Salcombe

The earliest written record of Salcombe dates to 1244. For several centuries the town's economy was built on fishing, some smuggling, and eventually a modest trade in importing tropical goods including fruit, rum and coconuts during the 19th century. During the Civil War the town sided with the Royalists and held out for some time against Parliamentary forces; the ruins of Fort Charles near North Sands are what remains of those defences.

What water activities are available in Salcombe?

Modern Salcombe is organised around sailing and summer tourism. The Kingsbridge Estuary, often called an almost entirely marine system because it has no significant river input, provides sheltered water that makes it suitable for dinghy sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding and windsurfing at most skill levels. Several hire operators in the town and at the beaches offer equipment and instruction. The estuary has also produced some rare marine habitats, including beds of maerl and seagrass, which are of genuine ecological interest.

The town has the property prices that come with its reputation: Salcombe has been named in Halifax surveys as the most expensive seaside town for residential property in the UK, with average prices that have roughly doubled since 2012. This shapes the visitor experience: the restaurants, bars and shops tend to sit at the higher end, and the general atmosphere leans toward the prosperous rather than the traditional fishing village. That is worth knowing before you arrive, though it does not prevent a very good weekend.

Who does Salcombe suit as a weekend destination?

For different audiences, the place offers different things. Families with children who can swim and use small boats will get the most out of the estuary and the beaches. Walkers have access to the South West Coast Path, which passes through the area and gives elevated views back over the water. Couples looking for somewhere quiet and scenically coherent in late May or September, avoiding peak-summer prices and crowds, will find Salcombe at its most manageable.

The ferry from the town quay to East Portlemouth is one of the better short boat trips in Devon, costing very little and taking about five minutes, and it gives access to a stretch of coast that feels considerably less visited than the Salcombe side.