Shaldon
Shaldon has a very close but welcoming community. A tightly woven fabric of small backstreets with lots of small cottages, it remains one of the best kept secrets in Devon. House prices actually reflect this however.
It is quintessentially English especially when you see the locals playing bowls on the small central village green. You could even think the Spanish Armada may be appearing off the Ness at any moment! The green, as you would expect is overlooked by the local pub and each Wednesday in the season there is a local gift market, the 1785 day! People dress up in Georgian costume and there are often entertainers, including local musicians.
The green is central to the Village and leading off from this you can explore further inland (but not too far) or walk to the water edge where at low and mid tide you can walk down the estuary. The estuary stretches across to Teignmouth its larger neighbour and can be reached by Ferry from the beach! The main channel is relatively deep water which is why you will see the occasional larger industrial boat moving up of down the far channel under guidance of the Shaldon and Teignmouth Pilot.
In 1909 the ferry moved into the modern era and installed an engine. No more oars and when the tide is in flood you may imagine they were relieved when fuel replaced muscle! ! The boats have been traditionally painted black and white for 300 years and remain this way today! Records show that a ferry has been operating since the 13th century! That’s before the Pilgrim Fathers reached their new home!
If you walk to the top of Shaldon, along the shore front and then narrow road, you will find the Shaldon Wildlife centre, which is a dedicated conservation “zoo”. This “Trust” is next to the public car park and this is the easiest place to park to reach the Ness beach.
Golf: There is always golf to be played and with the steep contours of this region, it’s not a course for the faint hearted! The course is situate above Shaldon and little distance toward Torquay. The coastal footpath runs in both directions and alongside the Golf course, but it’s a couple of hours walk to Torquay and has some fairly serious inclines! You may need some training first! The beauty of this walk however is the views, which are spectacular across Lyme Bay from many vantage points.
There are a number of restaurants and pubs in Shaldon and these are well worth a visit. Most have been renovated recently and offer excellent fare. We will be listing some shortly.
If you are a fisherman, then Shaldon and the River Teign is for you. The area is famous for its summer bass fishing, from the estuary mouth, off a boat or from the shore or the deep water channel off the bridge. Winter brings flounder and plaice. Bass can be caught on lure or using live sandeel which can be purchased from the sandbar in Teignmouth.
If you would like to stay in somewhere quite unique and maybe treat a loved one to a romantic couple of nights in bijou luxury then try the Shaldon Beach Hut Holiday Homes from Discovery Holiday Homes. The independent website for the Beachhuts can be found here.
The there’s Ness Cove which lies at the foot of the high rise Ness Headland. Ness Cove is accessed via an original Smugglers tunnel which is a couple of minutes long and some steps in it. It is one our most secluded and picturesque beaches, but often not found. Shaldon Tourist Information Centre near Ness Cove Beach is also seasonal so check for details on opening dates and times.
To find out more about this great place visit the Shaldon tourist website
This is picture of the tunnel!
