Cornishman
Well-Known Member
Has Salcombe turned the corner and is now heading for the winning post in the popularity stakes?
Is Salcombe any better this year?
- Thread starter Cornishman
- Start date
whisper
Well-Known Member
We shall see!!
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
What, the same Salcombe that is charging for using your tender to go to the beach?
Doesn't sound like progress to me.
Doesn't sound like progress to me.
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
“The town revolves around the harbour,” said Bruce. “If there was nothing going on here, there would be nothing going on in the town. You know, people don't realise what the boats bring here and what work it creates for everybody.”
Goose and Golden Eggs comes to mind!
Goose and Golden Eggs comes to mind!
Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
I didn't know it had been sick.
Cornishman
Well-Known Member
Where have you been for two years, Ken? This forum was full of complaints these last two summers - mainly about charges to visitors.
ccscott49
Well-Known Member
Reports from buddies in Dartmouth, it's poo, always will be now, too late for the gaff now!!
Dartmouth rapidly heading the same way, all they want is your money, only money they make there now, yachties and tourists.
Both places are second home harbours.
Dartmouth rapidly heading the same way, all they want is your money, only money they make there now, yachties and tourists.
Both places are second home harbours.
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
I would not say it is poo in that it is a beautiful area and people will always wish to visit. It is such a shame the administration are trying to fleece the visitors for all they are worth.
The trouble as I see it is 50-50, if you southern types stopped paying / visiting so they would stop treating you like cash cows. But you wont, you seem to go on paying, go on grumbling, go on paying, it is what the south does. Sorry, but it is a southern thing, in general oop north people expect a great deal more than a patch of sand for anchoring with our own tackle for a renumeration to some quasi peaked cap entreater in a boat.
Even if you tried to put out a plea, don't use Salcombe in 2009 season, people would still go because; they can afford it, why should they be told what to do, they think they will be missing out on something, game theory says everyone will go anyway - why shouldn't they, it is better to grumble and moan than actually do anything about it, it is Gordon Browns fault ... delete as applicable.
What can be done... everything, what will be done... nothing whatsoever.
The trouble as I see it is 50-50, if you southern types stopped paying / visiting so they would stop treating you like cash cows. But you wont, you seem to go on paying, go on grumbling, go on paying, it is what the south does. Sorry, but it is a southern thing, in general oop north people expect a great deal more than a patch of sand for anchoring with our own tackle for a renumeration to some quasi peaked cap entreater in a boat.
Even if you tried to put out a plea, don't use Salcombe in 2009 season, people would still go because; they can afford it, why should they be told what to do, they think they will be missing out on something, game theory says everyone will go anyway - why shouldn't they, it is better to grumble and moan than actually do anything about it, it is Gordon Browns fault ... delete as applicable.
What can be done... everything, what will be done... nothing whatsoever.
maxi77
Well-Known Member
I haven't been to Salcombe for over 20 years, nothing personal just I no longer live in the south. Even then the place was running at capacity and the only service was the collecting of dues, shopping was pretty poor, but the pubs were OK.
The real problem with all these places on the south coast is too many boats for too few harbour places. Now a similar place in France would have a shiny new marina lots of visitor berths and and good services.
The real problem with all these places on the south coast is too many boats for too few harbour places. Now a similar place in France would have a shiny new marina lots of visitor berths and and good services.
Malcb
Well-Known Member
I went to Salcombe this year for the first time and moored up on the visirtors pontton at The Bag. Only for one night, but a liked the place. I'll return next year.
Maybe a lot of the disappoinment with the place is a case of over-familiarity. There are some places in the Solent that I'm getting bored with, not because of cost, just I'm getting too familiar with them.
Maybe a lot of the disappoinment with the place is a case of over-familiarity. There are some places in the Solent that I'm getting bored with, not because of cost, just I'm getting too familiar with them.
tangomoon
Well-Known Member
Have they improved the surly harbour staff, the lousy food served and the prices specially for the boating fraternity - doubt it
Oceanmaster
Well-Known Member
Now a good supermarket in town wouldn't go a miss either. I find the supply of over priced sudo sailing gear hard to digest. mind you the G&T in the yacht club is not to be missed.
knewboater
Well-Known Member
To desribe the two towns as has been done here is rediculous, Salcombe and Dartmouth must be 2 of the most beautiful places in the world to sail into that is why they are so popular, the fact that the local councillors don`t cater with facilities for sailors as perhaps they should is unfortunate, although they do a little more each year, I have sailed to Salcombe in the last month or so and my boat is moored at Dartmouth so am talking from first hand experience.
If you sail into many places now you will be met by the harbourmaster who will give you help and of course take your money, and sometimes for facilities value for money isn`t always there,but that doesn`t change the reason for going.
If you sail into many places now you will be met by the harbourmaster who will give you help and of course take your money, and sometimes for facilities value for money isn`t always there,but that doesn`t change the reason for going.
StugeronSteve
Well-Known Member
Quite agree, I've paid more to park my car for 24hrs than I've paid for a marina berth in Dartmouth, or a mooring buoy in Salcombe and I know which repesents the better value.
Loginname
Well-Known Member
I think it's a mistake to lump the two places together like that.
For my money Dartmouth is far better, with a much, much wider range of facilities than Salcombe. The harbour staff are always friendly and helpful and they don't pounce on you as in Salcombe.
Dartmouth is one of our favourite destinations.
Salcombe is way down the list. We avoid it these days. Yes, it's pretty, but there are plenty of other pretty places along the South Coast.
For my money Dartmouth is far better, with a much, much wider range of facilities than Salcombe. The harbour staff are always friendly and helpful and they don't pounce on you as in Salcombe.
Dartmouth is one of our favourite destinations.
Salcombe is way down the list. We avoid it these days. Yes, it's pretty, but there are plenty of other pretty places along the South Coast.
NPMR
Well-Known Member
We were there in June.
We hadn't even secured to the town quay pontoon for water before the waterborne parking attendant wanted our money. The cost was the most expensive of our two weeks afloat. He did offer us free shower tokens at the yacht club though. Town still for the well heeled.
PS There is a Spar Shop but it is a long walk from the centre of town but it is there, so you CAN get stuff.
Second night there the parking charge was even higher (first man had undercharged us!
Before that we were in Dartmouth. Nice pontoon berth (not able to walk to shore but used the dinghy) and loads cheaper. More facilities, more shops and more things to do - I still want to go on the steam engine as we ran out of time.
There's 'Ditsum' just up river too for a change of scenery if you have time or want it.
For me, Dartmouth gets an 8. Salcombe 4'ish. Its still a pretty harbour but at a price and with limitations. Could well be a good while before we go back.
AND another thing - the local's in Salcombe drove us mad with big wash from their tenders and small Mobo's. They seemed to be more of a nuisance here than I can recall anywhere else.
We hadn't even secured to the town quay pontoon for water before the waterborne parking attendant wanted our money. The cost was the most expensive of our two weeks afloat. He did offer us free shower tokens at the yacht club though. Town still for the well heeled.
PS There is a Spar Shop but it is a long walk from the centre of town but it is there, so you CAN get stuff.
Second night there the parking charge was even higher (first man had undercharged us!
Before that we were in Dartmouth. Nice pontoon berth (not able to walk to shore but used the dinghy) and loads cheaper. More facilities, more shops and more things to do - I still want to go on the steam engine as we ran out of time.
There's 'Ditsum' just up river too for a change of scenery if you have time or want it.
For me, Dartmouth gets an 8. Salcombe 4'ish. Its still a pretty harbour but at a price and with limitations. Could well be a good while before we go back.
AND another thing - the local's in Salcombe drove us mad with big wash from their tenders and small Mobo's. They seemed to be more of a nuisance here than I can recall anywhere else.
john_morris_uk
Well-Known Member
I took our boat with some of my new workmates on a 'team building' (=drinking) overnight to Salcombe a couple of weeks ago. The harbour staff we encountered were polite and friendly and went out of their way to make us feel wanted. We were offered free tokens for showers, advice about facilities and I was left feeling they trying hard to please.
The downside was the £21 odd that I was charged for sitting on the pontoon in the Bag. I didn't feel it was value for money...
The downside was the £21 odd that I was charged for sitting on the pontoon in the Bag. I didn't feel it was value for money...
whisper
Well-Known Member
Well I'm a part-time resident - of Kingsbridge anyway.
My views are as follows :-
In July and August Salcombe is over full with Hooray Henrys of all age groups. The vast majority of these "people" are 2nd home owners or holiday rentees. Good manners and boating etiquette are seriously lacking.
The town struggles to cope with the volume of these and visiting boaters.
The variety of shops is very limited, especially with regard to provisioning. If you want the latest in leisure fashion then this is the place for you.
However a 30/35min trip, on the tide, will take you to Kingsbridge where there are plenty of all types of shop, including one supermarket (soon to be two). Plus pubs and food galore, even The Reel cinema.
Salcombe sorely needs a decent sized toilet, shower and laundry block, for visitors. This was projected a few years ago but the site was not viable.
The town has good beaches within the harbour - a rarety. It is also a very pretty place.
The pubs are generally ok and there are plenty of places to eat - not all are expensive.
During Spring and Autumn the place is great as it has all the pros and only one con ( the lack of a good grocery store).
During Winter it is DEAD. Most of the "fashion houses" close - even the chippy shuts for a couple of months. Pubs are still pleasant though.
Re. the harbour staff - I believe there has been an improvement in attitude. The odd employee could do with a course in customer relations when things are busy but the worst offenders don't seem to be in evidence any more.
People generally seem unaware that the lively, yet still old fashioned market town of Kingsbridge is less than 4 miles "upstream". This does not "close" in the Winter and the vis. berths have about 1.5m of water for HW+/- 2hrs.
The only disadvantage of staying over (drying out on soft mud) is the local souped up car club using the quay for drag racing for an hour or so at night.
Comparisons between Salcombe and Dartmouth are decidedly tenuous. They are both in S.Devon, are physically attractive and suffer from the same co. operating their fuel barges - soon to change in Dartmouth.
Otherwise Dartmouth is far bigger, with all the facilities that that involves, is an all year round place, has a number of marinas ( very unlikely ever to be one at Salcombe), has a beautiful river etc etc.
PS I've never heard of the charging for using your tender, at Salcombe, to go to the beach before - curious.
Ah, that is a proposal, not yet in force and only applies to residents and their tenders below 3.65m or thereabouts.
I believe the licencing agreement for the main boat stipulates that one's tender should only be used for getting to and from the shore. If you agree to this limitation then you dont pay anything for your tender.
What does happen, obviously, is that the wealthy Salcombe boatowners using their small tenders to go to the beach or up Southpool Creek for a pint, from the dinghy pontoon and not the mothership. Tut, tut.
I suspect that there are also boat owning residents of Kingsbridge that are pottering down to the beaches using their little tenders FOC.
Actually I think I pay for my 2.2m dinghy because I didn't want to comply with this restriction - I certainly used to anyway.
My views are as follows :-
In July and August Salcombe is over full with Hooray Henrys of all age groups. The vast majority of these "people" are 2nd home owners or holiday rentees. Good manners and boating etiquette are seriously lacking.
The town struggles to cope with the volume of these and visiting boaters.
The variety of shops is very limited, especially with regard to provisioning. If you want the latest in leisure fashion then this is the place for you.
However a 30/35min trip, on the tide, will take you to Kingsbridge where there are plenty of all types of shop, including one supermarket (soon to be two). Plus pubs and food galore, even The Reel cinema.
Salcombe sorely needs a decent sized toilet, shower and laundry block, for visitors. This was projected a few years ago but the site was not viable.
The town has good beaches within the harbour - a rarety. It is also a very pretty place.
The pubs are generally ok and there are plenty of places to eat - not all are expensive.
During Spring and Autumn the place is great as it has all the pros and only one con ( the lack of a good grocery store).
During Winter it is DEAD. Most of the "fashion houses" close - even the chippy shuts for a couple of months. Pubs are still pleasant though.
Re. the harbour staff - I believe there has been an improvement in attitude. The odd employee could do with a course in customer relations when things are busy but the worst offenders don't seem to be in evidence any more.
People generally seem unaware that the lively, yet still old fashioned market town of Kingsbridge is less than 4 miles "upstream". This does not "close" in the Winter and the vis. berths have about 1.5m of water for HW+/- 2hrs.
The only disadvantage of staying over (drying out on soft mud) is the local souped up car club using the quay for drag racing for an hour or so at night.
Comparisons between Salcombe and Dartmouth are decidedly tenuous. They are both in S.Devon, are physically attractive and suffer from the same co. operating their fuel barges - soon to change in Dartmouth.
Otherwise Dartmouth is far bigger, with all the facilities that that involves, is an all year round place, has a number of marinas ( very unlikely ever to be one at Salcombe), has a beautiful river etc etc.
PS I've never heard of the charging for using your tender, at Salcombe, to go to the beach before - curious.
Ah, that is a proposal, not yet in force and only applies to residents and their tenders below 3.65m or thereabouts.
I believe the licencing agreement for the main boat stipulates that one's tender should only be used for getting to and from the shore. If you agree to this limitation then you dont pay anything for your tender.
What does happen, obviously, is that the wealthy Salcombe boatowners using their small tenders to go to the beach or up Southpool Creek for a pint, from the dinghy pontoon and not the mothership. Tut, tut.
I suspect that there are also boat owning residents of Kingsbridge that are pottering down to the beaches using their little tenders FOC.
Actually I think I pay for my 2.2m dinghy because I didn't want to comply with this restriction - I certainly used to anyway.
jimbaerselman
Well-Known Member
Nice reply whisper.
To put the winter/summer population ratios in perspective, the winter population is around 2,000; the summer population around 20,000. Most summer visitors have cars, and shop for victuals in Kingsbridge, where commercial rents are lower.
Grocery stores with their low margins can't make money in winter with such a low population; fashion stores can make enough with their high margins over the summer season to pay higher rents.
Salcombe is a very beautiful place. It is thus very crowded. Access is rationed by price - and that pays for the empty winters. If you don't like the price, don't go. Of course, the problem could be solved by building high rise apartment blocks around the estuary . . . that would drop prices!
I've noticed that Porto Cervo in Sardinia is similarly expensive . . . and Monte Carlo . . .
To put the winter/summer population ratios in perspective, the winter population is around 2,000; the summer population around 20,000. Most summer visitors have cars, and shop for victuals in Kingsbridge, where commercial rents are lower.
Grocery stores with their low margins can't make money in winter with such a low population; fashion stores can make enough with their high margins over the summer season to pay higher rents.
Salcombe is a very beautiful place. It is thus very crowded. Access is rationed by price - and that pays for the empty winters. If you don't like the price, don't go. Of course, the problem could be solved by building high rise apartment blocks around the estuary . . . that would drop prices!
I've noticed that Porto Cervo in Sardinia is similarly expensive . . . and Monte Carlo . . .
Robin
Well-Known Member
What you say is very true, but in this instance Salcombe HM were panicking last year at the drop in revenue from visitors. The subject got quite an airing on here and they were made aware of peoples comments. Changes were proposed with things like 4th night free offers which really doesn't help people on say a week or two week cruise needing to move on sooner. The place is pretty, but it is too expensive by far for what they offer, £6/night more than we pay in Lymington (in the 'expensive' Solent) as a visitor for example and about £8 more than in neighbouring Dartmouth which has far more facilities.
