Karen's Guidebook
Food scene
Fabulous quality fresh fish restaurant in a rustic, fun, family friendly setting (brightly coloured interiors with plastic tablecloths). Not cheap but a wonderful treat for the family. The kids love the sticky toffee pudding and we love the shack mussels!
78 locals recommend
The Oyster Shack
Fabulous quality fresh fish restaurant in a rustic, fun, family friendly setting (brightly coloured interiors with plastic tablecloths). Not cheap but a wonderful treat for the family. The kids love the sticky toffee pudding and we love the shack mussels!
Great beach side place on Bigbury Beach to grab a pasty or an ice cream.
10 locals recommend
Venus Cafe
Warren RoadGreat beach side place on Bigbury Beach to grab a pasty or an ice cream.
Fantastically located historic pub serving good selection of local ales and fresh food.
20 locals recommend
The Pilchard Inn
Fantastically located historic pub serving good selection of local ales and fresh food.
Popular local pub in St Ann’s Chapel serving food. We sometimes get take away pizzas from here to eat on the beach at sunset or on the patio round the fire pit.
9 locals recommend
The Pickwick Inn
Popular local pub in St Ann’s Chapel serving food. We sometimes get take away pizzas from here to eat on the beach at sunset or on the patio round the fire pit.
Really cosy pub with decent outdoor space being the perfect stop off point on a coastal walk from Bigbury on Sea. The food is delicious, especially the Sunday roasts.
31 locals recommend
The Journeys End Inn
Really cosy pub with decent outdoor space being the perfect stop off point on a coastal walk from Bigbury on Sea. The food is delicious, especially the Sunday roasts.
One of the best spots for a glass of rose and some delicious fresh seafood on South Milton beach. A lovely stop off on the stunning coastal walk between Bantham and Hope Cove. Be sure to book if you want to eat indoors.
53 locals recommend
Beachhouse
One of the best spots for a glass of rose and some delicious fresh seafood on South Milton beach. A lovely stop off on the stunning coastal walk between Bantham and Hope Cove. Be sure to book if you want to eat indoors.
Lovely spot for a weekend breakfast right on the river in the sunshine in Kingsbridge. Perhaps work off breakfast on a paddle board (which can be rented onsite)
90 locals recommend
The Crabshell Inn
Embankment RoadLovely spot for a weekend breakfast right on the river in the sunshine in Kingsbridge. Perhaps work off breakfast on a paddle board (which can be rented onsite)
Award winning restaurant in Ermington serving delicious food - great for a romantic evening without the kids.
Plantation House
Award winning restaurant in Ermington serving delicious food - great for a romantic evening without the kids.
The Ship Inn
Lovely waterside pub at Noss Mayo serving delicious food.
Great spot for a cocktail or a meal on Plymouth Hoe with fantastic views out to Plymouth Sound.
17 locals recommend
The Waterfront
9 Grand ParadeGreat spot for a cocktail or a meal on Plymouth Hoe with fantastic views out to Plymouth Sound.
Seco Lounge
4 Royal William RdGreat spot for a family brunch at the Royal William Yard Plymouth.
The Sloop Inn
Fabulous pub in Bantham serving delicious food.
Sightseeing
Great historic and scenic spot to visit in Plymouth with lots of nice restaurants. A lovely spot for a family weekend brunch.
150 locals recommend
Royal William Yard
Great historic and scenic spot to visit in Plymouth with lots of nice restaurants. A lovely spot for a family weekend brunch.
Enjoy a scenic walk from Totnes to this local vineyard and then take one of the wine tours or just enjoy a flight of the locally produced wines. The Crabshell (see above) organise paddle board excursions here from Totnes.
90 locals recommend
Sharpham Wine and Cheese
Waddeton RoadEnjoy a scenic walk from Totnes to this local vineyard and then take one of the wine tours or just enjoy a flight of the locally produced wines. The Crabshell (see above) organise paddle board excursions here from Totnes.
Lovely river side town well worth a visit. You can hire little boats or enjoy one of the many boat trips that run from here. Our kids enjoy crabbing while their dad enjoys a pint of local ale outside the Dartmouth Arms.
378 locals recommend
Dartmouth
Lovely river side town well worth a visit. You can hire little boats or enjoy one of the many boat trips that run from here. Our kids enjoy crabbing while their dad enjoys a pint of local ale outside the Dartmouth Arms.
Very picturesque river-side town with a selection of lovely beaches. Great for mooching around the shops, having an ice cream and a bit of crabbing.
213 locals recommend
Salcombe
Very picturesque river-side town with a selection of lovely beaches. Great for mooching around the shops, having an ice cream and a bit of crabbing.
We always love a trip to Kingsbridge for a spot of breakfast or lunch, a mooch around the shops and to pick up a few supplies from the supermarkets, butcher and fishmongers. The small cinema there is also handy for a rainy day. Petrol station here too. When the tide is out take the very picturesque tidal road from St Ann’s Chapel to Aveton Gifford.
116 locals recommend
Kingsbridge
We always love a trip to Kingsbridge for a spot of breakfast or lunch, a mooch around the shops and to pick up a few supplies from the supermarkets, butcher and fishmongers. The small cinema there is also handy for a rainy day. Petrol station here too. When the tide is out take the very picturesque tidal road from St Ann’s Chapel to Aveton Gifford.
Dartmoor Zoo
National Marine Aquarium
Sheepstor
If you fancy climbing a tor on Dartmoor, this is a fun one!
We enjoy a walk or run around the grounds of this national trust house and/or a coffee and snack in the cafe. The kids enjoy the playground, the outdoor table tennis tables and climbing on the several large logs in the grounds.
62 locals recommend
National Trust - Saltram
We enjoy a walk or run around the grounds of this national trust house and/or a coffee and snack in the cafe. The kids enjoy the playground, the outdoor table tennis tables and climbing on the several large logs in the grounds.
A nice day out if you get the foot ferry over from Plymouth, wander round to the beach or further, stopping for a coffee and cake or ice cream in the Orangery cafe. The pub is also worth a visit, especially for a Sunday roast.
144 locals recommend
Mount Edgcumbe House and Country Park
A nice day out if you get the foot ferry over from Plymouth, wander round to the beach or further, stopping for a coffee and cake or ice cream in the Orangery cafe. The pub is also worth a visit, especially for a Sunday roast.
Historic harbour, shops and pubs at the Barbican, Plymouth. Combine with a trip to the Aquarium.
141 locals recommend
Barbican
Historic harbour, shops and pubs at the Barbican, Plymouth. Combine with a trip to the Aquarium.
Beach Activities
If you book in advance they offer some great kids surf school options.
15 locals recommend
Discovery Surf School
If you book in advance they offer some great kids surf school options.
Fabulous surf beach across the bay from Bigbury on Sea. There is a popular surf school and a couple of funky gastro buses serving food and hot drinks.
183 locals recommend
Bantham Beach
Fabulous surf beach across the bay from Bigbury on Sea. There is a popular surf school and a couple of funky gastro buses serving food and hot drinks.
A short coastal walk from Bigbury on Sea takes you to this next bay which can be lovely on a sunny evening. We enjoy kayaking there from Bigbury on Sea and stopping for chips from the beachside chip shop.
Challaborough
A short coastal walk from Bigbury on Sea takes you to this next bay which can be lovely on a sunny evening. We enjoy kayaking there from Bigbury on Sea and stopping for chips from the beachside chip shop.
Sports
This fantastically located golf club also offers lessons to children certain weekends so if golf is your thing, it’s worth contacting them in advance.
9 locals recommend
Bigbury Golf Club
Hexdown BarnsThis fantastically located golf club also offers lessons to children certain weekends so if golf is your thing, it’s worth contacting them in advance.
Quayside Leisure Centre
RopewalkRainy days
Really great option for all the family to get active on a rainy day.
7 locals recommend
Clip 'n Climb Plymouth
17 Brest RdReally great option for all the family to get active on a rainy day.
Adrenalin Leisure
17 Brest RdAnother great rainy day option to wear out the kids
Another trampolining centre (slightly closer to Bigbury on Sea than Adrenalin)
7 locals recommend
Super Tramp Plymouth Trampoline Park
3 Breakwater RdAnother trampolining centre (slightly closer to Bigbury on Sea than Adrenalin)
Very reasonably priced cinema which can be a god send on a rainy day.
33 locals recommend
Kings Cinema Kingsbridge
Fore StreetVery reasonably priced cinema which can be a god send on a rainy day.
Vue Cinema
Shapters RoadMultiplex cinema in Plymouth with the usual surrounding eateries.
Paradise Island Adventure Golf Plymouth
14 11 Drake CircusPlymouth Pavilions Ice Rink
Millbay RoadShopping
We often enjoy a mooch around this shop picking up some fresh farm produce (they also sell delicious cakes like Bakewell and treacle tarts and have a good wine selection). Pick your own options are also fun (especially pumpkins).
75 locals recommend
Ben's Farm Shop
StavertonWe often enjoy a mooch around this shop picking up some fresh farm produce (they also sell delicious cakes like Bakewell and treacle tarts and have a good wine selection). Pick your own options are also fun (especially pumpkins).
Drake Circus Shopping Centre
1 Charles StLarge, indoor shopping centre in Plymouth.
The place to buy your essential beach items such as body boards, buckets and spades etc.
The Bigbury Beach Shop
Marine DriveThe place to buy your essential beach items such as body boards, buckets and spades etc.
Handy local grocery store, recently extended from which you can buy almost anything you need for your stay including logs, kindling and newspapers, local dairy products etc. They also stock an extraordinary selection of gins and some good local ales.
7 locals recommend
Holywell Stores
Handy local grocery store, recently extended from which you can buy almost anything you need for your stay including logs, kindling and newspapers, local dairy products etc. They also stock an extraordinary selection of gins and some good local ales.