It’s just seven minutes by Shanks’ pony to the glittering sea at North Sands. Try a little mono-fin swimming or hunting luminescent glow-worms. Or head to wide and sandy Thurlestone Sands for sunbathing or spotting rare birds in the nature reserve. From here, it’s a short hop to the iconic South Devon Coastal Path.
Head to Slapton Sands and Torcross Beach for fine water activities including surfing, windsurfing and canoeing. Or, for sandcastles and swimming, try Blackpool Sands, a long crescent with aquamarine seas backed by emerald-green wooded cliffs. For further splashing, Dartmouth Heated Outdoor Pool has all the bases covered.
Head out with Sea Kayak Devon to get up close and personal with seals and dolphins and explore hidden coves and tiny beaches. Take a safari through Dartmouth Zoo to see African lions, Iberian wolves and bearded dragons. Or say hi to sheep, goats, hedgehogs and guinea pigs at Totnes Rare Breeds Farm.
Ride the South Devon Railway through unspoilt countryside overflowing with wildlife along the Dart valley. Shoot mum and dad at Battlefield Live. Climb and coasteer with Devon Activities. Or go back to a piratical past aboard a full-scale replica of the Golden Hind.
Just say the word and we’ll summon up our fleet of boats so you can drop in on hidden coves or hop a secluded beach. Or stay on dry land, to walk to North Sands in just seven minutes for safe swimming and views of the Salcombe Estuary, Sunny Cove and Wolf Rock.
Towel off and take a casual wander down Salcombe’s Fore Street, hotbed of cosy book shops, quaint coffee parlours and beachwear boutiques and home to big brands such as Jack Wills, Crew Clothing and Quba Sails. Or take a walk on the wild side, around the art galleries, boat-building yards and ‘live’ food stalls.
For surf lessons with video analysis, head to Discovery Surf, or try stand-up paddleboarding with Waterborn. Take the steep and scenic walk from Salcombe to Bolt Head. Or follow the East Portlemouth and Gara Rock Trail along the South West Coast Path above the harbour, passing the romantic ruins of Fort Charles.
Discover a hidden paradise of subtropical gardens at Overbeck’s Museum. Learn about local gin and distil your own unique bottle at Salcombe Distilling Company. Charter a fishing boat from Whitestrand. Work on your handicap at Thurlestone and Bigbury. Or spice things up with a trip to the South Devon Chilli Farm.
