Facilities
Gara Rock offers a range of exclusive resort facilities, including an indoor and outdoor swimming pool with spa facilities and fully equipped gym. Its landscaped grounds comprise sunbathing and BBQ areas, formal games such as petanque and croquet, inherently playful spaces for kids and an abundance of captivating views along the discovery trail. There will also be a restaurant and bar with a contemporary and relaxed feel, offering an idyllic setting to enjoy delicious local food and world class sea views.
The Gardens
The Gardens provide the perfect place for any family to enjoy the outdoors, enhanced by the wild beauty of the countryside that surrounds Gara Rock. At the centre of the garden is a heated swimming pool, with changing rooms, showers and WC’s, so you can spend the summer days lounging by the pool.
The top of the gardens offers a paradise for every child. From a pétanque pitch to a croquet lawn and inherent play area, the Upper Garden is a haven for family enjoyment.
All this is enhanced by the stunning views and the wonderfully secluded sandy cove of Rickham beach that nestles below.
Spa
The holistic spa comprises two treatment rooms and a relaxation area. The range of treatments are all designed to give you a sense of complete wellbeing and tranquility. Whether it is a spiritual journey you are looking for or a special treat for your body, the treatments on offer aim to give your body and mind a boost.
A proposed extension to the spa is situated at the edge of the gardens. Within the wild beauty of Gara Rock’s setting lies a secret spa room, where one can be cocooned in peaceful tranquillity, forgetting the rest of the world and its troubles.
Swimming Pool
The spa offers an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and a mood lit Eucalyptus steam room: the perfect retreat from the rest of the world to unwind, indulge and relax.
Games Room
The indoor games room will provide a pool table, table football and an area for board games, allowing you to discover the beauty of time together as a family whatever the weather.
Restaurant & Bar
With such spectacular panoramic views, Gara Rock is a restaurant with a view. We have made maximum use of the location and to great effect. Situated high above the cliffs on the South West Coast Path, the restaurant design will be contemporary and relaxed. There will be an outside seating area, offering an idyllic setting to enjoy delicious local food and stunning sea views.
Local Activities
Salcombe offers an abundance of activities including sailing, yachting, fishing, surfing, shopping – the list goes on. The rustic, narrow streets are home to colourful shops, art galleries, delicatessens and numerous pubs and restaurants, while the town itself is one of the best situated in the West Country.
This buzzing town with endless charm is only a few miles as the bird flies from Gara, and is easily accessible from Gara Rock. The ancient market town of Kingsbridge is also close to Gara and is the historic and natural centre of the South Hams. Kingsbridge is still a vibrant working town, not just a holiday centre, and has a varied selection of shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs which are open all year. The major crowd pulling events in town are the Music Festival, held during June and Fair Week, by tradition in July.
Walking
The surrounding countryside is a designated area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and lends itself perfectly to scenic walks. The famous South West Coast Path National Trail – 630 miles of superb coastal walking, is the best way to enjoy the breathtaking coastal scenery, wildlife and heritage. There are many other beautiful areas nearby which are popular for walking, from historic gardens (Blackpool Gardens) and the nature reserves to the renowned Dartmoor National Park and Dart Valley Trail.
Sailing & water sports
There is a superb range of water and land based activities near Gara Rock. You can learn to sail, hire a dinghy to explore the many creeks and beaches around the estuary, go scuba diving, canoeing/kayaking, power boating, surfing and fishing, to name but a few!
Golf
There is no more idyllic spot to play a round of golf than looking over the Devon cliffs and out to sea. There are courses near Gara Rock which all boast spectacular views as well as first class 18 hole courses. Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, Dainton, Bovey Castle, Churston, the famous Thurlestone and Bigbury are just some of the golf courses accessible from Gara Rock.
Lookout Café
Open 7 days a week, 9am to 5pm
After the success of the Lookout Cafe last year, Coast Group have decided to bring back an upgraded version this year. The Lookout Cafe will cater for walkers and beachcombers in search of light refreshments, including the famous Devonshire cream tea! The cafe is being run by local girl, Sarah King who will be cooking fresh scones, cakes and bread on the premises. Please stop by for a taste of what this year’s cafe has to offer.
The Lookout Café Coastal Path Walk
Cream Tea Poem by Laura
Silent harbour glinting in the spring day sun,
air fresh with promise
of summer heat and bustling bodies
making their way with anticipated glee
down the ferry steps to the sparkling sea.
The ferry man ambles, glancing at the sky – he is late – my fellow passenger tells me,
‘never a minute past the hour have I known him to be’.
So we start our journey venturing into the blue
As I have seen its deep, choppy and turquoise hue -
The estuary spreads out before us as we leave the harbour quaint,
spray hitting the bow whips the whirling sound
around and up jumping off I sink
cushioned on white sands, ready for the walk ahead.
East Portlemouth – rich with history of middle age mirth and toil
And sailors’ tales –
Now invites the walkers along its trails.
Over sea and sands, through dense cool woodlands
The invigorating climb turns the mind to hilltop views and cream tea scones,
Feet up in the sun along a hilltop Lookout land!
I walk where the sea usually comes, for this path is changeable
With the tide – some days the high road must be taken,
Weaving its way in tune with the beach.
But today sand stretches out enticing and vast, and I tread it soft
Until delving at last into the forest’s darkened boughs -
Apple trees with peeping buds appearing,
The path winds around the headland and open sea breaks out
wild and billowing clouds breaking the horizon line,
middle distance light deep on the vast expanding water
as the waves crash below in and out of the sweeping coves.
Stonechats beckon pebbly calls
and yellow gorse blossom pervades the air,
tingeing the landscape with glowing yellow.
Its brother plant the dodder spreading out over the bushes in pink delight
Apple trees and tufty flowered thrift, wind-sculpted hawthorn leave nothing there to miss.
When peeping into view comes the tip of a Lookout!
Bright and beckoning on the horizon line,
With promises of cream tea, cakes, seats in the sun,
Kite flying and summer days of good British fun!
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