Beaches

There are numerous beaches in the area each with their own individual characteristics.  The nearest beaches to Glebe House are at Bigbury-on-Sea and Bantham where the most impressive expanse of sand in the South Hams can be found.

Bigbury beach is a popular award winning family beach with shallow waters and rock pools to keep children entertained.  It is joined by a causeway to the famous Burgh Island with its Art Deco Hotel made famous in the crime novels of Agatha Christie and the 14th century Pilchard Inn.

At low tide it is possible to walk across to the island or when the tide is in take a ride on the sea tractor.

The beach at Bantham on the eastern side of Bigbury Bay is a well known surfing and windsurfing location. 

Burgh Island Bigbury on Sea

Thurlestone Beach

 

Thurlestone (6 miles from Glebe House) is great for crabbing at low tide with numerous rock pools, beach cafe and toilets. Hope Cove (8 miles) and just beyond the far headland has a small harbour and is good for kayaking and skimboarding.
Blackpool Sands, shown here (12 miles from Glebe House) is  just beyond Slapton towards Dartmouth and has watersports and a beach cafe.

 

 

North and South Sands in Salcombe (8 miles) are flat and sandy.

Blackpool Sands

 

Pubs and Eateries

There are so many good pubs and eateries to discover in this part of Devon.  Here are four that we have enjoyed within easy reach of Glebe House.

The Church House Inn at Churchstow is on the A379 between Aveton Gifford and Kingsbridge.

This is friendly, traditional pub serving fresh local food and a good variety of beers. There is an extensive menu and the pub has a wood fired pizza oven on the south facing patio which operates on selected days from Easter to September.

We can happily recommend this family friendly pub.  It serves great food and is less than a 5 minute drive from Glebe House.

 

The California Country Inn is an award winning traditional country dining inn.  Food is served either in the restaurant or in the bar are of the pub.  The pub is a 12 minute drive down the country lane from Glebe House.

 

 

 

 

The Sloop Inn at Bantham proves a welcome retreat serving good ales and food.  The pub is only a short walk from the beach and welcomes children.  Like the California Cross Inn this pub is only a short drive from Glebe House down the lane to Bantham. 

The Crabshell Inn is situated on the quayside in Kingsbridge and with its south westerly aspect basks in the sun all day. The Crabshell is gaining a reputation as an eatery of distinction with an increasingly acclaimed menu. The Inn welcomes children of all ages.

 
For more ideas of place to eat visit the Welcome South Devon website.

 

 

Kingsbridge

Kingsbridge, the capital of the South Hams, is a busy market town with plenty of interesting shops, pubs, restaurants and a fine leisure centre with large pool.  A Farmers Market held on alternate Saturday mornings makes for an interesting visit and an provides an opportunity to sample and buy local produce.

You can explore the estuary on foot or take a ferry ride to Salcombe which is one of the jewels in the crown of the South Hams. Meander along the lanes to the estuary foreshore and enjoy the fascinating wildlife seen around the tidal creeks.

More....

 

 

Salcombe

Salcombe must be one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the world. Situated in the South Hams, at Devon's most southerly tip, Salcombe attracts visitors from all over the world at all times of year to enjoy many coast and country activities. Famous as a centre for sailing, diving and fishing the estuary has many sheltered, sandy beaches and is a base for walkers and others with a love of nature.

The Salcombe harbour is a safe haven for visiting yachts and is a centre for sailors of all ages and abilities. The Town and Yacht Club hold Regatta weeks for many types of sailing craft and there are a number of opportunities for boat hire and tuition.
More information is available on the Salcombe Tourist Information site.

The estuary also acts as home to a fleet of fishing boats which catch crab and lobster in local waters. Boats and shore anglers have also caught mullet, bass, pollack, dab, flounder, plaice, wrasse, freshwater and sand eel, coley, turbot, whiting and salmon. Sometimes the arrival of dolphins and seals in the estuary generates excitement. Divers can explore the submerged wrecks which dot the coastline and provide a natural habitat for a multitude of fish. The estuary is designated a bass nursery area but is also a site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve.

This provides added interest to walkers who use Salcombe as a base for beaches, creeks and the spectacular cliff paths from which can be seen many species of flora and fauna. Dartmoor and Slapton Ley with its Field Centre are within easy striking distance.

The area is an bird watchers paradise. Kittiwakes are among the numerous gulls and the area is also home to greenshank, golden eye duck, great crested grebe, dartford warbler, cirl bunting, swan, heron, egret, redshank, tern, curlew, oyster catcher, ringed plover, dunlin, avocet, sanderling, willow warbler, tree pipit and many more.

Spring and autumn in Salcombe and surrounding area are very special. The spring brings the most wonderful display of wild flowers, particularly down the narrow lanes where the hedgerows are a mass of primroses, violets and bluebells, which continue the display into summer. Autumn brings beautiful colours and a totally different harbour scene, for most of the pleasure boats have disappeared, giving the waters of the estuary back to the fishermen. The streets of Salcombe again become quiet and peaceful, a tranquillity which continues into the winter months.

Christmas in Salcombe is a magical time. The town is brightly decorated with coloured lights and the illuminated cross on the church is silhouetted against the water. At New Year most of the townspeople and visitors congregate in the central quay area to welcome the New Year.

 

Salcombe Harbour

Salcombe North Sands

 

Golf Courses 

For golfing enthusiasts both Bigbury and Thurlestone offer challenging courses, with unbeatable coastal views in all directions.

Thurlestone Golf Club (5 miles from Glebe House) located along the coast of Bigbury Bay, is a mix of links and cliff-top terrain with stunning views, well draining it rarely suffers from frost, so is rarely closed. The 18 hole course is 6230 yds , par 71, whilst the ladies is 5538 yds, par 73.

 

 

 

 

At Bigbury Golf Club (4 miles from Glebe House) its 18 holes total 6,061 yds for men, par 70 and 5,568 for ladies par 72. With fabulous coastal and Avon Estuary views the fairways are wide and the greens fast, but club selection is complicated by sea winds, well placed trees and bunkers.