TRAVEL
The Thurlestone Hotel
fitness suite, hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna and laconium, along with treatment rooms. I had never (knowingly) used a laconium before, but Google reliably informs me that it is a dry sweating room in which the heat radiates evenly and is held at around 60° making it a good alternative for anyone who finds a traditional sauna too hot, i.e. me! For the dogs, there is the myriad of ‘walkies’ opportunities just outside the door, along with thoughtful touches such as blankets and water bowls. The attractive gardens offer tucked away nooks ideal for enjoying peace and quiet over a cup of tea, or alternatively there is the outside terrace, with its stunning views across the coastline and Thurlestone Rock. In fact, you are really spoilt for choice when it comes to eating and drinking as the lounges, bar, restaurant and poolside dining area all offer spectacular views in the most comfortable surroundings. After spending time in the outdoor pool we checked into our room which was spacious and comfortable, with a separate lounge/ bedroom for the boys. They were delighted to find that just along the corridor were the children’s play rooms, featuring a whole array of activities, including games consoles, board games and large screen for watching movies. These rooms have been recently refurbished with great attention to detail, and offer a really appealing, well equipped space for children of all ages. There is also entertainment for children through the school holidays at Big T’s Surf Club which includes, amongst many other activities, magicians, movies & popcorn, cocktail making, arts and crafts and sports. Breakfast was a very civilised affair. The buffet offered a good selection of cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurts, pastries and juices. Our boys’ measure of a good breakfast is whether or not there is Nutella available - and I’m pleased www.theamericanhour.com
to report that it made the grade! The muffins and pancakes were an added bonus. Cooked breakfast is ordered from the menu, and I particularly enjoyed the smoked haddock with poached egg, whilst my husband tucked in to the full English complete with a side of baked beans - his measure of a good breakfast! Visit www.thurlestone.co.uk for further information. A great place to start any visit to a new area is the Tourist Information Office, and the Salcombe branch is so friendly you may end up chatting away a whole morning. There is so much on offer in the area; you can learn to sail, hire a dinghy, charter a yacht, go canoeing, kayaking or stand-up paddle boarding. Then there’s surfing, fishing, power boating, rib riding, coastal walking, golf (both Thurlestone and Bigbury golf clubs have stunning coastal views) or just relaxing on one of the beautiful beaches. Equally enjoyable is the opportunity to mooch round the characterful streets of Salcombe or Kingsbridge taking in the atmosphere, views and shopping opportunities. If you love arts and crafts, like I do, then you will be totally spoilt by the abundance of galleries and small shops selling local artists work, along with the many independent retailers selling everything from designer clothing and shoes to hand made pottery, jewellery and accessories. Further afield you can visit Woodlands Adventure Park, Pennywell Farm, South Devon Chilli Farm, Sharpham Vineyard and Avon Mill Garden Centre, along with many other places, including a local cinema, which you can find leaflets and information about at the Tourist Information
Centre in Salcombe or Kingsbridge. From this enormous range of activities, we had booked a family lesson in Stand-up Paddle Boarding (SUP). The weather was perfect as we set off to Bigbury-on-Sea, a short drive round the coast through some of Devon’s narrowest country lanes. Bigbury has a large sandy beach and looks across to Burgh Island, which can be reached by walking across the tidal causeway or taking a ride in the sea tractor, the only one of its kind in the world. Burgh Island served as a retreat for Agatha Christie in the 1930s, and she wrote and set two of her novels here. We headed to the Discovery Surf School to get kitted out and meet Hazel, our instructor. The lesson began on the beach, and after a quick familiarisation of the board, paddle and introduction to the technique, we were in the sea wading out beyond the body boarders and paddled to the calm waters where we could practice. Our 13-year-old and 10-yearold proved to be naturals, mastering the art of balancing and paddling within the first ten minutes. My husband and I, however, were a different matter! Getting up onto your knees it the first step, and not too tricky. From this position you can paddle around happily, but the very name suggests that this does not really count as real Paddleboarding, so we were determined to get on our feet and stay there for more than a couple of minutes! It is very satisfying once you manage to stay balanced and paddle around, and is a really enjoyable, relaxing sport (when you stop falling in at every wobble), and one which I
Discovery Surf School
www.americaninbritain.co.uk
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