Just how far has North Sands come in the last 2 to 3 years! South Sands has always been the nicer of the 2 "sands" with its golden beach and smart hotels, but just lately North Sands has really come to the party.
The Winking Prawn is one of my favourite places in Salcombe. The outside food is great and the summer BBQ is unbeatable! If the sun is out this is the place to be for food, beer or a coffee. The kids love the dressing up box and the huge beach at low tide, whilst the adults can relax knowing their kids are pretty much as safe as they can be anywhere these days. There is a green for balls sports and tennis facilities behind the WP.
One noticeable recent change are the houses overlooking North Sands; Sand Hills Road has always been up market and pricey but the once dowdy North Sands now has some amazing properties including one of Salcombe's finest; the large and well designed wooden/glass combo sat proudly behind The Winking Prawn boasts some amazing views and sits sympathetically within its surroundings. Rumour has it that this build was originally commissioned by the guy who ran off with Robert Maxwell's pension fund...or something like that?!!?!?
There is a burgeoning water sports scene and you can even get a half decent surf at North Sands or if you are brave and the conditions are right you can paddle out to The Bar where the waves really jack up if there is a nice low sitting over The Atlantic/English Channel, SUP's are also a common sight in summer. Messing around in the surf on a kayak is also great fun.
If you want a quieter beach then Splat's Cove is only a short walk and a bit further along the coast path you can access Starehole Bay beaches at low tide. For the more energetic there is a great run from Bolt Head to Bolberry and back along the old coach road to Malborough finishing with a great off road section bringing you down the bridal path into the back of North Sands.
If you take what North Sands has to offer and the look at South Sands with it's superb water sports school, great new hotel and the lovely beach then it's a hard place to trump when the sun is out. If I was a visitor I would ditch town and it's overcrowded streets for the calm serenity of the North/South Sands oasis. There are some great summer rental properties at all levels of budget.
It's even great in winter when you can watch the waves crashing over the beach wall when the SW gales blow in.
Salcombe just gets better ad better!
Wednesday 7 July 2010
North & South Sands, Salcombe's Hidden Gems
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8 comments:
Haven't tried the Winking Prawn for a while. Must re-acquaint myself with it!
You can't beat the winking prawn for breakfast, epecially after driving for 4.5hrs to get down to Salcombe first thing in the morning!
Glad to see some more Salcombe blogging, Jim Berrisford is the guy ... suggest you Google him for more info! Can't say that I like the concrete new build further up the hill, which looks like a wasted opportunity. Is the path open to Splat again ... suspect it isn't. And what about when the South Sands ferry used to come into the concrete wall to the south of South Sands. I think it also used to land at Splat in certain tides.
Splat is still closed due to danger of rock fall. Ferry indeed used to land at Splat many years ago - nightmare getting on and off !!! Agree that North Sands is very underated - great in summer and winter- just the right distance for a stroll from Salcombe and back with some great views.....bliss !!!
The Salcombe I remember is from the 60s. Burners for the cider. The Ferry Inn for the Guinness & the pasties & Ploughmans lunches -- I used to bake the bread & make the pasties for the 'Ferry'at the Salcombe Hotel.I got a penny a pasty bonus from the boss- Peter Ryder.
Cliff house rock & roll dances to the sound of The Plymouth Rocks ! I met my future wife there. A great little town & great times with my work mates from the S.H.mostly students on holiday.
Good to see you back blogging 00devon! South Sands wins by a small margin. Had a sandwich lunch at The Tides Reach recently.Sat in the sun in the garden watching the ducks on the pond with a pint and enjoyed impeccable cheerful service at a very reasonable cost.Beats the Wanking Prawn anytime where the service can be diffident. The new South Sands hotel is fabulous,and the menu although pricey now offers the best food in Salcombe-under the guidance of Mitch Tonks. Had ice cream on the watersports centre slipway - who needs the Riviera when the weather is like its been the last 3 weeks. I still prefer to stay in central Salcombe (stayed this year in a great place in Allenhayes Road)though, nearer to the pub/coffee/restaurant action in the evenings, and near the park and crab fishing spots for the kids.....Roll on my next Salcombe break!
Both are great but North Sands is developing an uber-luxury feel. Chrome and steel sitting nicely with the established large houses. It is also a much more realistic walk into town. South Sands Hotel worth visiting but a little expensive in my view
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