If you think you have to fly abroad for a luxury beach break, think again. Salcombe and the surrounding area in South Devon is an absolutely beautiful spot with huge white sandy beaches, turquoise waters, amazing restaurants and great shopping. Aka, the perfect staycation location.
Here are our tried-and-tested recommendations for how to spend a weekend (or longer) there.
Where to stay
Gara Rock
The first thing you notice when you pull into Gara Rock is the view. Perched on a clifftop, the hotel looks out across the beautiful South Devon sea, which can be enjoyed from the hotel restaurant thanks to its floor to ceiling windows.
From the moment you step inside, it feels luxurious. As do the bedrooms which have been lovingly decorated. We stayed in The Signal House, which is a beautiful two bedroom suite complete with a sun terrace, kitchen and two gorgeous bathrooms. Plus the kitchen comes complete with snacks - anywhere that leaves a bowl of Tunnock's wafer bars on the worktop gets five stars from us.
We spent our days lounging by the outdoor pool when it was sunny, and on damper days there is an indoor swimming pool which also has a sauna and a jacuzzi. There is also a 12-seater cinema room in the hotel. On check in you are given a list of films and you can book it out for your own personal screening.
There is a gorgeous little beach situated a 10-minute walk down a very steep hill which we spent a lot of time at, and the coastal path goes directly past the hotel so it's the perfect starting point for a walk along the cliffs.
As for the food... where to begin. The Ploughmans and caesar salad on the lunch menu were highlights.
At dinner we loved the corn ribs and the Gara Tarka battered cod and chips. Their hand stretched sourdough pizzas were delicious too. The perfect spot to unwind.
Rooms at Gara Rock start from £260 per night on a B&B basis, find out more here.
Hope Cove House
Nestled at the top of the cliffs overlooking Inner Hope bay, with the most gorgeous view of the sea, Hope Cove House is a beautiful spot to stay. It has a home from home feel, with nine lovingly renovated bedrooms - we stayed in a family room which had a window seat looking out to the coast, Malin & Goetz products in the bathroom and a balcony too. We loved that there was no TV in our room - a great excuse to really switch off.
We felt instantly relaxed as soon as we arrived, and enjoyed spending afternoons in the lounge area which has an amazing array of books and magazines, a log burner and endless choices of wines and cocktails to try from their bar. The restaurant is incredible and we especially loved the butternut squash risotto we enjoyed on our first lunch there. The breakfasts are worth a shout too - I’m still thinking about the fluffy, delicious, homemade croissants and jam they served up. Perfect fodder to prepare you for a day at the beach.
We were there in October and it was incredibly mild. We enjoyed daily swims (with wetsuits) at the beach below the hotel. If you’re lucky you’ll spot a seal or two while you’re on the beach, who swim very close to the shoreline. The hotel also hosts a number of yoga and art retreats too, so there is something for everyone. Already dreaming about our return.
Rooms at Hope Cove House start from £165 per night on a B&B basis, find out more here.
Millbrook Inn, Southpool
The Millbrook Inn is a beautiful, quaint old pub located in the tiny village of Southpool, which backs onto a brook, with amazing food, and two lovely cottages attached to it called Land and Sea. We stayed in Land, which has two bedrooms, sleeping four people downstairs, while upstairs has a huge open plan dining, kitchen and living area with massive comfy sofas and a TV.
On arrival we found delicious fresh homemade focaccia bread waiting for us, and sausages made in their restaurant, cured meats, as well as eggs and local cider. The pub is located across the road and is the perfect location for dinner or lunch, and you can even take pudding home with you if you so wish.
It’s a short drive to Mill Bay beach which is a huge stretch of white sand and sea that could easily be mistaken for somewhere more exotic if the sea temperatures weren’t quite so chilly.
Cottages at Millbrook Inn start from £180, with a two night minimum stay. Find out more here.
Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa
After a five hour plus drive from London, Harbour Beach Club Hotel & Spa was the perfect place to recover. Situated right on the beach at South Sands (a 5-minute drive from central Salcombe), the hotel is all about the views.
We stayed in the incredible Penthouse Suite which has panoramic views of Salcombe and the coastline, best appreciated on its balcony under a blanket with a gin and tonic - the hotel offers complimentary Salcombe Gin in all the bedrooms. It also had a huge bathroom, as well as a super king bed.
Once we’d dropped our bags off to the room, we headed straight to the hotel’s spa which has a swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, treatment rooms and a great gym.
The best thing about the Harbour Beach Club is the proximity to the sea though, which is quite literally on your doorstep. If you don’t have your own wetsuit, the hotel provides them as well as wellies for local walks. Going for a dip in the sea, followed by a visit to the jacuzzi then tucking into their amazing buffet breakfast was the best start to the day.
Dinner at their restaurant was pretty delicious too - a prawn massaman curry and the sea bream were highlights.
Rooms at Salcombe Harbour Hotel & Spa start from £273 per night on a B&B basis, find out more here.
Where to eat and drink around Salcombe
Hope Cove House
As a regular visitor to this part of Devon, this is honestly some of the best food I’ve had in the area. The owners of Hope Cove House used to own restaurants in London, but moved to Devon to set up the hotel a few years back. Its restaurant overlooks the sea and we enjoyed everything from roasted cauliflower to a whole turbot, and many delicious desserts. The wine selection is amazing too. Make sure you go.
The Millbrook Inn
If it’s a cosy pub for a Sunday roast you’re after, this is the place. A 30-minute drive from Salcombe, it offers amazing food from delicious Sunday roasts with huge Yorkshires and cauliflower cheese to a very special beef and ale pie we enjoyed one evening there. Not only that but there is a log fire and on a Sunday a local band plays in the courtyard.
The Jetty
The Jetty is a very special spot with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea in the centre of Salcombe. Highlights included their scallops, black pudding and apple and their daily catch of the day. The cocktails are worth a try too - the smoked Negronis are worth a mention. A performance in itself.
Winking Prawn
A local favourite, this low key cafe and restaurant sits just off the beach at North Sands bay. Unsurprisingly, The Winking Prawn is great for a pint of prawns, a whole cracked crab, grilled fish or a decent sandwich. Their Cracking Prawn Juice ale is delicious too. Nicer than it sounds!
Beach House
Located just above South Milton, which is arguably one of the best beaches in the area, Beach House is the perfect lunch spot on a sunny day overlooking the sea. You can either sit inside and enjoy the restaurant menu with dishes like fritto misto and crab linguine, or order bang bang prawns and salt and pepper squid from the take away menu and sit on their tables outside. Their breakfast baps are pretty good too.
Salcombe Dairy
Ice cream is essential when you’re by the sea, and Salcombe Dairy offers the best in the area. Try their salted caramel or blonde chocolate ice cream. Get it in a cone or in a tub to take home!
The Ferry Inn
This is a great old pub that dates back to 1842. The Ferry Inn's garden backs onto the sea and it’s a lovely spot for a drink at the end of the day.
What to do in Salcombe
Hit the beach
No matter the season, the beaches in the area will not disappoint. Most of them are ruled by the tides so make sure you check the status of the sea before turning up. In my opinion the best beaches are South Milton Sands, Mill Bay and Bigbury on Sea. When the tide is out at Bigbury on Sea you can walk across to the magical Burgh Island, which is the location of one of England’s oldest pubs, The Pilchard Inn, which dates back to 1336. It is absolutely tiny, but a lovely spot to enjoy a pint and a packet of crisps.
Shopping
Salcombe has an amazing selection of shops, perfect to buy everything from homeware (take a look at Brocante), to clothes (check out Busby & Fox) to sweets (there is an amazing old school sweet shop, Cranch’s). The Salcombe Distilling Company is worth a visit too as well as the Salcombe Dairy Chocolate Factory.
Totnes Market
If you have a car, then a visit to Totnes is well worth it. It’s a gorgeous market town full of vintage clothes shops and antiques stores. On Fridays and Saturdays there is a regular antique market 9am-4pm where you can pick up some bargains. There is also a brilliant restaurant called The Bull Inn, which also has rooms you can stay in.
Lottie Lumsden is the Group Entertainment Director at Harper’s Bazaar, ELLE, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Red and Prima. Lottie heads up the entertainment and celebrity talent strategy across these Luxury and Women’s Lifestyle titles, which includes booking talent for print and digital magazine covers, brand events such as Harper’s Bazaar’s Women of the Year Awards and the ELLE Style Awards, as well as talent led video interview franchises.She has interviewed everyone from Sophie Turner to Olivia Cooke, and Kim Kardashian (twice), as well as Haim during a visit to LA for their cover shoot. Lottie has secured the likes of Anya Taylor-Joy, Jodie Comer, Paul Mescal, Florence Pugh, Greta Gerwig, Julianne Moore, Cate Blanchett, Saoirse Ronan and Cara Delevingne for covers.Lottie has 20 years’ experience working as an entertainment journalist.When not securing A-list names, Lottie can usually be found watching the latest must watch TV show or out on a run.
Follow Lottie on Instagram at @lottielumsden
