Top 10 Places to visit in the South Hams
This post is a list of my recommended places to visit in the South Hams area of Devon. Like any Top 10 list, it’s subjective, and everybody’s list will be different. Having lived here for over eleven years, I’ve covered all these places in my blogs on the South Hams, and have provided links to them for a more in-depth look at what’s on offer at each place.
If there are any places that you think I should have included, and maybe some that you think I shouldn’t have, please let me know. Places are constantly changing for one reason or another, and it’s not easy to keep abreast of everything.
The list that I’ve compiled runs in a descending order that coincides with my preferences, but I wouldn’t take too much notice of that, as everyone’s opinion will vary. Having said that, the places on this list should find favour with most people. I hope you agree, and don’t forget to send me a comment on what you think.
- TOTNES
Totnes is a town that that enjoys its reputation for being ‘alternative’, but also has plenty of history and is surrounded by some lovely countryside.
- GREENWAY HOUSE
A Tudor mansion built for a famous seafaring family was replaced with a house that became the summer home of the crime writer Agatha Christie. Now owned by the National Trust, the estate includes grounds that run down to the banks of the River Dart.
https://www.easymalc.co.uk/greenway-home-to-a-famous-seafarer-and-an-even-more-famous-novelist/
- BERRY POMEROY CASTLE
Reputed to be one of the most haunted castles in England. It’s worth a visit even if only to see whether it’s true or not, but it’s best to visit before it gets dark just in case.
https://www.easymalc.co.uk/berry-pomeroy-castle-romantic-ruin-or-just-plain-spooky/
- BIGBURY BAY
Bigbury Bay is the quintessential South Hams landscape with a lovely coastline and rolling countryside. It also boasts an island which can be reached by sea tractor at high tide and was the haunt of a well-known local smuggler.
- THE RIVER DART
Of all Devon’s rivers, the Dart is my favourite. From Dartmoor it travels down through the lush South Hams countryside and emerges into the English Channel at Dartmouth.
- SLAPTON SANDS AND EXERCISE TIGER
The broad arc of Slapton Sands was the practice beach for American forces training for the D-Day Landings. Two tragic incidents during Exercise Tiger as it was called, claimed hundreds of lives that remained a well-kept secret for many years.
https://www.easymalc.co.uk/slapton-sands-and-exercise-tiger/
- SALCOMBE
Salcombe has a reputation for being one of the most affluent towns in Devon, and it’s not difficult to see why people who can afford it, want to come here to live.
3. COLETON FISHACRE
My favourite South Devon National Trust property, Coleton Fishacre harks back to the jazz days of the 1920s when members of the D’Oyly Carte family built their home here. This lovely Art Deco house is also surrounded by fabulous grounds that sweep down to the sea.
- START POINT AND START BAY
Start Point lies at the end of Start Bay and is my favourite headland on the South Devon coast. After the drive out here, you need to get out of the car and take a walk down to Mattiscombe Sands and around the coast path to the lighthouse to really appreciate it.
- DARTMOUTH
Dartmouth should be on everyone’s list of places to visit in the South Hams. It’s a lovely town with plenty of history and in a beautiful location. What more could you want?
https://www.easymalc.co.uk/privateers-castles-sea-dogs-and-pilgrims/
POSTED – JULY 2022
Originally posted 2022-07-06 09:39:59.
An excelent finale here re the places you have covered.
Are you looking for any more posts to visit or do you want a break from it all?
ME? Dinnae be silly. If you can point me in the direction I will go.
I don’t think you’ve seen many posts on Cornwall yet. The county is an ongoing labour of love like Devon, so it’s far from complete, but there are still plenty there to take a look at – if you fancy it of course. As I’ve done before, if you follow them in order it will make more sense.
On my Homepage go to My Westcountry and then scroll down to Cornwall, and then if you follow the arrow across you’ll see the different parts of Cornwall starting with South-East Cornwall. When you click on that it will show the posts I’ve done for that particular area. Like before, the first post is the one at the bottom and if you start there you can use the arrows at the end of each post to go the next one.
When you’ve looked at the posts for South-East Cornwall, you can go down the list, the next one being the Cornish Riviera. It looks like you’ve stumbled across a few before, but there are plenty you haven’t.
I will do that Malc, thank you. It must be the screen is not scrolling all the way down, cos ..somtimes I see it hasn’t. But also I’ve probably thought…oh look… THAT place… and grasshoppered. Your blog is like a box of chocs that way.
You can look at them any way you want, but at least you have an idea how my system works. I didn’t write them in any particular order, but I thought it best to try and make sense of where all these places fit together. The same system applies to everywhere, not just Cornwall, so you can dart about as much as you like. It’s fantastic that you want to look at all these posts Shey. Thank you so much ⭐⭐
Well, the photos tell a beautiful story, Malc, and though I’ve never been to South Hams I can see I’m missing a treat. A good friend was born in Totnes so I paid attention when you started out there. Funny how we get around, isn’t it? He spends his time between Cornwall and Brittany now. Like myself he loves the coast. Both Dartmouth and Salcombe look very appealing and I have a friend in Exeter so you never know….
At least you know what you’ve been missing Jo, and as you say, you never know. Thanks for taking a look around my part of the world 🙂
Great choices all, Malc. Of course, I’d love to go to Berry Pomeroy Castle, especially to meet the ghosts! If I do get frightened out of my wits though, there’s always all that gorgeous coastal scenery to wander around and take my mind off it! 😉
You’ve probably read most of these posts Alli, but I thought it would be a good idea to list them for anyone who wanted to have an overview of some of the places worth visiting.
It is a great idea to have all the attactions in one place, rather like a tourist guide. And I’ll take any excuse to enjoy some of your great photos too. 🙂
Thank you Alli. What a lovely thing to say 😊
WOW! What a stunning part of your island. So much to see in such a small area. I would love a month there just to walk and explore. Thanks for the inspiration. Mel
Inspiration and memories are the reason I write these blogs, so you’ve made my day Mel. Thanks 🙂
My pleasure. Happy traveling AND writing.
Unfortunately my travelling days have been curtailed but I intend to keep on writing – and reading other people’s blogs 🙂
Thanks Malc, I feel some long weekend trips coming up.
My job is done then 🙂
😁
Great list of wonderful places I haven’t visited yet ❣️❣️❣️
It’s not too late you know 🙂
I know … I miss travelling💗
So do I 🙁
🙏🙏🙏
Lovely tour and a fresh way to reintroduce us to to some of your marvelous posts. I’ve been a huge fan of this area since I read my first Daphne DuMaurier as a teenager. I loved the picture in the first listing which clearly shows why the town might be considered different–looks like a mascot convention.
Thanks for your kind comments Pat. I always value them as you know. That picture explains in a nutshell what to expect in Totnes. In other word, expect the unexpected 😊
All great recommendations Malc. The photo of the cottages and pub is very pretty, such a shame they were destroyed by fire. Are they being rebuilt?
I think my absolute ‘must vist’ would have to be Coleton Fishacre – the house and gardens look gorgeous and I love that it belonged to the D’Oyly Carte family. Thanks mainly to my mum the G &S comic operas featured heavily during my childhood and teen years – I went to many local performances of the more popular ones, have most of the songs on vinyl and a couple of books with the words and music to all the operas, also a boxset of dvd’s of them all. If my mum was here now I know she would have loved to visit Coleton Fishacre.
I haven’t been along to Stokenham recently Eunice, so I’m not quite sure what’s happening there, but I suspect the cottages will be rebuilt in some form, but whether they’ll be re-thatched is doubtful I reckon.
Coleton Fishacre is gorgeous, and for someone like you who has an avid interest in the Gilbert & Sullivan operas it really should be a ‘must’ visit if you’re down here. Incidentally, I saw the ‘Pirates of Penzance’ at the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno. Have you been there? If you haven’t, you should try to. Glad you enjoyed the post 😊
Thank you, Malc, for wonderful list of places and photos. As always, with a touch of humor. Brilliant!
Joanna
Thank you Joanna. I’d like to think that it will help point people in the direction of where to go. 🙂