Sublime Salcombe

Salcombe’s bobbing craft, wheeling gulls and majestic estuary inspire poetry, pleasure and peace. There’s no better place to view the most breath-taking stretch of Devon coast than this headland rising between two beaches (with a secret path down to the sand). And you’ll be blown away by the house, pool and garden. Simply sublime.

Designed to unwind

Unwind with family and friends where the Salcombe sailboat masts chime in the wind. Once home to the Earl of Devon (and smugglers before him), The Wing at The Moult comes with a listed thatched summerhouse, Victorian glasshouse, belvedere and walled vegetable garden.

The house has been restored and transformed with sensitivity. It’s saturated by a liberating sense of light, air, space and seaside informality, complemented by cool, understated décor and art. No significant detail has escaped meticulous attention.

Feel free to unleash your inner Heston Blumenthal in the Bulthaup fitted kitchen; your inner movie critic in the home cinema or relax around the house with your selected Sonos sounds. As the moon reflects on the estuary, try a late nightcap in front of a roaring log fire.

You’ll want to float in the 22 metre pool forever. Or just admire the headland views from the gardens. If you enjoy sailing, sand castles or sauntering across sands at twilight, you’ll take the private steps down to the beach every day.

Pool, gardens and grounds

Well before the Earl of Devon (dropping names) acquired The Moult in four acres of grounds, its rocky coves served as convenient smuggling posts. Alfred, Lord Tennyson reputedly wrote ‘Crossing the Bar’, his final poem in the listed, elevated and thatched summerhouse.

The pool? Heated. 22 metres long and surrounded by stone flags. And yes, there’s a barbecue close at hand to ensure that those long summer evenings are spent in good company. When night draws in, stay and watch as the moon glistens on the estuary. Few sights on earth are more glorious. The extensive and serpentine Victorian garden terraces (with imposing Victorian glasshouse), overflow with palms, aloes and other exotic flora collected from all over the world, offering fresh vistas (and surprise suntraps) at every step.

There are velvety lawns at various levels for lolling and numerous shady spots to breathe in sea air and enjoy the incomparable view. A generously shaded private path to South Sands Beach passes by the walled vegetable garden where the gardener can put together a seasonal box for your stay.

Living spacesLiving spacesLiving spacesLiving spaces

Living spaces

Stretch out with six spacious bedrooms. Inviting books lie around, waiting to be read. Relax in two deeply comfortable reception rooms (one doubling as a surround sound cinema room). Unwind with the Sonos audio system, remote-controllable in individual rooms

Enjoy sea views from the generously proportioned and fully-fitted kitchen/dining room. Every reception room flooded with the crystalline light of the estuary.

Cooking and dining

While appetites thrive in the fresh estuary air, rigid rules about dining dissolve. If you’re inclined to rustle up a gourmet dinner, the precise, hi-tech Bulthaup kitchen is yours to command. If you fancy a light lunch, allow yourself the luxury of hyper-fresh salad picked from the old walled garden. Al fresco grill-fest? The gas barbie’s ready in the garden. Totally don’t want to cook? Leave it to Claire’s Kitchen, Whatever Next or Seahorse Private Event Catering who’ll deliver chef-prepared meals to the door. And you won’t even have to wash up.

Fancy dining out? You have the Ferry Inn, Winking Prawn, Victoria Inn, South Sands Hotel, The Jetty, Sailor V, Island Street Bar and Grill and The Beachhouse, all offering food at different gastro-levels, some within walking distance. Somewhat further are the renowned Seahorse in Dartmouth and The Millbrook Inn, accessible by car, private boat or water taxi.

Bedrooms

The Wing at the Moult sleeps fourteen. Very comfortably. Of the six stylish bedrooms, four have king-size beds and luxurious en suite bathrooms; and the two twins have shared bathrooms (their zip ‘n’ link beds can be used as either double or twin beds).

The cotton count is high. Every mattress is hand made or from The Conran Shop. And bathroom towels come from Designer’s Guild and The White Company. So, you’ll nod off to the laid-back combination of cool breeze, softly lapping waves and hooting owls. You’ll wake gently to cooing doves (whom you can choose to ignore). And, in between, you should be sleeping like a baby.

What people say

What people say

“All of us have had a wonderful time. It’s been great fun and we genuinely hope to return. We spent the whole time with the children down at South Beach and here in the garden. Your house is beautiful, comfortable, and has been finished and designed with care, love and attention to detail.” - The O’Conners, Lawsons & Lucas’
“Great weekend, spent a very “Happy 40th Birthday’ here at The Moult, felt very spoilt. Loved the views, the bedrooms, the kitcen, the beach, we’ve all had a great weekend and it was hard to drag the children away. Hope to visit again one day.” - Grant, Sally, Isabella & Louis
“A great weekend, thank you!” - Amelie (aged 2)
“Our two families had such a great time in your lovely house! The whole place was lovely, house, gardens and beach! We would love to return.” - The Lynwards and Gostts
“We didn’t manage to pen a poem in the summer house like Tennyson, but we did marvel at the view and surroundings, as I’m sure he did. A magical place, a wonderful week. Thank you.” - Lucy, Adam, Noah and Solomon Tudhope, Rose and Max Di Gleria, Suzi and Bess Whyte
“Wow, wow, wow… unbelievable! Can’t wait to return.” - Jo
“What a breathtaking place… The traditional elegance coupled with unobtrusive modernity. What a triumph!” - Maria
"No pictures can adequately convey what it is like staying in The Wing at The Moult. The house sits in the middle of a picturesque bay, with secluded sandy beaches either side. …This house has only just been opened for bookings and my guess is that the only complaint is going to be that it is always booked up!” - Nick
“What a great place for a 40th or 50th birthday!” - Simon
"This place is impossible to beat! Such a wonderful house, in a spectacular location- it was all so perfect! Thank you for being such gracious hosts, it was a pleasure to stay here and we feel privileged to have had such a lovely experience. We will be returning as soon as we possibly can." - Laura
"A wonderful stay! The family had such a lovely time in this marvellous house and such a great location! The highlight is the splendid gardens and swimming pool. Thank you for your kind attention and thoughtfulness. Hope to see you soon." - Kevin and Sue
"Thank you for the amazing stay we had at The Wing. It is a magical setting and you have decorated the house beautifully. Everything was so luxurious! We wouldn't change a thing." - Sophie

Salcombe's rich tapestry

Take the sea tractor and ferry into town for seafood restaurants and designer shops. Sample Salcombe’s own brand of dairy ice cream. Kids can go crabbing in the rock pools beneath The Moult or by the old castle on North Sands. Or try a bracing swim in the sea as a breathtaking change from the heated swimming pool. Learn to kayak or paddle board with lessons at Sea Kayak Salcombe, then follow the butterflies in the Overbecks subtropical National Trust gardens.