We provide a very comprehensive information pack and various guides in Lower Orchard and we are confident that the South Hams, and further afield, Devon,has something for everyone. We recommend that our guests start by exploring Hope Cove on foot, along an easy circular trail via a scenic ridge to the village. Hope Cove is an historic Devon village, which is now home to such great venues as the prize winning Cove Cafe, the Hope & Anchor pub, the Cottage Hotel, and its recent innovation of Lobster Pod restaurant, and Cove House. There are sandy beaches in Hope Cove, and a safe harbour which is very popular in the Summer months for all forms of water sports. Walkers can explore the South West coastal footpath out onto Bolt Tail, where in the direction of Salcombe the new Oceans Reach restaurant and bar can be found, and in the other direction towards South Milton sands and Thurlestone rock - where the popular Beach House restaurant (as featured in Conde Nast’s review of U.K. beach shack restaurants on 21 March 2021) serves gourmet food in a casual beachside setting and a little over a mile walk from Lower Orchard.
Close to Galmpton the village of Malborough has pubs, a Post Office which doubles as a farm shop, a garage and a very well stocked Coop. Roads from Malborough lead to Salcombe, which is incredibly busy in the Summer season but well worth at least one visit. There are pubs and restaurants in Salcombe to suit every taste, a high street surprisingly well served by high end coastal chic shops and a good variety of other shops. At heart Salcombe remains a coastal fishing village, and in high season the waters in Salcombe harbour are incredibly busy, whether with visiting yachts, crabbing boats, the many RIBs or paddle boarders. There is a ferry that crosses the harbour, enabling the sandy beaches on the opposite bank, and the South Sands ferry runs frequently to the South Sands at the entrance to the harbour. Favourite eating places in Salcombe include The Winking Prawn, The Fortescue Arms and the Island Bar and Grill but there are many, many more and the quality is good. Families love Captain Flints restaurant for its great atmosphere and food. The National Trust property at Overbecks is well worth a trip for the views over the harbour.
Further afield a visit to Dartmouth, home to the world famous Dartmouth Naval College, is an excellent day out. There are lots of excellent sights, shops and restaurants in Dartmouth. Upriver you can discover the wonderful village of Dittisham (Dits’m to the locals!), which has the excellent Ferry Boat Inn. On the opposite bank to Dittisham is Agatha Christie’s home, Greenlands, also a NT property.
Golfers are well catered for in this part of South Devon. Thurlestone Golf Club is a 10 minute drive away but golf is also available at Bigbury, Dartmouth and Dainton within a short drive. We are keen golfers so please don’t hesitate to ask for recommendations.