Even when it rains, Salcombe is a wonderful place to be. However, it does pay to know where to find entertainment when spending the day on the beach doesn’t appeal. So here are our favourite things to do in Salcombe on a rainy day. Whether you’re looking for a grown-up option or need to keep the kids happy when the weather turns, there’s something for everyone.
What to do in Salcombe without kids
Gin Bar
If you’ve got no little ones to worry about, Salcombe Gin Bar is your rainy day best friend. Book yourself in for gin school and learn the art of distilling gin, or simply enjoy a tour and a tipple. When the weather outside is frightful, sipping a gin is definitely something we’d consider delightful.
Salcombe Harbour Hotel Spa
Another kid-free rainy day option is the spa at Salcombe Harbour Hotel. Pool, sauna, hot tub, steam room… it’s a lovely way to relax when you’re waiting for the rain to let up. Not to mention a range of treatments from facials and massages to men’s treatments and waxing.
What to do in Salcombe with kids
Painting Mugs
Painting, particularly painting on things that you shouldn’t really paint on, is something that holds great appeal for kids of all ages (the mid-30s counts right?). So cups of tea and homemade cakes at The Art Café in Kingsbridge combined with painting onto all manner of crockery seems like a pretty good use of an afternoon, don’t you think?
The Wave Machine
It’s a little bit of a drive, but the Waves Leisure Pool at the Riviera International Centre in Torquay provides hours of entertainment for families. The pool has a collection of slides but most importantly A WAVE MACHINE. We can appreciate the irony of going to a swimming pool that simulates waves when you’ve come on holiday to the seaside, but sometimes the great outdoors in just a little bit too cold!
Teeny Tiny Houses
It’s a fact of life that small versions of normal sized things are entertaining. At no other point have bricks and mortar been as scintillating as at Babbacombe Model Village. This is more suited to a light drizzle than a torrential downpours, given that most of it is outside, and obviously we are highlighting this as an activity for kids, but it’s got the same kind of appeal as a Pixar film – you would happily hijack a toddler for the day if it meant being able to take part.
Rediscover Reading
It might not be the first thing you think of, but as libraries across the country close due to budget cuts, the Salcombe Library has been given an unexpected lifeline thanks to a group of volunteers called the Friends of Salcombe Library. The library is one of just 12 in Devon to be selected for a self-run pilot scheme to reinvigorate this quiet and often overlooked town resource. So what better place to rediscover the magic of reading than in this postcard-perfect location?
[bctt tweet=”You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax all you need is a book!” username=”@salcombefinest”]
Tea and tradition
You can always rely on the National Trust. We usually think of Overbeck’s as a good place to explore the stunning sub-tropical gardens. Trails and quizzes are guaranteed to have those little ‘uns running around. In the meantime, you can choose whether to join in the fun and games or sit back and eat your picnic with a view.
Whatever happens, Salcombe is a wonderful place to be. Let’s face it, a rainy day in Salcombe is better than a rainy day elsewhere! Looking for accommodation in Salcombe? Take a look at our holiday cottages.
updated Sep 17th 2020
