East Portlemouth, Salcombe, Devon
It’s fair to say that the main reason people visit East Portlemouth in the South Devon AONB is for the beaches – small, sheltered coves of sugar-soft golden sands edged with sparkling turquoise waters, and it has to be said, a lot quieter than on the other side of the estuary in Salcombe, but that’s the obvious part of the lure.
Not many people stroll around the village, which has quite a thriving community, with regular events held at the village hall, and the annual church fete, but then, they have no reason to; they’ve come for the beaches and to walk on the South West Coast Path. So life goes on quietly out of season and all is well. In the summer months it’s a different matter as visitors come and stay in the holiday homes in the village and across on the passenger ferry from Salcombe. And why not – you can hire E-bikes from Bearland Bikes, stop for an artisan Devon pasty or an ice cream at Venus Café, or stroll out to Gara Rock Beach and grab something to eat from the Garavan. Take your bathing suit, your buckets and spades and head down the cliff steps to while away a last few hours on the beach. It’s what holidays are all about.
All information correct at the time of writing