If you’re heading to the South Hams on holiday this year, staying in or around Salcombe, you are unlikely to stuck for things to do.
Returning from a holiday there last week, here are some suggestions, particularly if you have small children to entertain.
1 – Hit the beach
If the weather is good, which is far from guaranteed during an English summer holiday, South Devon offers some of the best beaches in the country.
You are spoilt for choice within a short drive from Salcombe. Two of my personal favourites are Bigbury-on-Sea and Blackpool Sands.
Bigbury offers the opportunity to walk across to Burgh Island, when the tide is out, as well as the largest sandy beach in South Devon. You can even take your dog on the beach, although they are restricted to certain areas during the summer.
Blackpool Sands is just up the coast from Slapton Ley nature reserve, in Start Bay. It’s a shingle beach, well sheltered and with plenty to keep the children busy, including sandpits and a paddling pool.
It’s no coincidence that on both of my favourite South Devon beaches there is a Venus Beach Cafe.
2 – Take a boat trip
One of the best ways to see the area is to take a boat trip along the River Dart.
Starting in Dartmouth, we took a 90 minute boat trip upstream as far as Dittisham before returning to the mouth of the river.
You can also combine a boat trip on the Dart with a full day on the steam railway from Paignton to Kingswear, before taking a circular boat trip and then a train back to Paignton.
3 – Go crabbing
Catching crabs is a great way to spend a couple of hours with children. Here is a list of crabbing hotspots in South Devon.
Our favourite places for crabbing are the quay in Kingsbridge, anywhere in Salcombe and the pontoon at Dittisham. Squid seemed to work much better as bait than bacon!
4 – Visit the zoo
Somewhere we visit each time we go to South Devon is Paignton Zoo. After Marwell, this is one of my favourite zoos and contains a great range of animals.
If you get the chance to visit this summer, they have four lion cubs and also a baby orangutang, although you need to be patient to catch a glimpse of the latter as the mum is very protective!
5 – Shopping in Totnes
As an escape from the usual ‘clone town’ High Streets, Totnes offers a great and individual shopping experience.
There are loads of independently owned shops to browse as well as an extensive choice of cafés and restaurants.
We even spotted a ‘cat café’, a great spot for some ‘cat therapy’ and the only such experience in the world outside of Japan, apparently.
6 – Visit the Winking Prawn Café
Whenever I mention Salcombe, the conversation inevitably turns to the Winking Prawn Café at North Sands.
This is a very children friendly beach café near the beach at North Sands, offering excellent cream teas and ice creams from Salcombe Dairy. The clotted cream vanilla ice cream is my favourite.
We popped in on a rainy day to warm up with hot chocolates and the kids loved playing in the big dressing up box.
7 – Meet the miniature ponies
If you’re driving home to the South East from South Devon, you might want to go via Dartmoor National Park and the Miniature Pony Centre. This year was our first visit and we were very impressed with the place.
As well as getting to ‘meet’ the tiny horses, there are pony rides and displays. The favourite attraction for our two year old was getting to sit in the tractor and raise the bucket before beeping the horn – simple pleasures!
If you’re a regular visitor to the area, what are your favourite things to see and do?
And if this blog post has whetted your appetite for a holiday in Salcombe, I can heartily recommend Salcombe Holiday Homes for a great selection of luxury self-catering holiday homes.
