Holiday Ideas > 15 Top places to visit in South Devon

15 Top places to visit in South Devon

Planning your South Devon holiday or short break this Summer? Find that time normally runs out and you get to the last day and find out all the places that you should have gone to while you were way? Sound familiar? Then have a read of our go to list of 15 tried and tested (by us) places that we love to visit in South Devon to help you plan ahead for your Devon holiday.  

If you are staying in or around Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Hope Cove, Dartmouth or any of the hidden hamlets and tiny villages that are in the South Hams you should find something that suits everyone. Especially if you are bringing your four-legged friend with you. Most of the places in the list below are dog-friendly.

So here's what has made it into the list of our Top 15 places to visit in the South Hams. Love walking or running? Then you’ll love that the South West Coast path features quite a lot. Looking for places to eat there are some great recommendations for places to eat and drink. Want some local history we’ve got that covered too. Thinking of learning to surf or paddleboard then read on…

Walk the South West Coast Path from East Portlemouth (Salcombe) to Gara Rock

Want a stunning walk? Try walking from East Portlemouth to Gara Rock. Take the South West Coast path from East Portlemouth towards Gara Rock. If you are in Salcombe just catch the ferry over to East Portlemouth and walk towards Mill Bay to pick up the South West Coast Path. It’s just over an hour each way and the scenery is amazing. You have refreshments at both ends of the walk at the Venus Cafe at East Portlemouth and at Gara Rock. There are also beaches at both ends too so try if you can to time it with the tide so you can head to Rickham Sands just below Gara Rock which is best at low tide. One way is definitely hillier than the other!
Gara Rock | Venus Cafe | South West Coast Path

Visit Start Point Lighthouse

Take a trip to Start Point ands visit Start Point Lighthouse one of Devon’s most southerly points and also one of the few remaining lighthouses that you can tour around. (There are a lot of stairs). It’s a great walk down on a tarmac path. But do check before you go as it is closed at certain times of the year. Time it at sunset for an amazing view.  On your way down to the lighthouse if you get halfway there’s a path to the right where the Southwest Coast path splits off. It’s worth walking uphill along the path and putting your head up to see the view and you really get a feeling for the coast and the geography of Start Point. 
Start Point Lighthouse | South West Coast Foot Path

Take the ferry to East Portlemouth beach or to Salcombe

Take the ferry from East Portlemouth to Salcombe or the other way round. Salcombe has the shops, East Portlemouth has the beautiful beaches. If you go at low tide to East Portlemouth then you can walk along the beaches rather than the road. You can also head down the estuary creek towards Goodshelter and South Pool. It’s very Daphne Du Maurier and a bit like Frenchman’s creek. 

Salcombe

There are shops, the RNLI lifeboat station, the maritime museum, crabbing on the quay, numerous pubs and restaurants, cafe culture, the bakery. Salcombe Dairy ice cream, boat hire. There’s an article just on Salcombe alone! The wardroom cafe is our favourite for a waterside coffee and cake. or a bite of lunch.
Salcombe | Wardroom

Afternoon tea in Salcombe

Fancy an afternoon tea with a view? In a sumptuous hotel in Salcombe? After an afternoon of shopping in Salcombe head for an afternoon tea at the Salcombe Harbour Hotel. If  you can’t park in Salcombe at the hotel they will valet park your car at the park and ride at the top of town. Making it very accessible for anyone with limited mobility.
Salcombe Harbour Hotel

Paddleboard in Salcombe

Want to get paddling around Salcombe and spend some time switching off on the Salcombe estuary? Then you can either take your own paddleboard and launch at East Portlemouth or in Salcombe. Or you can hire from the Salcombe paddle board company. Want to learn in a group or head off on your own? Head to Port Waterhouse near East Portlemouth. You could paddle to the Island Street Bar and Grill for lunch and back.
Salcombe Paddleboard | Island Street bar and Grill

Walk to North Sands and National Trust Overbeck's House

Head to North Sands from Salcombe, a lovely walk with the most incredible (probably the best) views of Salcombe estuary as you rise above the town and then descend down into North Sands. Great when its sunny or stormy as you can see the waves crashing over the Salcombe Bar. Head to the Winking Prawn for lunch and then on to National Trust Overbeck's, with it’s beautiful tropical garden and house full of curiosities. Dog restrictions at North Sands beach in the Summer.
Winking Prawn | Overbeck's House 

Visit Hope Cove at sunset

Take a trip to Hope Cove, and have dinner in a lobster pod. Hope Cove has Inner and Outer Hope beaches. it’s right on the South West Coast path too. There are plenty of places to eat and drink and it’s also one of the best places in the South Hams to see the sun set. The lobster pot dining pods have incredible sunset views across the Bay. The newly reopened Hope Cove House Hotel is a lovely spot at sunset and has a fabulous menu too. 
Hope Cove House | Lobster Pod Bistro

South Hallsands ruined village

Visit the viewing platform at South Hallsands for views across Start Bay towards Start Point Lighthouse. You’ll also see the ruins of the fishing village at Hallsands that was destroyed in storms over 100 years ago. Carry on walking towards the beach at North Hallsands. Or head up to Start Point Lighthouse along the South West Coast Path.
South West Coast Path

Walk the South West Coast Path from Hallsands to Beesands

Walk from Hallsands to Beesands, along National Trust clifftops there are new pathways where the older ones have crumbled into the sea. You’ll see for miles often as far as Portland Bill if the weather is clear but certainly as far as the entrance to Dartmouth harbour. See if you can spot the buzzards, kestrels and also the rare Cirl Bunting. Look out for wild stock here as there are often sheep and cows grazing on the steep banks. Head to the gastro pub The Cricket Inn or restaurant and takeaway Britannia for some great seafood or refreshments.
Cricket Inn | Britannia at the Beach

Bigbury beach and Burgh Island

Walk across to Burgh island that sits opposite the main land. Accessible at low tide this Devon landmark can be reached by a sandy tidal passageway and at other times by sea tractor! The Burgh Island Hotel that sits opposite Bigbury on Sea was where Agatha Christies wrote two of her famous novels ‘Evil under the sun’ and also ‘And then there were none’ which features in one of her novels. The Pilchard Inn is well worth a visit and walking around the island you can discover the remains of the chapel and see lots of wildlife and a rather great collection of rock pools.  You can also learn to surf at Bigbury surf school. Dogs restrictions.
Bigbury Beach | Discovery Surf school 

Bantham beach

Want to visit the ONLY beach in the UK that made the Lonely Plant’s Top 10 beaches in Europe in 2015? Popular with surfers, families, walkers, dog walkers, locals and holiday makers alike. Bantham has something for everyone. It’s a huge sweeping curving sandy beach which lies the other side of the River Avon from Bigbury beach with views out across Bigbury Bay and across to Burgh island. Situated at the mouth of the River Avon with it’s vast sand dunes it’s as beautiful on a winters day in a storm as it is in the height of Summer and easy to see why it made it into the Lonely Planet Top 10 and ours. There’s the gastro bus for coffees and food and drink.  Dog restrictions apply.
Bantham beach

Visit Agatha Christie's home Greenway by boat

National Trust Greenway was Agatha Christie's beloved holiday home on the banks of the River Dart opposite Dittisham. It is a fabulous place to visit. It was handed to the National Trust and you can visit by boat or by road. Head there in Spring to see the beautiful magnolias. They also do a lovely cream tea in the restaurant here! If you go by boat from Dartmouth you can then top and tail your day in Dartmouth shopping or looking around the town. 
National Trust Greenway | Dartmouth Greenway Ferry

Paddleboard in Kingsbridge

Book a lesson or hire a board from Waterborn SUP.  Head off and explore the beautiful Kingsbridge estuary. It's quiet and sheltered and the perfect place to learn. Paddle up to Salcombe on the outgoing tide and paddle back in on the incoming tide. Or there's even SUP Yoga! You'll find Waterborn SUP at the Crabshell Inn. So you can head for a drink and a pizza after!
Waterborn SUP | Crabshell Inn

Blackpool Sands Beach and cafe

One of our favourite beaches. A blue flag beach with a Venus Cafe and shop and large car park. Blackpool Sands is just off the A379 with a huge wide sweeping beach. There are watersports and it has lifeguards through the summer months. It's also a blue flag beach and once you've seen how clear the water is you'll understand why. It's also fab in the winter for a stroll and a hot drink in the cafe.  They also hold open air film nights here. Dogs are restricted through the summer. 
Blackpool Sands | Open Air Cinema

We'd love to know how you get on, or if there's anything you think we should add to the list do let us know!

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  • Wisteria Cottage

    Prices from £450.00

    Wisteria Cottage sleeps 6 is an end of terrace coastal cottage situated on a non-working farm in the South Hams, Devon. Equidistant from the beautiful coastal towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth. It is one cottage at the end of a terrace of three within a group of four situated at Lamacraft Farm, less than a mile by footpath from the beautiful beach of North Hallsands. Superfast broadband to premises 50-70Mbps. Please note we are sorry we do not accept cats.

    • Sleeps 6 (plus 1 extra with a single sofa bed so 7 total)
    • Sea Views
    • Electric Vehicle Charging available
    • Two well behaved dogs welcome
    • Great WiFi! Fibre to premises
  • Jasmine Cottage

    Prices from £350.00

    Jasmine Cottage is a cosy cottage in a mid terrace of 3 coastal cottage situated on a non-working farm in a rural setting in the South Hams, South Devon. Equidistant from the beautiful coastal towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth. It is one cottage within a group of four situated at Lamacraft Farm, less than a mile by footpath from the beautiful beach of North Hallsands and a mile from Start Point, one of the most southerly points of Devon. Jasmine Cottage sleeps four and one well behaved dog. With super fast broadband to premises 50-70Mbps you can work from home even on holiday! Please note we are sorry we do not accept cats.

    • Sleeps 4 plus one dog
    • Situated in the South Hams Devon
    • Walking Distance to the beach
    • Own courtyard with further gardens
    • Electric Vehicle Charging (EV) available
  • Rose Cottage

    Prices from £400.00

    Rose Cottage is an end of terrace coastal cottage situated on a non-working farm in the South Hams, Devon. Equidistant from the beautiful coastal towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth. It is one cottage within a group of four situated at Lamacraft Farm, less than a mile by footpath from the beautiful beach of North Hallsands . With super fast broadband to premises 50-70Mbps you can work from home even on holiday! Please note we are sorry we do not accept cats.

    • Sleeps 4 plus one dog
    • Close to the South West Coast path
    • Sea Views
    • Electric Vehicle Charging (EV) available
    • Super fast broadband
  • Lamacraft House

    Prices from £1,450.00

    Lamacraft House in South Devon is a lovely big country home sleeping 10 people and up to 2 dogs. Perfect for a multigenerational holiday or for a group of friends to get together. Recently refurbished, it exudes luxury and sophistication. It can accommodate up to 10 guests in five bedrooms and welcomes up to 2 well-behaved dogs over 2 years old. Amenities include an 8-person luxury Hydro Pool hot tub, a 7ft professional pool table, and a PlayStation 5.

    • Sleeps 10
    • Newly refurbished 2024
    • Eight person luxury Hot Tub
    • 7ft Professional Pool table
    • EV Electric Vehicle Charger
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