Salcombe

The view from Salcombe waterfront

Salcombe is a town in the South Hams district of Devon, England on the Kingsbridge Estuary. Originally a fishing port, the town is now a centre for yachting. A notable feature of the town is the ruins of Fort Charles. Ferries sail from Salcombe to Kingsbridge and to East Portlemouth.

The Estuary

Salcombe is at the mouth of one of the most pictuesque estuaries in the South West, steep sided with woods and farmland surrounding it. The estuary was carved out by glacial melt water at the end of the ice age. See ria.

The Bar

The Bar is a shallow submerged spit of sand across the entrance to the estuary that causes the entrance to be nearly impassible on low spring tides in strong southerly winds. It is believed that Lord Tennyson's famour poem "Crossing the Bar" was inspired by a visit to Salcombe during the 19th century. The poem begins with the lines, "Sunset and evening star and one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea,...". The moaning refers to the noise of the water breaking over The Bar. In 1916 the Salcombe lifeboat, an open rowboat, was capsized crossing The Bar resulting in a tragic loss of life.

The Town

Salcombe is a seaside town. It has the second highest property prices in the UK, after Sandbanks, Poole (outside of central London). There is a wide variety of shops including Cranch's pantry which has old-fashioned sweets and, depending on the season, 15-20 different boutiques, all selling expensive clothes. The restuarants are varied, but in general one must expect London prices. The local Art Club's exhibition, held during the season in an old loft near The Fortesque Inn, is often worth stopping by for a reasonably-priced souvenir.

The Beaches

The beaches are very picturesque and so get busy in summer. They include Mill Bay and Sunny Cove, reached from the town via the East Portlemouth ferry (foot passengers only) and South Sands, which is a most enjoyable 15 minute ride away on the Salcombe-South Sands Ferry. Your ticket also includes a ride on the famous Sea Tractor! North Sands is a beautiful but steep walk from the town centre, taking about 20-30 minutes, depending on your level of fitness. The tides can be very strong in the estuary.

External links

• Salcombe (DMOZ.org)
• Salcombe Estuary Rowing Club
• Salcombe Tourist Information
• Lapthorn family tree to the 1400s A well known Salcombe and South Hams family name.