Andy Cooper spends a weekend to remember in a cute coastal cottage in Salcombe.
Salcombe is pretty much a town for walking around. It’s not that the car is banned – indeed one will encounter vehicles nudging their way around crowds of holidaymakers along Fore Street, the main shopping drag, even on the busiest of days. But it does make sense to use your feet to get around this iconic Devon seaside town.
And the same applies if you are staying. You want to find a base which allows you to pop in and out of the town on foot – or on the water (more of which later). And in terms of ease of convenience for the centre of Salcombe you really can’t beat Victoria Quay. I have ambled along the narrow pathway so many times over the years and hankered after spending some time in one of the gorgeous terraced cottages along it, facing as they do out over the water.
Well now I hanker no more thanks to a stay at 7 Victoria Quay organised for me by exclusive holiday home experts Finest Stays. And with grandchildren in tow our trip had all the makings of just about the perfect family seaside stay.
And boy did 7 Victoria Quay deliver on that – such a beautiful cottage in this amazing location is bound to have you making memories throughout your stay. We certainly did.
The views from the cottage are breath-taking – be it from the lovely south-facing terrace outside or the picture windows inside. Being in such a central location, with epic views over the estuary, past the Salcombe Lifeboat towards the beaches of East Portlemouth and the South Pool creek, just sitting in the window looking out is entertainment in itself.
7 Victoria Quay has been a family holiday home for over 50 years and has bags of character being an early 19th century, Grade II listed fisherman’s cottage. The cottage is perfect for small groups, families or couples wanting to get away for a break and sleeps up to six guests in two bedrooms.
On the ground floor, there is a comfortable sitting room and a combined kitchen and dining room which is set-up perfectly for entertaining in the evenings. Out the back of the cottage (over a shared alleyway) is the utility room and a large walk-in shower.
Upstairs is the magic of the master bedroom which has a super king or twin beds and staggering views out of the sash window. In the second bedroom are two adult-sized bunk beds and there is a shared family bathroom. And the complimentary parking pass provided as part of your stay means you can leave the car moments away and not worry about it again until it’s time to leave.
We just loved it as our base for the weekend. If we weren’t crabbing off the quay wall outside, we were pootling off to the nearby shops, or taking the gentle walk along to North Sands, where the legendary Winking Prawn diner awaited us for brunch.
And being in such a fabulous location it is but a moment’s walk to catch one of the pretty ferry boats departing from the harbourside. In our case we caught one to South Sands for the extra special adventure of being met by the sea tractor to transport us onto the beach.
Salcombe is such a special town anyway it is always a joy to visit. But when you find yourself in just about the prime town centre location in such comfortable luxury then you have just about the complete seaside holiday experience.
Finest Stays never compromise on comfort, style, elegance or location. Stay in one of their exclusive holiday homes dotted across South Devon and chose from the mighty, the pretty and the absurdly quintessential. Whichever of their homes you reserve you can expect to experience laid back luxury in true Devonian style. fineststays.co.uk
