Salcombe (roll on summer!)

[Bigo]

So on another gloomy winter day I’ve started to think about summer (I know it’s a bit early!!) anyway... I’ve book a mooring at Salcombe and some accommodation for two weeks in August I will be towing the rib down launching and leaving the trailer at the trailer park and the rib on a swinging mooring.

Would any of you which have been to Salcombe previously please be able to recommend some good coves or beaches to explore with in 15nm ish?? Hoping there’s some really great ‘secret’ coves!

Also in regards to fuel what’s the prices like in Salcombe ??

And finally Fishing.... what fish am I likely to catch ?? I assume I need a few lures and I’ll be into some pollack !?

I’d appreciate everyone’s and anyone’s thoughts and opinion on things to do!

And.... hurry up summer!!!!

[lukewhiting]

I’ve been down a few times in my old thundercat. The estuary itself is amazing! Crystal clear blue water, little beaches etc

There’s a 2hour free stay pontoon next to the harbour office which is handy.

I took a trip out to hope cove and thurlston which are both about 20/30mins up the coast. At high tide you can get up the estuary at thurlston.

Tried a spot of fishing but only caught a few mackerel.

I’ll be heading down again this summer in my new boat!

[WhiteShark]

I shall be down there also in August ! We are planning a little trip exploring between Salcombe and Falmouth and there are literally dozens of places along the way that look good to visit. Thus far my planning has not extended beyond use of the Shell Channel Pilot and Google Images for photos, but the following all look promising within a short hop from Salcombe:

Elender Cove
Hope Cove
Sunny Cove
Redlap Cove
Fishcombe Cove
Blackpool Sands

Whereabouts are you mooring up in Salcombe may I ask ?

I don't know much about fishing but a line of Hokkai feathers has often meant good results with anything from bass, bream, mackeral and pollack coming aboard in the Solent, so I can't imagine the West Country fish are any more discerning... ;-)

[pow2gran]

Bigo you must try the Millbrook at Southpool accessible at high tide and they do a great paella on a summers evening. Have also done Salcombe a number of times now. Last year we did a run to the Eddystone then onto Fawe for lunch and a pint, back over Plymouth sound and a pint at Burgh Island before heading home. The best family beach for us is Mill Bay within the estuary. Salcombe is a great holiday destination especially with a rib!

[Bigo]

Thanks for the responses guys! Wow lots of places to go great info all of you!

White shark I’ve got an off town mooring apparently accessible 3-4 hours either side of the tide

Thanks, keep it coming [emoji106]

[The Black Pig]

Fuel at a barge near town expensive byo if poss from co op nearby
Plenty to do sandy beaches near in estuary/ ria, starehole bay round the corner to the west for high speed fun, skiing, ringoing ect
Further afield Dartmouth, hope cove ( watch rocks) Bigbury ( ditto) Plymouth Eddystone lighthouse a good trip 20 miles with a reef for good fishing good Mackerel in summer in the bay 80ft water approx under hull
A few spots for bigger stuff I can show you locally

[paulbrown22]

I've taken our sailing yacht all the way up the estuary from Salcombe to Kingsbridge before and really love that trip, if you want a slow potter at high tide. You will see loads of small boats gathered at Mill Bay within the estuary on a nice day. As others have said, Dartmouth is a lovely place (and exploring up the river there a bit good fun), personally I like Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo and Wembury just outside of Plymouth as well. Slightly further afield Fowey, Falmouth and Helford are all really nice. Polperro and Mevagissey are beautiful very small old harbours if you're there at the right time for tide.

[pow2gran]

A few photos from last summer! Paella at the Millbrook, RMS at Eddystone,Southpool & Bigbury

[midlife]

With a boat your size noss mayo and newton ferries is a must ,last I let before Plymouth and past burgh island , absolutely stunning , went about 6 times this summer , also at high tide go up river Avon at bantham , very special trip , lots of bass caught , pollock and mackerel off hope cove to bantham and towards gara rock out of salcombe on silver weighted spinning lures bought from ashbys down here , slow troll over rocky coastline as close as you dare about 2.5 knots

[midlife]

[Bigo]

Wow great photos pow2gran & midlife! Definitely sorted some destinations out for me and that paella looks amazing! Thanks for all the info.

[RickW]

Originally Posted by lukewhiting

I’ve been down a few times in my old thundercat. The estuary itself is amazing! Crystal clear blue water, little beaches etc

There’s a 2hour free stay pontoon next to the harbour office which is handy.

I took a trip out to hope cove and thurlston which are both about 20/30mins up the coast. At high tide you can get up the estuary at thurlston.

Tried a spot of fishing but only caught a few mackerel.

I’ll be heading down again this summer in my new boat!

what are you getting next??

[WhiteShark]

@ midlife

Are they sharks in that picture you posted ??

[Brian]

Possibly just one-probably a basking shark.
Dorsal and tail fin (upper caudal fin) visible.

[WhiteShark]

Ah yes I see that now. How awesome, I would love to catch a sighting of one of those.

[Brian]

The Irish Sea between the Isle of Man and Ireland is their favourite place in the season.

[midlife]

It swam right under our boat off the house at hope cove this summer , we had humpbacks ,porpoise,mola mola [sunfish) as well , Cracking summer for wild life as there was so much food for them this year