Beachside Bliss At The Harbour Beach Club Hotel, Salcombe – Review
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6 months ago
Serenity in Salcombe
Amelia Windsor checks into Salcombe’s Harbour Beach Club Hotel for a coastal staycation.
Harbour Beach Club Hotel, Salcombe – Review
It was a year ago to the day that I visited the Harbour Beach Club Hotel in Salcombe, and it was just as heavenly as I had remembered. This time I was lucky enough to stay in the spacious Penthouse Suite, whose tall leaning ceiling felt like being in the inside of ship ready to head out to sea. I was even told that Benedict Cumberbatch had just checked out of the suite I was to be staying in as he had been filming in the area (not that I needed any more convincing that this room was fit for a movie star). The huge bed was so comfy that it proved hard to pull myself out of in the morning, but when I finally did, opening the curtains to see the first glimmers of sunshine on the sea was, of course, worth it.
I could have stared at the view of South Sands beach for the entirety of my stay – from the morning swimming groups dosing up on endorphins to the dog walkers whose pets whizz round the beach with great excitement and the day-tripping families with children whose fascination for sand and all its possibilities will beat any game on an iPad.
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Weather dependent, there are endless activities on offer at the hotel: take your pick from restorative yoga on the beach every morning to paddle boarding after breakfast on the calm bay water or kayaking out to sea to watch the sunset. There are breathtaking walks along the south west coastal path that are accessible straight from the hotel, as well as forested walks behind the property. I highly recommend fitting in a visit to the stunning Overbeck gardens only a short walk away, where you’ll find a rare plant-filled paradise with views out to the sea. You might opt to simply lounge on the lovely selection of sun beds at the hotel looking onto the beach to read your book, but if the sun doesn’t grace you with its presence, head to the spa for a few laps in the green tiled pool followed by a steam, sauna and dip in the jacuzzi.
The famous South Sands Ferry has been running for over sixty years, and involves taking a sea tractor (which used to be a an old World War II truck) down the beach to meet the ferry in the water before making your way to the town centre through the Salcombe Estuary. The ferry leaves every half an hour from right outside the hotel and makes for the perfect way to enjoy spectacular views before a wander around town to get your pasty and ice cream fix.
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You won’t be disappointed by the culinary treats on offer; from the delicious and healthy smashed peas and broad beans on sourdough with poached eggs for breakfast, to local, flavoursome flat iron chicken and fresh hake for dinner – with the kindest and most smiley of staff ready to guide you through the enticing menu. Sit out on the terrace overlooking a beach framed by tree-covered cliffs while you tuck in to your nourishing meal, soaking in the beauty of this idyllic pocket of the world.
