How to Spend a Perfect Weekend in Salcombe, England

Salcombe is a picturesque coastal town located in the South Hams district of Devon. It's known as a haven for Sailors, golden sand beaches, crabbing traditions, hiking trails and a rich arts scene. It's not cheap, today Salcombe is the most expensive place to buy a seaside home in the UK, holding a population of 1800 in winter and 19,000 in summer (FinestStays).

You can pack a lot into a weekend in Salcombe, but it's very possible to tick off each thing in this list, aided by the fact everything is closely linked and walkable!

The walk to North Sands

Saturday morning:

For breakfast you can try a traditional pasty from the Pasty Shack (I recommend the chicken, bacon and leek), or head to Captain Morgan’s Café for a full English (£12), with seats by the charming docks and coast.

Captain Morgan's

Then it’s time to dip in and out of the shops. Cranch’s Sweetshop, with its pink frontage and jars of old-fashioned sweets, is perfect for a pick & mix with vintage and popular modern types of sweets.

As you walk along the road, Salcombe Dairy tempts you with award-winning ice cream and handmade chocolate. The white chocolate honeycomb icecream and triple chocolate were my favourite flavours.

For stylish homeware, step inside Susie Watson Designs or Chattels, and if you’re in the mood for a little fashion, there’s plenty to choose from — nautical classics at Quba Sails, outdoor gear at Musto and Helly Hansen, or relaxed coastal clothing from Crew Clothing, Fat Face and White Stuff.

Art lovers can drop by the Rowbury Gallery to see prints and paintings by local artists. It's free to enter and all the pieces are for sale.

Saturday lunch:

From town it’s only a 15–20 minute walk to North Sands, where you can brave a dip in the sea before lunch.

Right on the beach is the iconic Winking Prawn — currently dressed up as “We’ve Got Crabs!” for the filming of The Roses starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Olivia Colman. The food here is excellent, offering everything from under-£10 plates to indulgent lobster dishes. Be sure to save room for dessert: either a scoop of Salcombe ice cream, or one of their famously oversized cookies and cakes.

See the menu here

Afterwards, continue uphill to Overbeck’s Garden, a subtropical oasis owned by the National Trust. The Edwardian garden covers 2.75 hectares and is filled with palms, bananas and exotic plants rarely seen thriving in the English climate. The climb takes around 15 minutes from North Sands, rewarding you with sweeping views across the estuary.

From Overbeck’s you can either head down to South Sands for a drink at The Harbour Hotel or even a trip to the spa on-site if you want to splash some cash. You can enjoy two hours of complimentary spa access when you book a 50-minute or longer spa treatment!

If you don't want the walking to stop, and feeling energetic, carry on along the South West Coast Path to Starehole Bay for dramatic cliffside views. The paths are clear and suitable for walkers of all abilities.

Saturday evening:

For dinner, keep things casual with a takeaway pizza or fish and chips. The Salcombe Takeaway Company is a local favourite. The pepperoni pizza with chilli oil and garlic mayo is especially good. Afterwards, see what’s on at The Kings Arms by Whitestrand Quay, where bands such as the Baker Street Boys are known to get everyone up and dancing. If quizzes are more your thing, both The Tap House and The Ferry Inn regularly run pub quizzes, some for charity and others with cash prizes.

Sunday morning:

From outside the Ferry Inn you can hop on the boat taxi across the estuary to East Portlemouth Beach, one of the prettiest and most expansive stretches of sand in the area. The crossing takes just a few minutes and costs a few pounds, but it’s a real treat to see Salcombe from the water. Once there, you can grab a hot drink and a snack from the small beach stand that opens at 10am, before spending a few hours sunbathing on the golden sands or paddling in the clear shallows.

Sunday lunch and evening:

When you’re ready to stretch your legs, follow the coastal path to Gara Rock. The walk from East Portlemouth takes around 45 minutes if you’re strolling, longer if you stop to take in the sweeping views of the estuary and the open sea. It’s part of the South West Coast Path, so the route is well signposted, though expect some hills along the way. The reward is worth every step. Gara Rock is a boutique hotel perched high above the cliffs, with panoramic views that feel almost Mediterranean on a sunny day.

Even if you’re not staying overnight, it’s worth booking into the Gara Rock Restaurant or the more casual Gara Rock Lounge. Both serve locally sourced food, from West Country cheeses and Devon beef to fresh fish landed just down the coast. The Sunday roasts are particularly good, but so too are the lighter dishes if you’d rather not indulge heavily before the walk back. On warm days you can sit outside on the terrace, sipping a glass of wine and watching the horizon melt into the sea — it’s one of the most beautiful dining spots in Devon.

For those who fancy something extra indulgent, Gara Rock also has a small cinema and a spa with an indoor pool, outdoor hot tub and treatment rooms. If you’re planning a romantic weekend, this is the place to book a couple’s massage before heading back down the coast. Families are well catered for too, with picnic hampers available to order and plenty of space for children to play around the clifftop lawns.

You can either return to Salcombe the way you came, retracing the coastal path back to East Portlemouth, or carry on exploring further along the South West Coast Path before looping back.

If you don't dine in Gara, round off your weekend with dinner at The Crab Shed, renowned for its locally landed seafood. The menu changes depending on what’s been brought in that day, but crab and lobster are always a highlight. Sitting by the water with the freshest catch possible is the perfect way to end two days in this very special town.

I hope you enjoy!