Smalls’s guidebook
Food & drink
Perched on a clifftop surrounded by countryside, sea views, maybe a sheep or two and nothing else. Gara Rock is easy-going and down to earth and welcomes everyone, even your four-legged friends. Offering both lunch and dinner, it is a lovely place to dine, you can eat al fresco on the terrace overlooking the beach or in winter watch the waves crashing from the comfort of the restaurant with its huge floor to ceiling windows.
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Gara Rock
Salcombe - East PortlemouthPerched on a clifftop surrounded by countryside, sea views, maybe a sheep or two and nothing else. Gara Rock is easy-going and down to earth and welcomes everyone, even your four-legged friends. Offering both lunch and dinner, it is a lovely place to dine, you can eat al fresco on the terrace overlooking the beach or in winter watch the waves crashing from the comfort of the restaurant with its huge floor to ceiling windows.
Just around the corner from Smalls, this branch of the local Venus chain is takeaway only but with the beach on the doorstep who needs to eat-in? Here you find quality local pasties, baguettes, ice creams, coffee and cream teas as well as buckets, spades and beach games to keep the kids entertained.
The Venus Company
Millbay RoadJust around the corner from Smalls, this branch of the local Venus chain is takeaway only but with the beach on the doorstep who needs to eat-in? Here you find quality local pasties, baguettes, ice creams, coffee and cream teas as well as buckets, spades and beach games to keep the kids entertained.
A quirky beach- shack style café with plenty of inside and outside seating, and a menu brimming with quality local seafood and other tempting options. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as popular daily barbeques in high season. Ice creams, coffees, wines, beers and snacks available throughout the day.
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The Winking Prawn
Cliff RoadA quirky beach- shack style café with plenty of inside and outside seating, and a menu brimming with quality local seafood and other tempting options. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as popular daily barbeques in high season. Ice creams, coffees, wines, beers and snacks available throughout the day.
In the heart of the idyllic village of South Pool, The Millbrook Inn offers high quality, honest food and a wide selection of local ales and ciders in an atmosphere that celebrates the traditional village pub. Enjoy delicious local meat, seafood and excellent Sunday roasts either inside in the cosy beamed dining areas with roaring fires, or outside in the summer sunshine overlooking the brook. One of the most popular eateries in the area so booking is highly recommended.
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The Millbrook Inn
In the heart of the idyllic village of South Pool, The Millbrook Inn offers high quality, honest food and a wide selection of local ales and ciders in an atmosphere that celebrates the traditional village pub. Enjoy delicious local meat, seafood and excellent Sunday roasts either inside in the cosy beamed dining areas with roaring fires, or outside in the summer sunshine overlooking the brook. One of the most popular eateries in the area so booking is highly recommended.
With a wonderful view of Salcombe Estuary, you can sit by the large window overlooking the water for a relaxing dining experience. Serving cured meats, tartlets, paninis, salads and cheeses, not to mention fresh bakes and great coffee, this is a perfect spot for those looking for luxury light bites.
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Island Street Bar & Grill
Island StreetWith a wonderful view of Salcombe Estuary, you can sit by the large window overlooking the water for a relaxing dining experience. Serving cured meats, tartlets, paninis, salads and cheeses, not to mention fresh bakes and great coffee, this is a perfect spot for those looking for luxury light bites.
A traditional 16th century inn overlooking the green in the pretty, windswept village of East Prawle with regular live music nights, and serving quality pub grub and real ales straight from the barrel.
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Pigs Nose Inn
A traditional 16th century inn overlooking the green in the pretty, windswept village of East Prawle with regular live music nights, and serving quality pub grub and real ales straight from the barrel.
A vibrant seafood restaurant on the water’s edge serving 100% hand-picked crab meat along with some of the finest fish and seafood delivered straight from the fishing boats. Expect relaxed dining in the contemporary restaurant with its waterside terrace overlooking Fish Quay.
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The Crab Shed
Gould RoadA vibrant seafood restaurant on the water’s edge serving 100% hand-picked crab meat along with some of the finest fish and seafood delivered straight from the fishing boats. Expect relaxed dining in the contemporary restaurant with its waterside terrace overlooking Fish Quay.
Quayside pub with tables by the water, with a long menu of local seafood, global favourites, including delicious homemade pizzas, which can be ordered to takeaway. You will pass this pub on your journey from Kingsbridge to East Portlemouth, so grab pizzas on the way through or head here, 30 minutes by car from Smalls, for dinner out.
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The Crabshell Inn
Embankment RoadQuayside pub with tables by the water, with a long menu of local seafood, global favourites, including delicious homemade pizzas, which can be ordered to takeaway. You will pass this pub on your journey from Kingsbridge to East Portlemouth, so grab pizzas on the way through or head here, 30 minutes by car from Smalls, for dinner out.
Bar
Enjoy stunning views of the Salcombe estuary whilst sipping the signature ‘Salcombe & Tonic’ made of course with Salcombe Gin, a high-quality gin made on site in traditional handmade copper stills. A great spot for a few drinks after a day on the water, or before heading out for dinner in Salcombe.
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Salcombe Gin
28 Island StEnjoy stunning views of the Salcombe estuary whilst sipping the signature ‘Salcombe & Tonic’ made of course with Salcombe Gin, a high-quality gin made on site in traditional handmade copper stills. A great spot for a few drinks after a day on the water, or before heading out for dinner in Salcombe.
Beach
A scenic walk along the coast (around 40 minutes from Smalls depending on how speedy you are), will lead you to a dramatic headland and beach café known as Gara Rock. With panoramic views of the sea, the café is open for lunch and afternoon tea before you descend to Gara Rock Beach below. The beach is a sandy cove flanked by rocks. The beauty of this beach is that it is only accessible either on foot or by boat, so it does have a wonderful sense of escapism alongside its rugged splendour. Although it is a little bit of a climb back up to the café, the proximity of food and toilets means that you can set up camp here for most of the day, dipping into the water as and when you choose if the weather is warm enough. Alternatively, it’s the perfect place for a pit stop if you’re spending the day walking along the coast path towards Prawle Point and Dartmouth beyond. Dogs are allowed on the beach but not in high season, so keep that in mind, and while it’s a slightly tricky beach to get to it’s worth the effort… maybe just see if you can get a takeaway brownie and a cup of tea from the café to keep you going!
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Gara Rock Beach, Gara Rock Beach
A scenic walk along the coast (around 40 minutes from Smalls depending on how speedy you are), will lead you to a dramatic headland and beach café known as Gara Rock. With panoramic views of the sea, the café is open for lunch and afternoon tea before you descend to Gara Rock Beach below. The beach is a sandy cove flanked by rocks. The beauty of this beach is that it is only accessible either on foot or by boat, so it does have a wonderful sense of escapism alongside its rugged splendour. Although it is a little bit of a climb back up to the café, the proximity of food and toilets means that you can set up camp here for most of the day, dipping into the water as and when you choose if the weather is warm enough. Alternatively, it’s the perfect place for a pit stop if you’re spending the day walking along the coast path towards Prawle Point and Dartmouth beyond. Dogs are allowed on the beach but not in high season, so keep that in mind, and while it’s a slightly tricky beach to get to it’s worth the effort… maybe just see if you can get a takeaway brownie and a cup of tea from the café to keep you going!
Sunny Cove is a sandy beach which, as you might expect, catches the sun throughout the day, weather pending. It’s on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe Estuary opposite North Sands beach and Fort Charles, the ruined fortification that was originally constructed during the reign of Henry VIII to defend the Kingsbridge Estuary against French and Spanish Pirates. It’s a relatively gentle spot for swimming and ideal for picnics, lazy summer afternoons, and reaching on kayaks and paddle boards from other nearby beaches as well as being the perfect spot for building sandcastles. That said, the tide can come in quite quickly so make sure you don’t get caught out and be careful of the swell when bringing boats into the beach. Head there for the day in the summer or as a stop off en route to the café at Gara Rock or a longer walk along the coast path towards Prawle Point. Dogs are welcome all year round but keep in mind that there aren’t any facilities in the immediate vicinity (it would be a 10-15-minute walk along wooded footpaths) so take your sandwiches with you!
Sunny cove beach
Sunny Cove is a sandy beach which, as you might expect, catches the sun throughout the day, weather pending. It’s on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe Estuary opposite North Sands beach and Fort Charles, the ruined fortification that was originally constructed during the reign of Henry VIII to defend the Kingsbridge Estuary against French and Spanish Pirates. It’s a relatively gentle spot for swimming and ideal for picnics, lazy summer afternoons, and reaching on kayaks and paddle boards from other nearby beaches as well as being the perfect spot for building sandcastles. That said, the tide can come in quite quickly so make sure you don’t get caught out and be careful of the swell when bringing boats into the beach. Head there for the day in the summer or as a stop off en route to the café at Gara Rock or a longer walk along the coast path towards Prawle Point. Dogs are welcome all year round but keep in mind that there aren’t any facilities in the immediate vicinity (it would be a 10-15-minute walk along wooded footpaths) so take your sandwiches with you!
A sandy beach on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe Estuary, at low tide Mill Bay stretches all the way up the coastline to East Portlemouth beach. It has the most wonderful view of Salcombe itself and is popular with everyone, especially families, because of the large swathes of sand on which you can set up camp for the day and enjoy safe, clean swimming conditions. It is just a short walk from Smalls and you pass the Venus Café on the way if you wish to grab some ice creams or refreshments. There are rock pools to explore, sandcastles to build and swimming to be done, just make sure you’re careful of any boats coming in and out of the beach. Dogs are welcome at Mill Bay all year round, and it makes an excellent spot to run around with them whatever time of the year. Like the other beaches along this stretch of coast, Mill Bay makes for an ideal place to spend the day right into the evening, although it is a little stroll to the nearest facilities. It’s also a lovely beach to meander across en route to South Pool or on a longer walk along the coast path.
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Mill Bay
2 Devon RdA sandy beach on the East Portlemouth side of the Salcombe Estuary, at low tide Mill Bay stretches all the way up the coastline to East Portlemouth beach. It has the most wonderful view of Salcombe itself and is popular with everyone, especially families, because of the large swathes of sand on which you can set up camp for the day and enjoy safe, clean swimming conditions. It is just a short walk from Smalls and you pass the Venus Café on the way if you wish to grab some ice creams or refreshments. There are rock pools to explore, sandcastles to build and swimming to be done, just make sure you’re careful of any boats coming in and out of the beach. Dogs are welcome at Mill Bay all year round, and it makes an excellent spot to run around with them whatever time of the year. Like the other beaches along this stretch of coast, Mill Bay makes for an ideal place to spend the day right into the evening, although it is a little stroll to the nearest facilities. It’s also a lovely beach to meander across en route to South Pool or on a longer walk along the coast path.
Activities
Based in East Portlemouth, Salcombe Paddleboarding is in the ideal spot for both beginners and more experienced paddleboarders to enjoy the calm waters and hidden coves of the Salcombe Estuary. You’ll be in safe hands with Marcus and Denny, both qualified ISA Paddleboarding instructors and lifeguards, who provide private and group lessons as well as board hire.
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Salcombe Paddleboarding
Based in East Portlemouth, Salcombe Paddleboarding is in the ideal spot for both beginners and more experienced paddleboarders to enjoy the calm waters and hidden coves of the Salcombe Estuary. You’ll be in safe hands with Marcus and Denny, both qualified ISA Paddleboarding instructors and lifeguards, who provide private and group lessons as well as board hire.
Salcombe is known for its unique sailing opportunities thanks to the spectacular coastline. A favourite destination amongst some of the best in the sailing community, getting out on the water is very much part of the South Devon holiday experience, and at Salcombe Dinghy Sailing, owners Zoe and Ross are a highly skilled, warm and friendly duo who make you feel safe, happy, confident and well prepared on the water whether you’re having lessons, hiring a boat, are a beginner or a practiced sailor looking to sharpen your skills. You can opt for taster sessions, bespoke private tuition, or RYA teaching courses with up to four students per instructor. Just make sure you bring warm, waterproof clothing with you – it can get nippy our there!
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Salcombe Dinghy Sailing
Fore StreetSalcombe is known for its unique sailing opportunities thanks to the spectacular coastline. A favourite destination amongst some of the best in the sailing community, getting out on the water is very much part of the South Devon holiday experience, and at Salcombe Dinghy Sailing, owners Zoe and Ross are a highly skilled, warm and friendly duo who make you feel safe, happy, confident and well prepared on the water whether you’re having lessons, hiring a boat, are a beginner or a practiced sailor looking to sharpen your skills. You can opt for taster sessions, bespoke private tuition, or RYA teaching courses with up to four students per instructor. Just make sure you bring warm, waterproof clothing with you – it can get nippy our there!
SUP Away, based in the heart of the South Hams in Devon, offers Stand Up Paddle Board hire to anyone looking to explore the beauty of the area on the water. They offer the complete service – not only delivering your boards direct to your holiday cottage but also giving advice on where to go on your adventure.
SUP Away - South Devon Paddle Board Hire
SUP Away, based in the heart of the South Hams in Devon, offers Stand Up Paddle Board hire to anyone looking to explore the beauty of the area on the water. They offer the complete service – not only delivering your boards direct to your holiday cottage but also giving advice on where to go on your adventure.
Everything in Salcombe revolves around the water, and Whitestrand Boat Hire offer a fleet of self drive boats aswell as skippered mackerel fishing trips so you can experience more of the beautiful estuary and coastline. Book a boat by the hour, day or week and the friendly staff can advise on the best beaches, wildlife spots and pubs to visit. No prior experience necessary.
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Whitestrand Boat Hire
Everything in Salcombe revolves around the water, and Whitestrand Boat Hire offer a fleet of self drive boats aswell as skippered mackerel fishing trips so you can experience more of the beautiful estuary and coastline. Book a boat by the hour, day or week and the friendly staff can advise on the best beaches, wildlife spots and pubs to visit. No prior experience necessary.