Salcombe • Glorious Great Britain

When the weather is delightful there is no where better in the world than beautiful Britain.

If you want dreamy blue seas, picturesque lagoons and happy family snaps on the beach then just jump in the car and head for an adventure!

Yesterday, we should have been sorting a hot stuffy garage, but we decided to abandon the sensible plans and whizz off to Salcombe in Devon. A beautiful part of the world that's teaming with bunting, festival cheer all year round and the most stunning coast line, with rivers and seas peppered with bright shiny yachts and weathered coloured sailing boats, bobbing in the breeze.

We packed a car picnic and headed off at 12.30, getting to the town for the post lunchtime rush and missing all the traffic. The boys had a snooze in the car, Sammy made us all a loom band (THE BEST TRAVEL TOY IDEA ON THE PLANET) and we stopped at the first beach we saw opposite The Winking Prawn beach restaurant at North Sands beach. The restaurant has been at the beach for over 17 years and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bright pink umbrellas shelter happy tourists and locals from the sunshine and spots of Salcombe Dairy ice cream splatter the route from the ice cream truck to the beach steps, as little ones struggle to lick their ice creams fast enough!

We hadn't planned for a full day on a beach so without towels or swimming shorts we rolled up the shorts and paddled amongst the families on holiday playing beach cricket in the low tide. I loved people watching as the boys climbed on the rocks to get a better view of the swimmers. Older couples reading papers, groups of teenagers on post exam celebrations, children making new friends.

After getting our toes properly wet in a English sea for the first time this Summer (Friday night's beach trip to Weston super Mare was more mud than sea!) we jumped back in the car and found a parking space on one of the steep side streets and headed for a wander into the town.

The brightly coloured bunting makes everyday feel like the Queen is coming to visit and there are scores of "boaty" boutiques and brands to entice you to embrace the nautical look! 

I heard a voice shout Lucy and turned around to see a work contact of mine from my property job, who is lucky enough to have a house walking distance from the town centre. We had a lovely catch up, met each other's families and picked up some recommendations for our final few of hours exploring.

We walked the length of the town, stopped in Cranch's Sweet Shop for treats and then mooched up to the Ferry Inn where we hopped on the small ferry boat to the beach on the other side of the harbour. 

It's surreal lying on a golden sandy beach with scores of yachts sailing by with rolling hills and cows as a backdrop. Salcombe has the best of everything!

We couldn't say no to the boys who were desperate to play in the sea so we stripped them to their pants and let them get wet! It was s snapshot of our holiday to Spain in 10 days. This year I can see those two getting lost in their own little world together, making up games on the shore line and gaining confidence in the water. This is the Summer Sammy is desperate to lose the armbands and learn to swim. He's almost there, it's wonderful to watch.

The Venus beach cafe at the top of the hill sells drinks and snacks and a small selections of beach toys and with a toilet block next door we and a quick pit stop before heading back to the jetty and catching the ferry back before they stop at 6.30pm.

As the boys were worn out and a little sandy (as well as pant less) we decided to jump back in the car and head a little closer to home for dinner. We drove through Kingsbridge and spotted The Crabshell Inn, a family friendly beach house come pub on the quayside. There's an adults terrace upstairs and an abundance of wooden picnic tables over looking the water as well as a beautifully decorated inside restaurant for wet days.

The children's food was freshly cooked, a portion large enough for a teenager and not a nugget in sight. There were so many delicious things on the menu and I couldn't resist the Devon crab cocktail and a gigantic salad to balance out the rosé and ice cream!

We left as the sun was still warm, as scores of families with older children arrived for an evening with friends and drove through Totnes to find the only little store open for an ice cream on the way home. There were lots of vintage shops I'd definitely like to visit during opening hours!

The boys slept on the way home and we all collapsed into bed, still a little sandy, full and happy just after 9.30pm. Don't you just love throwing school routines out of the window?!

Have you been to Salcombe? Where would you recommended we go next time we visit?

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