The Great Short Break Escape, by Ruth Saunders
Outside the main season is a great time to take a short break in the South Hams
Prices are lower, beaches are empty, and the logs are piled high ready for a night in front of the woodburner with a good book!
Your ideal 3-night break might include coastal walks, excellent food in pubs and restaurants with menus offering local ingredients, and unique shopping in pretty towns overlooking rivers and estuaries at Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Salcombe.
Dittiscombe Estate & Cottages is set in a tranquil South Hams valley, with lovely gardens surrounded by a 20 acre private estate exclusive to guests, 2 miles from Slapton village and the dog-friendly beaches of Start Bay beaches.
In the village and surrounding area you’ll discover:
Two excellent dog-friendly pubs, The Tower Inn which offers a locally sourced gastropub menu, and The Queens Arms with great beers and ciders on tap. In front of the log fires you can read up on the many stories of the D-Day landing practices which took place here during the Second World War. Both pubs welcome dogs inside.
The freshwater lagoon at Slapton Ley is a national nature reserve where you can enjoy fabulous views of the lake and the sea. Take the nature trail around the reedbeds and you might spot rare winter migrants or see Starling murmurations at dusk.
Start Bay, a sweeping curve of dog-friendly beaches, is great for a bracing winter walk beside the sea, or sit and just weather-watch in the local cafes and seaside pubs at Torcross and Beesands. Here too you can join up with the South West Coast Path and take in the spectacular views between Salcombe and Dartmouth with Start Point Lighthouse along the way.
Visit the farm shop at Stokeley to pick up quality craft beers made by the South Hams Brewery and some local Stokeley sausages to take home. Whilst there enjoy a generous cream tea in their cafe with cream on top, the Devon way, of course!
So find a perfect cottage for your short break at Dittiscombe. From October to April we offer warm and cosy short breaks with log-burners, spa baths and views of the rolling Devon hills from a cottage window. We are dog-friendly. You can book 2, 3 and 4-night or more short breaks at all-inclusive rates. You can book online directly with us here.
To find out more about Slapton and Start Bay read Ruth’s Blog.
We had a lovely stay at the Owlery over the August bank holiday. The Owlery itself had everything we could want for a relaxing long weekend away and the setting was stunning. It felt rural and peaceful yet not far away the coast is buzzing with activity.
Excellent location, lots of places to visit. Welcoming and friendly. Slapton village is lovely. Two good pubs and dog friendly.
Sea Dogs of Start Bay
Julie Hinder was intrigued to find our more about the brave Sea Dogs of Start Bay who swam out and helped bring in the catch for fishing communities.
The Secret World of a South Devon Hedgerow by Ruth Saunders
Devon hedgerows burst with wildflowers between April and July, so it’s a perfect time to enjoy these abundant displays. But they are also wonderful wildlife corridors and areas of true biodiversity. A walk or cycle along a Devon green lane will be a journey of discovery!
An Exotic National Trust Garden with Sea Views, by Ruth Saunders
The National Trust’s Overbeck’s garden and museum is tucked into a belt of woodland high above Salcombe estuary and beaches, and is a stone’s throw from dramatic and spectacular views around Starehole Bay at Bolt Head on the the South West Coast Path.