ACTIVITIES
WATERSPORTS
Whether you fancy sharing the delights of sailing with your family, meandering along rivers and canals in kayaks or canoes, paddle boarding or surfing the waves, you’ll not be disappointed, Dinghy sailing courses can be taken in nearby Salcombe and canoe adventures are offered in Totnes. Discovery Surf School are located a few minutes from the apartment on Bigbury Beach and offer lessons to suit all abilities in Surfing, Paddle Boarding and Kayaking with the benefit of being able to hire all the necessary equipment.
BEACHES
Beautiful sandy beaches are in abundance in the area. Bigbury Beach is on your doorstep offering a unique experience with the tides coming in from both sides separated by Burgh Island. Aymer Cove, Wyscombe Beach, Challaborough Beach and Bantham Beach are also very close. Hope Cove is a sheltered sandy cove backed by rocky cliffs, North Sands Beach is about a 15 minute walk from Salcombe town and Sunny cove in East Portelmouth is situated on the opposite side of the estuary. Blackpool Sands is a Blue Flag beach offering a large expanse of shingle surrounded by evergreen trees.
GOLF
Bigbury Golf Club offers wide fairways, fast greens and stunning panoramic views from moorland to estuary and out to sea overlooking Burgh Island.
Running along the coastline, Thurlestone Golf Club’s 18 hole, Harry Colt designed course, is a mix of links and cliff top terrain with breath-taking views. Ideal holiday golf, not too severe and quite generous fairways.
The Dartmouth Golf & Country Club’s championship course, is set in 225 acres of rolling and sometimes hilly countryside, 4 miles from Dartmouth, and offers some thrilling and challenging holes for the seasoned golfer.
WALKING
Measuring 630 miles long, the South West Coast Path, is the UK’s longest and best-loved National Trail and runs through Bigbury on Sea in each direction. You can pick up the path within minutes from the apartment and walk in either direction, either beyond Challaborough to the likes of Aymer Cove and Wyscombe Beach (listed by The Telegraph as one of the 10 overlooked corners of Britain) or towards Salcombe. A drive to Bantham beach provides the start of the Bantham - Thurleston - Hope Cove route with stunning views back towards Burgh Island.
Dartmoor offers endless possibilities for walking and experiencing stunning natural scenery from granite tors, steep wooded river valleys and heather covered moorland.
EATING OUT
The Pilchard Inn, on Burgh Island is our nearest pub about three minutes walk across the beach at low tide, and offers a cosy interior and large outside seating area overlooking the beach. They offer traditional pub food during the day and a more upmarket menu in the evenings.
The Journeys End, Ringmore is a 13th century traditional pub in a picturesque Devon Village complete with thatched cottages.
A little further afield is The Crabshell Inn in Kingsbridge overlooking the Kingsbridge estuary with lovely views and a menu full of local favourites.
The Beach House, South Milton describes itself as a laid back foodie destination on a stunning stretch of Devon coast and sits just yards from the beach serving fresh seafood during the day.
In Salcombe, Dick and Wills Waterside Brasserie & Bar, overlooks Salcombe estuary and is focussed on delivering high quality local produce and stunning views.
NATIONAL TRUST
South Devon is home to numerous National Trust sites, from historic homes, to ancient woodland, to sheltered coves. Some to mention are Greenway the former home of Agatha Christie (who also has links to Burgh Island), Coleton Fishacre, Overbeck’s, Wembury, South Milton Sands and further afield on Dartmoor, Castle Drogo.
PHOTOGRAPHY
There is much to photograph in south Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, whether you are an experienced photographer or just starting out. From seascapes and wonderful rock formations on the coast to picturesque traditional villages to wild and wonderful Dartmoor, there is something to suit everyone’s taste. Unique Devon Tours offer workshop tours geared to any level.
FISHING
Bigbury, Bantham and Challaborough beaches are good spots for anglers where big Bass and Small Eyed Ray can be caught. There are many companies offering angling charters all along the south coast of Devon ranging from 2 hour Makerel trips to mid channel wreck fishing.
BIRD WATCHING
With a variety of habitats from coastal to moorland comes a diverse range of birds. The Avon estuary is tidal as far as the weir at Aveton Gifford and is an important site for feeding and roosting birds. Seabirds and shelduck breed in the inlet and during autumn and winter many migrating birds and waders can be seen here. South Efford Marsh run by Devon Wildlife Trust, three miles from the Burgh Island Causeway is one of Devon’s premier bird watching places. At Slapton Ley is a freshwater lagoon separated from the sea by a shingle ridge. Rarities here include Little Swift and Whiskered Tern. A little further afield on Dartmoor is Yarner Wood, the best woodland site in Devon with breeding Pied Flycatcher and Redstart and moorland species found nearby. The Devon Bird of Prey Centre is in Newton Abbot and provides the opportunity to appreciate the beauty of these birds.
