Recent visit to Salcombe

[Ripster]

Thought I would share a few pics and a brief story of a recent short trip a bit further West. We bombed down as far as Plymouth (from Torquay) on flattish seas (though the swell got a bit rolly around Start and Prawl, but nothing troubling) and enjoyed blue skies all the way. We tied up at QAB in Plymouth and moseyed around the Hoe frequenting a number of suitable pubs and eateries. The views from the Hoe up the Sound are superb and there are plenty of boat movements to watch. Many hours can be spent enyoying the buzz there.

We then went back East round to Salcombe where it all calmed down. You know how a place can be described with colourful adjectives and bubbling enthusiasm and you sort of make allowances for exageration etc. Well, this place lived up to its descriptions and from a boating perspective is truly superb IMO. It is better than expected and is truly a fantastic place to spend some time in and around boats. We got into Salcombe (dead easy once you get the leading line and land marks, then pick up the well marked channel) and spoke to the young assistant HM who came up in his launch as he saw us come in from a previous radio call (SWMBO's heart was fluttering as he approached for a boatside discussion in his Oakley's and spikey blonde hair cut!). After some discussion and negotiating, he gave us a buoy at the far end of the Bag towards Kingsbridge. He wanted to raft us on the VP against a very nice FL Targa 44, but was finally persuaded by us that we would really appreciate a bouy.

Having moored up and switched the engines off, the true beauty and serenity of the place really strikes you. We bimbled about for a couple of days in and out of town on the tender (about a 15 min journey from where we were) and even got as far as Kingsbridge (3 miles or so) by tender for lunch on one day. Set in that location with the sun out was just idyllic.

The pubs/eateries in Salcombe town were very busy in the evenings, so booking is preferable. Your daily ablutions, frankly, are best done on the boat as the facilities are not up to much, though they are there. But, that really does not matter as the place just takes you in and puts you firmly in relax mode. If you are down that way and the weather is decent, make sure you visit. You will not be dissappointed. All IMHO of course!

 

[Greg2]

Looks great. Love to get round to that part of the world one day...

 

[hlb]

Ahha Solcolmbe.

http://s70.photobucket.com/albums/i81/haydn_2006/?action=view&current=TheNudeOnTheBeach.mp4

 

[markcw]

What a great boat adventure, we drove to salcombe recently to check the place out to trailer our boat, and was amazed at the beauty of the place, picture postcard does it no justice, and that was from foot and car.

long way for us to drive and the roads not good for a 27ft trailer plus a landrover, salcombe reminds me of abroad. would love to boat there one day when i win the lottery and can buy a bigger boat.

great pics thanks for shareing

 

[whisper]

Agreed

What you say is very true except for the fact that in August it's so busy that it's hardly relaxing.
Re. facilities, you can use those at the ICC - on the old ferry Egremont or at Salcombe Yacht Club in town.
Victuals readily available at 2 supermarkets in Kingsbridge - go by dinghy HW+/-2 to 2.5hrs.
Excellent pub/restaurant at South Pool - similar tidal constraints.

 

[Ripster]

What you say is very true except for the fact that in August it's so busy that it's hardly relaxing.
Re. facilities, you can use those at the ICC - on the old ferry Egremont or at Salcombe Yacht Club in town.
Victuals readily available at 2 supermarkets in Kingsbridge - go by dinghy HW+/-2 to 2.5hrs.
Excellent pub/restaurant at South Pool - similar tidal constraints.

So that would be your Targa 25 moored on the approach to Kingsbridge then?

Yes we had heard that August was busy and more hectic. But once moored and settled, buzzing about here and there in a tender with which restuarant to choose being the major decision of the day and then sunning yourself sipping a good Rioja in those surroundings drifting about on a buoy is still going to edge towards fairly relaxing in my book

 

[lisilou]

Sounds beautifully idyllic. Dammit...'Think we're gonna need a bigger boat!'

 

[jhr]

I love Salcombe; we used to take the kids there (ashore) when they were young. We're renting a house in the centre of Town, in early August, and taking the rubber ducky & outboard with us, for a bit of bimbling around the harbour. Can't wait

 

[rbcoomer]

Sounds beautifully idyllic. Dammit...'Think we're gonna need a bigger boat!'

Not at all - if you do the run down to Brixham then from there to Salcombe will be pretty easy. I'm looking to do that part in the next few weeks from Teignmouth in a 14'... I'll make sure I get lots of pictures and videos.

Your only dilemma will be finding enough time to do Dartmouth, up the Dart to Galmpton/Totnes, Salcombe, Kingsbridge... perhaps even the Yealm?

 

[whisper]

So that would be your Targa 25 moored on the approach to Kingsbridge then?

Yes we had heard that August was busy and more hectic. But once moored and settled, buzzing about here and there in a tender with which restuarant to choose being the major decision of the day and then sunning yourself sipping a good Rioja in those surroundings drifting about on a buoy is still going to edge towards fairly relaxing in my book

Yes that's our "mini patrol boat".
Agree re. your description of relaxation when moored in the estuary - it's just that the town isn't very pleasant when clogged up by masses of visitors.
However it's a super place generally and is also a good base for keeping a boat. For example today we did a round-trip of Kingsbridge - Salcombe - Brixham (to see if MBM fleet was still there - no!) - Teignmouth - Torquay - Salcombe - Kingsbridge. We had lunch on board in Teignmouth, walked the pier and promenade, played crazy golf (I lost badly to a non-golfer). Hadn't really looked at the town before. Was a very nice surprise - clean and well looked after.
Had coffee in Torquay - that seemed much tidier than a couple of years ago.
Had Fish&Chips in Salcombe whilst waiting for the tide up to K'bridge.

Sea a bit lumpy on the way out, flat except around the headlands on the way back - raced another Targa between Start and Prawle (silly boy!!!). Spray everywhere - tee hee. I wasn't the helmsman I might add. He was my partner in the boat who always moans at me if I exceed 20kts, on economy grounds. He however was happy to run at WOT and just under 30kts against the tide!!
Nice day out and just 70nm run.

PS we won!!

 

[rbcoomer]

What a great boat adventure, we drove to salcombe recently to check the place out to trailer our boat, and was amazed at the beauty of the place, picture postcard does it no justice, and that was from foot and car.

long way for us to drive and the roads not good for a 27ft trailer plus a landrover, salcombe reminds me of abroad. would love to boat there one day when i win the lottery and can buy a bigger boat.

great pics thanks for shareing

As you'll be looking to trailer/launch, why not carry on down A38 to Saltash or Plymouth and launch in the Tamar? Distance to Salcombe from there is similar as from Torquay (about 28 miles I think?). You can then do Hope Cove, Yealm and Burgh Island on the way...

 

[longjohnsilver]

Yes that's our "mini patrol boat".
Agree re. your description of relaxation when moored in the estuary - it's just that the town isn't very pleasant when clogged up by masses of visitors.
However it's a super place generally and is also a good base for keeping a boat. For example today we did a round-trip of Kingsbridge - Salcombe - Brixham (to see if MBM fleet was still there - no!) - Teignmouth - Torquay - Salcombe - Kingsbridge. We had lunch on board in Teignmouth, walked the pier and promenade, played crazy golf (I lost badly to a non-golfer). Hadn't really looked at the town before. Was a very nice surprise - clean and well looked after.
Had coffee in Torquay - that seemed much tidier than a couple of years ago.
Had Fish&Chips in Salcombe whilst waiting for the tide up to K'bridge.

Sea a bit lumpy on the way out, flat except around the headlands on the way back - raced another Targa between Start and Prawle (silly boy!!!). Spray everywhere - tee hee. I wasn't the helmsman I might add. He was my partner in the boat who always moans at me if I exceed 20kts, on economy grounds. He however was happy to run at WOT and just under 30kts against the tide!!
Nice day out and just 70nm run.

PS we won!!

We spent a night in Teignmouth a few weeks back, it is a beautiful spot made much easier with the pontoons they put in a few years back but the tide is very strong on springs. Could be back there tonight on our way to Lyme Regis for a few days diving and to watch the Red Arrows tomorrow lunch time. Or maybe we'll just drop the hook in Ansteys Cove or Babbacombe. Or even pick up my mooring in Exmouth. So many choices........

Whenever we go West we never have any problem around Start, always seems to be flat right in close but then it's always lumpy around Salcombe to Bolt Tail regardless of sea conditions and tide. Can never really understand why.

 

[whisper]

We spent a night in Teignmouth a few weeks back, it is a beautiful spot made much easier with the pontoons they put in a few years back but the tide is very strong on springs. Could be back there tonight on our way to Lyme Regis for a few days diving and to watch the Red Arrows tomorrow lunch time. Or maybe we'll just drop the hook in Ansteys Cove or Babbacombe. Or even pick up my mooring in Exmouth. So many choices........

Whenever we go West we never have any problem around Start, always seems to be flat right in close but then it's always lumpy around Salcombe to Bolt Tail regardless of sea conditions and tide. Can never really understand why.

Yes, Teignmouth seems to have had a makeover - very pleasant. Commercial shipping down by 40-50% this year so they need our support. As you say, tide fairly rushes past the pontoons, so you need to be awake if rowing to shore. Not sure if I'd fancy entering/exiting over the Bar at LW Springs.
For info. cost of a night's stop is £1.10 per m. I believe. We were charged £5 for a day time stop.

Find that Start can be "interesting" on Springs with wind against tide. Doesn't last long though if you are close in. Then often bumpy between there and half way to Prawle. The latter can also be lumpy close in, but again doesn't last for long.
Agree re. Bolt Hd to Bolt Tail - often uncomfortable but then flattens out in Bigbury Bay.
I assume that all this is caused by the the rough shelving bottom.

Lovely morning here today - estuary flat and mirror like - pity I've got "jobs" to do. Might just pop down to Salcombe fuel barge though, to top up with their liquid gold!!

 

[Cookee]

Ripster - Glad you had a good time - We normally just get people moaning about the cost of being here and miss out all of the good points!

Markcw - I can assure you that a VW Touareg towing a 10 metre boat fits onto the slipway from out of town quite happily - 27' really fits no problem at all!



The only tip I would have is that you book everything from now until the end of the school holidays if you want to be guaranteed a meal out in Salcombe!

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Yes that's our "mini patrol boat".
Agree re. your description of relaxation when moored in the estuary - it's just that the town isn't very pleasant when clogged up by masses of visitors.
However it's a super place generally and is also a good base for keeping a boat. For example today we did a round-trip of Kingsbridge - Salcombe - Brixham (to see if MBM fleet was still there - no!) - Teignmouth - Torquay - Salcombe - Kingsbridge. We had lunch on board in Teignmouth, walked the pier and promenade, played crazy golf (I lost badly to a non-golfer). Hadn't really looked at the town before. Was a very nice surprise - clean and well looked after.
Had coffee in Torquay - that seemed much tidier than a couple of years ago.
Had Fish&Chips in Salcombe whilst waiting for the tide up to K'bridge.

Sea a bit lumpy on the way out, flat except around the headlands on the way back - raced another Targa between Start and Prawle (silly boy!!!). Spray everywhere - tee hee. I wasn't the helmsman I might add. He was my partner in the boat who always moans at me if I exceed 20kts, on economy grounds. He however was happy to run at WOT and just under 30kts against the tide!!
Nice day out and just 70nm run.

PS we won!!

Oi whisper !!!!!!!!..........you did ALL that !!!!,......AND enjoyed yourself......while us worker drones were slogging away !!!!!............AND !!!!!!.........you tease us by telling us about it !!!!...... AND !!!!!! you cant be bothered to post a SINGLE PIC !!!!!!!!.......LESS THAN NO CONSIDERATION SOME PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........

 

[Ripster]

Oi whisper !!!!!!!!..........you did ALL that !!!!,......AND enjoyed yourself......while us worker drones were slogging away !!!!!............AND !!!!!!.........you tease us by telling us about it !!!!...... AND !!!!!! you cant be bothered to post a SINGLE PIC !!!!!!!!.......LESS THAN NO CONSIDERATION SOME PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........

Yeah right... I thought that too. And..he had a race... and won it. Great trip all round Whisper. Must visit Teignmouth again its only round the corner from us and relatively cheap to stay over too. Matter of interest, where do you leave your tender - just tied on the beach or is there a formal place?

 

[hlb]

Theres nothing "Formal" about Teighmouth. Tie it to a table at the pub.

 

[whisper]

Oi whisper !!!!!!!!..........you did ALL that !!!!,......AND enjoyed yourself......while us worker drones were slogging away !!!!!............AND !!!!!!.........you tease us by telling us about it !!!!...... AND !!!!!! you cant be bothered to post a SINGLE PIC !!!!!!!!.......LESS THAN NO CONSIDERATION SOME PEOPLE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.........

Sorry, no piccies 'cos I don't know how to post them and haven't got the patience to learn!!
Mind you the camera couldn't focus during "the race" due to bouncing around.!!