co.uk/walkers_hut | 01548 561904

The Salcombe Coffee Co Ltd

73 Fore St, Salcombe | salcombecoffeecompany.com | 01548 842319

Sailor V

36 Fore Street, Salcombe | cafesailorv.co.uk | 01548 843555

The Wardroom

19 Fore St, Salcombe | facebook.com/thewardroomsalcombe | 01548 843333

Captain Morgans Cafe

22 Fore St, Salcombe | captain-morgans.co.uk | 01548 843262
Things to Do in Salcombe, South Devon

What To Do

  • Go crabbing off Victoria Quay in Salcombe.
  • Have a walk along the golden sandy beach at East Portlemouth.
  • Spot the wild birds at the North Sands Nature Reserve.
  • Walk the stunning South West Coast Path to Hope Cove.
  • Watch the Salcombe fishermen return with their catch of the day.
  • Go rock pooling at North Sands beach at low tide.
  • Wander along South Milton Sands and spot the hole in Thurlestone Rock.
  • Go Blackberry picking at Snapes Point.
  • Spend a day taking part in the Salcombe Town Regatta activities.
  • Yoga & Meditation with Sunkissed Yoga or The Yoga Body

Over Beck's Garden

Tucked away on the cliffs above Salcombe is this hidden paradise: a subtropical garden, bursting with colour, filled with exotic and rare plants and surprises round every corner, which surrounds the seaside home of scientist and inventor Otto Overbeck. The views from the garden over the estuary and coast are truly breathtaking.
 
Shapitor, Salcombe
nationaltrust.org.uk/overbecks-garden
01548 842893
overbecks@nationaltrust.org.uk

Salcombe Gin Distillery & Bar

The boathouse is beautiful Distillery and Bar is nestled in Island Street; the traditional boat building quarter of Salcombe, now also renowned for its growing arts scene. Come and join us for a drink and watch Salcombe Gin distillation in action on our beautiful 450l copper still Provident or admire the view over the water from our bar’s balcony.
 
The Boathouse, 28 Island Street, 28 Island Street, Salcombe
salcombegin.com
01548 288180

Salcombe HarSPA

Award winning luxury Spa situated in one Salcombe’s most reputable Hotels. HarSpa offers a selection of spa days and treatments using their own product range. Partnering with leading luxury range ESPA which combines holistic therapies with modern day techniques to create unique treatments of the very highest quality, using only the purest of natural ingredients.
 
Salcombe Harbour Hotel, Cliff Road
harbourhotels.co.uk/salcombe/spa-and-gym
01548 844444

Paper bird island

Paper Bird Island is a creative paradise situated in the beautiful South Devon coastal town
of Salcombe. A space to inspire and encourage the inner child in everyone!
 
Unit 1 Brewery Quay, Island St
paperbirdisland.com

Cranch's Sweet Shop Est 1869

Cranch’s Sweetshop is a proper old-fashioned sweetshop crammed with fantastic retro sweets, pick-n-mix, scrummy fudge, and yummy chocolate.
 
78 Fore St, Salcombe
facebook.com/Cranchs.Sweetshop
01548 843493

Tours

Tours in and around Salcombe are very water based.

You can catch a ferry across the estuary to East Portlemouth or up the river to Kingsbridge.

But if you are looking for a different type of tour you can hire SUP’s, Kayaks, Canoes, and bikes locally on the high street.

Salcombe Ferry
Kingsbridge to Salcombe
South sands ferry

Trips

Whitestrand boat hire
 
Hire a boat from the quay and head up or down the estuary.
If you are heading down the estuary you could pop to one of the small coves and hop off the boat and set up camp – who says you can’t enjoy your own private beach!
  • Sunny Cove Beach
  • Smalls Cove
Or head up the estuary and check out Kingsbridge and all the small inlets on the way up… Be sure not to lose your bearings.
Out and about in Salcombe, South Devon

Out & About

Walk the Salcombe to Bolt Head 2.75 mile walk on the South West Coast Path and take in the breath-taking view of Starehole Bay. (maps on sale from Salcombe Information Centre)

Watch the British Firework Championships take place from Plymouth Hoe during August.

Visit the Church of St Peter the Poor Fisherman at Revelstoke in Noss Mayo.

Walk the East Portlemouth to Gara Rock 3.75 mile walk on the South West Coast Path and take in the stunning view of the famous Salcombe Bar. (maps on sale from Salcombe Information Centre)

Visit Salcombe Crab Festival on the first May Bank Holiday weekend in Island Street, Salcombe.

Walk the AONB Salcombe to Snapes Point 2.75 mile walk overlooking the beautiful Kingsbridge Estuary. (maps on sale from Salcombe Information Centre)

Spend the day taking a leisurely stroll along the River Avon at Loddiswell.

Go Geocaching in the South Hams Countryside and along the South West Coast Path.

Salcombe town is lined with boutique shops, high street brands and independent producers, as well as local art galleries and gift shops – you can spend hours browsing through the town. Some of the best restaurants and bars are in Salcombe, serving locally caught fresh seafood and locally farmed produce. Don’t forget to try some delicious Salcombe Dairy Ice-cream or the award winning Salcombe Gin – both have in town shops and distilleries you can visit.

Events in Salcombe, South Devon

What's On

Featured Events in the South Hams.

Click the links below to see What’s On within the specific month.
 

Local Accommodation​

Currently we do not have any Properties Available in Salcombe, we do however have properties in Kingsbridge, Bigbury on Sea and Dartmouth.

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Beaches
Eating Out
What To Do
Out & About
What's On
Local Accommodation

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