Sorry Salcombe!

[cliffdale]

I've nothing against the polite people in the harbour office or the helpful harbour launch, but that is about all the good points going for Salcombe.

Fuel 48p/L

M25 traffic and plenty of boats driven by idiots, wash simulates a trans- Atlantic passage,...

and harbour charges for dropping the hook.

Sorry, but I didn't enjoy the brief visit.

Is it just me or did I have a bad day?

Cliff

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[PaulR]

agree with you, beautiful setting and beaches but very poor facilities and very very expensive- we were rafted 4 boats to a visitor bouy and were charged more for the mooring than anywhere else we moored (as opposed to marinas) on a 2 week cruise from solent to helford river, shoreside facilities inadequate and the town itself packed with designer shops and one very expensive "supermarket" which only took cheques and cash - if we had used water taxi and had showers ashore once each day would have cost us more than the most expensive marina we stayed in all cruise - final insult for us - even the childrens ice creams were almost 3 times the price of lymington, don't enjoy being ripped off - other west country areas at least as beutiful, more character and more welcoming and reasonable charges.

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[deborahann]

Yes. Must agree. Salcolmbe has become a bit of a rip off. Course us locals!! would not dream of buying fuel there anymore. (thought every one knew that). Cant blame them for charging for dropping hook though. Drop it outside the harbour if you dont want it's protection. Dont eat in Salcolmbe, even given up the pubs so take own. Much more fun anyway. Yes it's a bit busy in August!!!.../forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1>deborah on delft.
Nothing to do with Mucky Farter or hlb in drag

 

[milltech]

"Cant blame them for charging for dropping hook though."

Why can't you? Lying to your own anchor is a traditional right, they don't smooth over the sea bed for you or provide any service whatsoever. God gave them the harbour, it has no man made features at all. If you're good enough to bring them your money to spend in the town that should be enough.

If, on the other hand, you choose a mooring and a prime position close to the town then a charge is fair because a service has been offered. I might allow your observation if the harbour taxi was free or something, but nothing deserves nothing in my book, not in Salcombe and not anywhere else where a natural estuary is all on offer.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[hlb]

This arguementwill go on forever. However Salcolme is a harbour, whether man made or otherwise. It's enterance is buoyed and lights are provided. Now if they charged in a bay with no fasilities at all, I would agree. But then if I made the rules all boating would be free as a national service. We provide countless entertainment for milloins of tourists!!

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Peppermint]

Re: Salcombe is a model harbour

The local authority milks the visitors much harder than it does the locals. Resident boats, owned by a South Hams rate payer, get cheaper moorings, the lists long though, and harbour dues.

The HM staff are very efficient and quite helpful. They are well funded and equiped too.

The facilities are good though not extensive. Showers only at the yacht club for example.

Fuel from barges is often expensive and Salcombes main market is the small quantity buying dayboats.

If you were to ask the harbour staff to point to a section of yachting that caused them problems, anchored yachts would be right up there with speeding sportsboats. So why not charge them?

It is a breathtakingly beautiful place and the beaches are great. That must be worth something.

Nobody, with local knowledge, would go there in August.

Yes I am a fan.

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[milltech]

Yes the entrance is buoyed, but isn't that Trinity House?

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[milltech]

Re: Salcombe is a model harbour

"If you were to ask the harbour staff to point to a section of yachting that caused them problems, anchored yachts would be right up there with speeding sportsboats. So why not charge them?"

You may be right, but can you explain why an anchored boat is right up there with speeding sportsboats, because, well just because it's a strange claim and I don't understand?


<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[adarcy]

Re: Salcombe!

Dreadful place IMVHO

Free market etc. but we won't be going there again so that will keep the cost down for the rest of you by reducing the competition (v v v v slightly)

Basically, we thought the town and, especially, the pubs were crap, we were put on a buoy near Salcombe YC and I can honestly say it was the most uncomfortable place I had been for years. There was some sailing regatta, no problem normally - let them get on with it - but we had to put up with and endless stream of small RIBs and dories ploughing past us with less than 6ft clearance all day - very bumpy.

All in all, I cannot think of anything nice to say about the place and we won't be bothering them again

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[Peppermint]

Re: The harbour staff

re anchor a fair few anchored yachts, move them off the ferry line, collect lost dinghies and run around for the anchoring brigade. It's much harder than just being firm with the speeders.

When you anchor, the facilities such as the short stay pontoon, refuse barge, landing stages are available to you. You can even dry out for free if you need to.
Of course if you only land on the beach the charges might look a bit steep.

This is a town that doesn't need to subsidise visitors. In high season it can't cope with the ones it's got.

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[Will]

Re: Salcombe!

I agree with you. I'm unfortunate to live just outside Salcombe. Beautiful place, location wise. Spoilt by second homes and general aura of being Chelsea-on-Sea. It is bypassed by locals, as there is nothing there of any much use except faded pink rugger shirts at exorbitant prices. I had to pop in on Saturday to pick something up and I've been in a bad mood ever since (can you tell?) Idiots wandering all over the streets in bare feet and trendy aforementioned shirts. I bet they don't wander all over the street in Putney. Far too many loud children with names like Ludmilla and Rupert, and pointless labradors in Range Rovers. Grrr.


Other than that it's fine.

In my humble (but corrrect) opinion anyway.

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[milltech]

Re: Salcombe!

"Idiots wandering all over the streets in bare feet and trendy aforementioned shirts."

I must confess, 40 odd years ago I was one of them.

<hr width=100% size=1>John
http://www.on-line-marine.com

 

[Will]

Re: Salcombe!

So was I, up until a couple of years ago, but don't tell anyone. Now I'm cross because they'rre all on holiday and I'm not you see. Seriously though, I don't think it's one of the Westcountry's better destinations.

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[hlb]

Re: Salcombe!

Must admit, I've started to take a dislike to the place. Course I also banned the Solent for three years after ariving on Cowes week. Salcolme can rival Cowes week for the whole of August. Still you can find quiet moorings up the Bag. But yes, the pubs dont know how much to charge before they see tears roll down your face. Go out of season when the prices amazingly reduce.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[Joe_Cole]

I've got newspaper article in front of me about a plot of land which is up for sale in Salcombe. It's on the edge of the water, measures 20ft x 10ft and is unsuitable for building development of any kind or even for mooring a boat.

Price? £75,000

Ah well........

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[Observer]

Thanks all for raining on my parade. We're taking a week's holiday in Salcombe (ashore) from Saturday. Staying at a place which has a pontoon mooring for <4m) so trailing the RIB and taking the tender as well. Have booked mooring for the RIB and found harbour staff helpful and efficient.

Any recommendations for decent family pub(s)/restaurants which are good for children (12, 9, 5) and NOT too over-priced.

What about places to explore by water?

And places for waterski-ing/ringo?



<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://aflcharters.co.uk>Dream Dancer</A>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Haven't been there myself but there are good reports of a pub in Southpool, sorry don't know the name but I'm sure the locals will tell you.

Also had a good inexpensive meal in a coffee house on the main street, come up from the dinghy pontoon, turn right, about 50 yards on the left.

Have a good holiday, hope the sun shines.

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[hlb]

Theres another place good for kids about 50yds passed Long Johns place. Its on the right on a T junction cant remember the name. The pub just by it is not bad as long as you stick to the oldies end to the right.
No water skying/ringo's in the harbour.

Loads of places to explore. Up the river at high tide. Or round the coast. Hope cove or Bure Island are not very far.

<hr width=100% size=1> Flags Solly MFBR</font color=red>
Haydn

 

[jhr]

Salcombe

Well, I love Salcombe. (Runs for cover). When our kids were younger, we went there every year for 3 or 4 years and stayed at the South Sands Hotel, on (gasp!) South Sands beach, a mile or so down from the town, on the west bank of the inlet (it's not an estuary, it's a ria.........). It used to be a very child friendly hotel with an excellent restaurant and in a wonderful location, on a great beach. I gather that it has now changed hands and that the emphasis has also changed, which is a pity. However, it's still worth taking the ferry from Town down to the beach because, inter alia, you will come ashore on a Sea Tractor, which is a laugh. Also, if there are dolphins in the Harbour, which there often are, they tend to follow the ferry to and fro. You can also go there by RIB, but don't try to go into North Sands beach, which is rocky and treacherous. There's a great sheltered anchorage just outside the harbour entrance - though I would imagine it would be dodgy with any east in the wind. I can't remember its name but a glance at the chart will tell you. If you want to ringo, you will have to venture out to open sea, because there's a 10 (?) knot limit throughout the harbour.

Places to go by water include going up to Kingsbridge on the tide (excellent bookshop and generally less twee than Salcombe), East Portlemouth and Mill Bay opposite Salcombe, for the beaches and also for an easy, but spectacular walk from Mill Bay, along the coastal path to Gara Rock Hotel and then back across the fields.

As Haydn says, Hope Cove and Burgh Island are not far away. The Burgh Island Hotel is a beautifully restored art deco building, but a treat for grown ups rather than kids. The Lobster Pot Inn, below it, is fine and there's another, even bigger, sea tractor (as featured in the film "Catch us if you Can", Dave Clark 5 buffs!) to take people across to the Island when the causeway is covered at high tide.

Pubs in Salcombe are generally so-so but nearby there is the Tower in Slapton (vvg), the Maltster's Arms at Tuckenhay (ex proprietor K. Floyd) and various other places tucked away in picturesque villages. For grown ups, there is the Carved Angel in Dartmouth, one of the best restaurants in the West Country - but you'll need to book in advance and take out a second mortgage.

Other things our kids enjoyed included going to Sawley Tunnel Farm - a low tech venue whose main attractions were a steep "death drop" slide and an old, creepy disused railway tunnel going under the Farm. It may be rather, ahem, unsophisticated for your 15 year old. The other "must visit" place for me is Overbecks, which is a National Trust house, situated above the town, with spectacular views. The gardens are beautiful, if that's your thing (and even if it's not) and the house has a mini toy museum and a massive Victorian device, like an overgrown music box, that plays tunes stored on big metal discs. The kids will be invited to hunt for Fred the friendly ghost (once again, p'raps not the 15 year old) and the place is an absolute delight. Follow signs from Salcombe for Sharpitor, or walk up - and I do mean up - from South Sands beach.

There is also Trago Mills if you are feeling masochistic.

Have a great time and don't listen to this bunch of grumpy old men. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif



<hr width=100% size=1>Je suis Marxiste - tendance Groucho

 

[BrendanS]

Re: Salcombe

Yes, agree with all that, and I love it there too!

Tower Inn is a must for the best selection of real ales that you are likely to encounter.

Also well worth a visit is Snapes Point (this is the green hilly promontory over to your left when facing the water in Salcombe. The view from there, looking over Salcombe and all the boat activity is wonderful, Could sit there for hours on a sunny day (given a cool box of beers!)

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni