Sheltered on the stunning Kingsbridge Estuary within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), Salcombe is a chic and charming resort in South Devon. Winding, narrow streets in the town centre coupled with an eclectic range of shops and eateries as well as breathtaking scenery makes this popular South Devon destination one to beat.

History

Salcombe was, and still is, a seafaring town. The trade peaked in the 1860s when it was home to 100 or so schooners (most of them locally built) shuttling to the Bahamas, the Mediterranean and the Azores for exotic fruit for the home market. It was a tough but lucrative business and profits from the trade provided the cash for many of the substantial Victorian houses that can be seen today.

Salcombe boasts its own maritime museum, including details of the historic locally built fruit schooners, smuggling and some hands-on stuff for the kids meaning you are able to explore the history of this fascinating waterfront town in more detail.

Things to Do

There are plenty of fantastic shops in Salcombe, many catering for watersports enthusiasts, as well as restaurants, galleries, and some very scenic pubs. There are two lovely beaches to explore too, North Sands and South Sands, both to the south and west of the town. A short ferry ride over the estuary will bring you to East Portlemouth which has a more substantial sandy stretch.

On North Sands is a 16th Century artillery tower which was destroyed in the civil war and another great attraction to visit is an elegant Edwardian house managed bay the National Trust which contains weird and wonderful collections of scientist and inventor, Otto Overbeck. The gardens here enjoy a balmy microclimate which encourages rare and tropical plants from all over the world and there are glorious views over the town and estuary too.

Events

Throughout the year, Salcombe hosts a plethora of fantastic events including the popular Salcombe Crabfest during April and of course, Salcombe Regatta in August.