West Charleton Path Link
A new path has been created in West Charleton providing safe access for residents including school children, and visitors to key village locations and facilities without having to walk along the busy main road. This project links into the ‘Safe Routes to School’ initiative and the existing public rights of way network around the village, in particular to the wonderful paths that stretch south of the village to the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary, the bird hide and Frogmore Creek. The official opening organised by the Parish Council will take place in January.
Events for January, Enjoy a walk or try your hand at learning a new countryside skill
Wassail at Stoke Gabriel: Saturday 17th January Celebrate the ancient traditions of twelfth night in Stoke Gabriel 's community orchard. Enjoy a barbecue supper, apple cake and local cider, and watch the wassailing of the trees by the wassail singers. Experience Morris dancing, a Mummer's play and storytelling into the night.
Event opens at the Scout Hut at 4.30pm for food, music and Morris dancing. Lantern procession to the village orchard starts at 5.30pm. Please bring a torch and wrap up warmly. Adults £2.50, children £1
Salcombe Kingsbridge Estuary View and Foreshore: Sunday 18th January
A circular walk along the Kingsbridge and Bowcombe Creeks and back over the hill between, taking in the fine views of the estuary. Along the way investigate the sheltered rock and muddy shores, salt marshes and estuarine mudflats. Led by Nigel Mortimer, estuary officer. The walk covers about 2.5 miles with a few level but slippery rocks and a short steep hill climb. Not recommended for the very young, and dogs must be on a lead. Meet at Kingsbridge Tourist Information Centre on Kingsbridge Quay at 2pm. Return around 4.30pm. Please wear appropriate clothing and wellies or walking boots. Adults £3, children £1
Creating Your Own Willow Bed 17/01/09
Always a popular event! Especially for rangers, teachers, basket makers and those interested in sustainable education. This event is at the Sharpham Estate community willow bed, you'll learn about planting, growing and harvesting willow. We'll then use the willow for a small project to take home.
Led by Vivian Turner. £30 per person includes all materials and tools. Booking essential, please bring lunch.
Hedge laying at Muckwell / Middlecombe Farm: Saturday 24th January
Try your hand at traditional hedge laying with National Trust wardens and be prepared for an active day. Bring stout footwear, gardening type gloves and packed lunch. 9.30am - 3.30pm, £10. Meet at Beesands parking on the road outside the Cricket Inn. Booking essential call: 01752 346585
Learn to prune: Sunday 25th January
Learn how to prune apple trees - old and young at this hands-on day course. 10.30am - 4pm in beautiful old orchards near Totnes. £20, £15 to Orchard Link members. Wear stout boots; bring lunch and waterproofs and secateurs or loppers if you have them. A selection of tools will be available. All participants must be prepared to work up a ladder. To book, and for further details call 01364 653169
Changing Climates. Changing Landscape: Sunday 25th January
There's nothing new about climate change, it's been happening for millennia! Come on a walk around Prawle Point and you will see how changing climates and sea levels have shaped the land, producing the stunning scenery we enjoy today! Meet at East Prawle village green at 10.30am return around 1.30pm for a lunchtime drink in the pub. Bring a snack. 4.5 miles, some slopes and rugged paths. Adults £3, children £1. Booking essential as event dependent on numbers. Call 01752 897034 by 25th January.
Dartmouth Comedy Festival 2009 4th to 7th February 2009
An eclectic variety of uproariously entertaining Comedians have been booked for the sole purpose of your amusement and delight! Whether its slapstick, standup, monologues, or comedy poetry and music that tickles your fancy, there will be something for you and the whole family to laugh at the Flavel Theater Dartmouth
Pennywell Farm - February Half Term 16th to 24th February 2009
Visitors will be flocking to Pennywell once again this February for a wooly wonderland experience as the February Lambing Special gets underway. Join activity leader, Olly Lamb (yes, that’s his real name) for a truly ewe-nique line up of activities, shows and displays, giving the whole week a very special feel.
It’s a real taste of spring after the long winter and you can enjoy the new born lambs skipping about in the winter sunshine. Don’t be sheepish, there are plenty of lambs to cuddle and bottle feed in the main barn. Who knows, you may be lucky enough to see some new lambs come into the world.
As well as lamb cuddles and lamb feeding, you can make your own baa-rmy lamb to take home as even the craft activities will take on the lambing theme.
Every day, Pennywell will be giving away a giant cuddly toy sheepdog to the winner of the lamb treasure hunt, with clues to be found all over the farm. There are also some great fun facts to discover in the, ‘Did ewe know?’ quiz.
There will be entertainment galore with Ben Cornish on Tuesday 19th and Thursday 21st February, Billy Wiz on Monday 18th, Wednesday 20th and Friday 22nd and for the first time at Pennywell Nutty Noah will be performing on Sunday 24th February. There will also be daily falconry displays to add to the experience. Treat your family to the best day out in Devon.
More recognition for AONBs
Makeover for the national "family" of AONBs
AONB representatives from across England and Wales have recently met to explore how a stronger national identity for AONBs could link the areas more closely. The workshop examined the branding used by protected landscapes in France and Germany and it was agreed that consultants would work up proposals to create a "family identity" which would assist the public in recognising protected landscapes much more easily. The proposals will be designed in such a way that it will mix and match with existing logos. It is anticipated that stronger branding would convey a more professional unified image and help to influence opinion formers more effectively. A national communications working group will be integrating this initiative with the new AONB national communications strategy currently under review.
Marine Bill announced in Queen's Speech
Management of the marine environment to be overhauled
The Marine and Coastal access bill is a new approach to managing the marine environment. The Bill will introduce a new planning system for managing the marine area, improve and simplify arrangements for managing marine development, ensure greater protection for the marine environment and biodiversity, and provide greater recreational access to the English Coast. It will also include the establishment of a new organisation to manage the seas around the UK. Marine Conservation Zones will protect nationally important habitats and species such as eelgrass beds, seahorses and sea fans.
Knotweeed champions sought
Why is Japanese Knotweed a problem?
Japanese knotweed causes damage to buildings and road surfaces, and is difficult to control and expensive if ignored. It smothers native plants and spreads rapidly. The tiniest of fragments can form new plants. We are currently seeking volunteers across the AONB to act as 'Japanese knotweed champions' informing us of locations around the area that are affected by this invasive plant. If you are willing to help us raise awareness of the problem so that we can work with landowners to tackle the "invader" and prevent its spreed, please get in touch.
A greener Hillfield
Hillfield Cottages & Country House has a commitment to create a sustainable business which seeks to reduce its overall effect on the environment and exceed the expectations of our guests. We will strive to minimise the harmful effects and maximise the beneficial influences which our activities have on the environment. As part of our ongoing environmental commitment at Hillfield we have implemented many measures including:
• Providing recycling facilities for our Guests use.
• Installing energy efficient solutions including ground source heat pumps.
• Using chlorine, toxic and phosphate free based cleaning products.
• Undertaking regular litter picking in and around the Village environment.
• Be efficient in the use of all resources including water, electricity and gas.
• Meet all regulatory and consent requirement relevant to our business.
• Where possible and practical to purchase locally and promote local suppliers to the guests. Information on local suppliers and the local delivery services are provided to guests on this website.
• All our new units will include “Ground Source Heating System” comprising of vertical geothermal boreholes to provide a closed ground loop which will extract the latent heat from the ground to use in under floor heating and hot water. The heat pump removes solar energy stored in the earth around the buildings and compresses it in to a higher temperature and transfers it into your central heating system and hot water tank.
• We have invested heavily for the future with a new Sewage Treatment Plant (not the most exciting subject), but this is a state of the art development with a “green reed bed filtration system” to polish the discharged water and achieve ammonia levels of below 0.3mg/l.
• Hillfield looks after the Environment including the colony of Pipistrelle Bat’s which are a protected species on the endangered list. To this end we have constructed four Bat Hotels, these have been supplemented with extensive hibernation and roosting boxes around the site.
• The Hillfield mission is striving to minimise the harmful effects and maximise the beneficial influences which our activities have on the environment.
• Hillfield is a supporter of the South Hams Green Tourism Business initative. Businesses are encouraged to help reduce the environmental impact of tourism for the enjoyment of future generations. The Scheme is a commitment to good environmental practice in business activities. We will ensure that we comply with environmental law and our legal Duty of Care requirements for waste disposal.
Sainsburys Dartmouth has now Opened
Sainsbury’s has opened a flagship green store in Dartmouth, Devon, built from recycled materials. The store has been constructed from timber rather than steel and will be heated by a biomass boiler running on wood chips, from locally sourced wood which would otherwise be wasted. Sainsbury’s said it expects to save about a third on its energy bills, and the store has been specifically designed to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere. The company also said that all the lorries that make food deliveries to the store will be powered by bio-methane produced from rotting rubbish. The gas is captured from landfill and purified, and the bio-methane produced is then used to power the truck. The checkouts are powered by wind turbines generate 100%of the power. 200 trees have gone into the frame for our building so we’re going to plant 420 more around the local Dartmouth area. Each year a million litres of recycled rain water to flush the toilets at Dartmouth. The Store is designed so that it uses 60% less water. Even the taps turn themselves off. With clever design, the energy consumption is reduced by 33% compared to a similar sized store.
Ocean BMW Torbay Week 2008. Friday 22nd – Wednesday 27th August 2008
Ocean BMW Torbay Week 2008 is an exciting NEW event replacing the three existing Torbay regattas (Torquay, Brixham and Paignton). That means lots of good racing for a wide variety of sailing vessels, along with tons of after-sail fun at Torbay's sailing and yachting clubs. There'll be plenty of shore based excitement for visitors and spectators too! The setting couldn't be better either, with the large, sheltered bay providing fantastic sailing conditions in a climate that is noted as being much warmer than the rest of the UK. Its horseshoe shape means lots of vantage points for spectators. There will be plenty of live music at the Harbourside, including the Beach Boys Tribute Band, ‘Good Vibrations’. An all day Pirate day on Bank Holiday Monday promises to provide fun for all the family, organised by the Brixham Buccaneers ending with a fantastic firework display at Corbyn Head, Torquay and finally The Red Arrows will close the event with a stunning air display.
The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta 2008 Preliminary Programme
The event of the year for all in the South Devon area. 27th, 28th, 29th, & 30th August 2008. Visiting Royal Navy Warship, with local rowing, historic craft and waterborne tug-of-war on the river, as well as yacht racing, traditional Passage Races from Brixham to Dartmouth. Nowadays the regatta includes much, much more for everyone, of all ages. There’s fantastic air displays, usually including the Red Arrows, a “shopping village” in the marquee on Coronation Park, and two of the best firework displays you would wish to experience.
Watch Riverford Farm on Jimmy Doherty’s Farming Heroes
When Riverford were asked to participate in the BBC2 series, I thought I knew what to expect. There is a well-established genre of people trying their hand at farming to humorous dramatic effect. But when Jimmy came to Riverford to film, I was thoroughly impressed. He is a skilled and enthusiastic presenter with an active and enquiring mind, a distinctive approach, a real interest in learning more about his subject and not a touch of arrogance. Altogether a pleasure to deal with. There’s something to be said for a programme that can bring the huge diversity in farming practices to the nation’s living rooms. We haven’t seen a preview of the episode in which we are featuring but I am optimistic that it will be worth watching. See it on 19th August at 8pm.
Guy Watson, Founder of Riverford Farm
This years Music Festival will be remembered as the best ever! Covering everything from classical music to rock, and everything in-between. As usual it was impossible to get round to see everything which makes it more important than ever to book in advance. The Music Festival marks the start of summer for Dartmouth, and what a start!
New Celebrity Chef opens in Dartmouth Award winning restaurateur, food writer, chef and founder of the renowned Fish Works chain Mitch Tonks announces plans to open his own restaurant in the heart of Dartmouth. The Seahorse, located on the waterfront overlooking the river Dart will specialise in seafood and simple grilled meat dishes as well as house specialities. The Seahorse is hoping to open before Easter and Opening Hours will be: Wednesday to Saturday lunch and dinner (12 – 3pm and 6.30 – 10pm) Sunday lunch (12 – 5pm)
enquiries@seahorserestaurant.co.uk
"Back in business" is the reassuring message from
John Burton-Race. Having won financial backing, the
New Angel Restaurant will re-open in time for the Easter weekend. Despite being closed the restaurant has retained its Michelin star. John Burton-Race is looking forward to re-opening the restaurant to enable you to enjoy the perfect surroundings with outstanding cuisine. We look forward to welcoming you back to the restaurant in the coming year. The New Angel philosophy is to produce simple stunning cuisine that utilises the very best local produce, in a relaxed and stylish setting that is welcoming to all.
Changes to our Local Pub After extensive renovations our local pub The Sportsman’s will offer a Carvery served every day, food served from 12am-9pm Monday –Saturday. Open from 11-11pm. Sunday 12-10.30pm. Family friendly atmosphere where children are more than welcome. A new play area has been recently installed and a new healthy options children’s menu has been introduced. Log fires welcome you in the winter while in the summer you can enjoy the views down to Start Bay from the large Garden. Parking is never a problem in the largest Pub car park in the area.
BLACKPOOL SANDS; Hillfield’s closest beach is voted the best family beach in Britain by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine
It praises this privately owned beach as 'well looked after and blessed with an idyllic, sheltered setting. Set in an unspoilt, sheltered bay amongst evergreens and pines Blackpool Sands - one of South Hams most beautiful natural treasures. In fact, with its superb golden beach, turquoise blue sea and magnificent pines, it has an almost Mediterranean feel.
Beach cleaned daily in the summer, sand pits for sand castles, safe freshwater paddling pool, swimming area, lifeguards, water sports and a fantastic beach shop.
Superb alfresco dining at the award winning and environmentally friendly Venus Café for evening suppers predominantly grilled and barbequed.
NEW TENNIS COURT FOR HILLFIELDS
Caroline & Michael are pleased also to report the new “All Weather Tennis Court” is now in use. The playing surface Courturf, provides a fast and exhilarating game with good, true ball bounce. It has a high level of player comfort, allowing good foot movement and preventing foot-lock.
Improving the Environment
At Hillfields we are committed to improving the environment. We also believe that being green is very positive and people holidaying on green sites will have a more fulfilling holiday by having a more positive attitude towards their stay. By staying at Hillfields you can see many of our initiatives and participate in helping in areas such as energy saving, recycling, using local shops, pubs and restaurants and visiting other Green Tourism Business's.
Hillfield supports the South Hams aims to become “the UK’s acknowledged “Green” Tourism destination”. Uncrowded, unspoiled and with the mildest year-round climate on mainland Britain, it’s no wonder that discerning visitors prefer to choose the South Hams – glorious Devon’s most southerly region. From the dramatic granite slopes of Dartmoor, through a colourful patchwork of breathtaking countryside, to some of the most spectacular coastline and beaches you’ll find anywhere, the South Hams is an utterly unique holiday destination.
It is surrounded by sea and consists of rolling hills with flooded river valleys. 38% of the area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty recognised as one of the UK’s most beautiful areas. The special value of the area relates to small villages and winding country lanes with deep ancient hedgerows and many wildflowers. Open cliffs and sandy beaches with many inlets and coves. Old towns including Dartmouth an historical seafaring centre. The area borders Dartmoor a national park with moor land and wild open spaces as well as Torbay also known as the English Riviera. The mild climate is reflected in the plant and animal species found in the area.
Ancient packhorse and smugglers' tracks have left an extraordinary legacy of hidden byways throughout the South Hams. But the passage of time has extracted a heavy toll. Many of these unique routes have become eroded, storm damaged, overgrown and, in some cases, impassable or in danger of disappearing completely.
But in the South Hams, with the help of tourism businesses, the community and visitors, the On the Right Tracks programme is repairing, restoring and opening up green lanes
Check out “Planning Your Stay”
Our Web Site is currently undergoing upgrades to improve the layout but some of the old favourites are still there such as your
‘Planning Your Holiday’ guide to research your visit to the wonderful South Hams area.
“Hillfield, the perfect destination for that romantic, peaceful, short break”
Blue Flags Flying over South Hams Top Five for Blackpool Sands
The latest edition of the Rough Guide to England lists its top 10 beaches in England The top five are all in Devon & Cornwall and include our very own Blackpool Sands
• The other top four beaches were named as
• Par Beach at St Martin's in the Isles of Scilly
• Porthcurno in West Cornwall,
• Polzeath in North Cornwall,
• Woolacombe in North Devon
Marine Centre Refreshes Underwater Vision
The Marine Centre at Wembury beach reopened at Easter after a major refurbishment and updating of its information displays and educational resources. The Centre provides hands-on marine wildlife studies for local school children, and a programme of events, activities and rock pool rambles for the general public of all ages. It also provides an insight into the wildlife of this internationally-designated marine
Special Area of Conservation.
Catherine Ridout - Marine Education Warden: Wembury Marine Centre 01752 862538
Café Alf Resco has recently featured among the top 50 in the Independents Information Magazine on Saturday. The reviewers described Café Alf Resco as a buzzing café with its open plan kitchen and outdoor seating which is especially popular with Dartmouth locals and visiting rowing fraternity who quite rightly see it as the town’s best breakfast spot. They went on to praise the bread and pastries offered the superb roasted coffee and the colouring books for Kids and weekend music.
Open 7am for breakfast and great coffee, fresh locally baked bread and pastries, orange juice squeezed on the premises. Rustic suppers during the summer, private dinners all year by arrangement, relaxed atmosphere. Fully licensed, children welcome live music at the weekends.
Virgin Balloon Flights Ashburton 0870 607 0241
Devon is, of course, the land of cream-teas and dare we say, the widest choice of Virgin Hot Air Balloon launch sites in any county, blessed with no less than eight carefully selected locations from which to explore the beauty of this glorious part of the country. Ashburton, bordering the Dartmoor National Park lies slightly northeast of Buckfastleigh and is home to another of our Devon launch sites. Nowhere are you likely to encounter such diversity and beauty as in this quiet corner of Devon and nowhere will you find a warmer welcome.
The South Devon Railway 'Drive an Engine' Buckfastleigh
It's every young boy's dream to be at the controls of a real live steam engine; to feel the power of steam as it surges through the locomotive bringing it to life; to feel the heat of the fire box on your face and that special smell of oil and steam so evocative of a steam engine. The SOUTH DEVON RAILWAY can make it possible for you to fulfil this dream, or for a relative, friend or colleague.
EXPLORING GREEN LANES IN THE SOUTH HAMS
The South Hams in south Devon is an area of outstanding beauty, with a wealth of ancient green lanes. These tracks—some of which were ancient packhorse ways, drover’s or smugglers’ routes are a hidden network of byways and a living link with past centuries. A new local project, “On the Right Tracks”, aims to open up and preserve these historic lanes for the enjoyment of visitors and locals, and to help to make the South Hams the UK’s leading green tourism destination. Many local businesses are contributing to the scheme by donating a proportion of their income from visitors. This new book contains twenty-four circular routes which are suitable for walkers, horse-riders and/or mountain bikers, and which incorporate green lanes in the South Hams. Each chapter includes a map showing the walk, together with the history of the lane and the local area, wildlife, etc.
Love the Flavour
Whether you are a visitor to the South Hams or live here, this website offers a gateway for the very best of the region's products and hospitality. Our varied member companies supply a diverse range of products and services from pure water to high-class restaurant cuisine. The association is a limited company with a reputation for quality. From coast to countryside our hospitality members use our superb primary products of meat, fish, shellfish, as well as our locally produced cream, ice-cream, cheese, smoked foods, pastries, fine wines, liqueurs, ciders and fruit juices. These give the South Hams its distinct culinary identity, which is waiting for you to discover."
The Pigs Nose Inn CAMRA Good Beer Guide 2005 Winner
The pub is over 500 years old and is currently owned by Peter and Leslie Webber. It's a three-roomed smugglers inn set on the village green. Children and dogs are welcome, but adults are asked to behave themselves. The beer is stored in a specially made rack behind the bar. It is a haven for birdwatchers and coastal walkers alike. Home-made meals are produced using local ingredients; evening meals Tuesday-Saturday (no food Mon). Occasional live music is performed at weekends in a hall adjoining the pub and helps to make this a very popular venue.
South Hams Radio
The voice of local radio in the South Hams area. Find out what’s going on at all local events, charity, fundraising or non profit making events coming up soon in your area.
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Britannia Naval College
Everything is now ‘shipshape’ again as the replacement Main Mast at Britannia Naval College was reinstated and dedicated at routine ‘Colours’ on Monday morning 21 November. Prior to the Ensign being hoisted, tactical signal flags were raised reading ‘Repairs complete, No restrictions on visual signalling’. Then one of the College Chaplains, Father Mark Cassidy said a prayer of blessing. The new mast was fabricated by a specialist mast company in Liverpool. Made from galvanised and painted steel, it is an exact replica of the wooden mast which was removed earlier in the year due to old age. With the previous mast lasting until the College’s Centenary Year it is hoped the new one will be just as long lived.
Devon Life
Devon Life is the county magazine offering hundreds of pages of articles and superb photography every month. Everyone who loves Devon will find something to interest them on a whole host of local subjects, with features on the finest Devon property, antiques, history and heritage, countryside and wildlife, town and village features, country shows, regattas, sports and leisure, interiors, fashion and motoring. Devon gardens and gardening are beautifully featured in each issue.
Every month we profile some of the key people of Devon and focus on local business; our Social Diary pages cover some of the county’s most prestigious events and we interview local and visiting celebrities. We visit some of the finest places to eat in Devon and feature its wonderful local produce. Our ‘For Art’s Sake’ section is a delight for the art lover and includes art, literature, sculpture, crafts, textiles, theatre, books, films and much more.
South Devon CAMRA News
News and Brews is South Devon CAMRA's newsletter which is published about 4 times annually. It is available free of charge from most current Good Beer Guide and other popular real ale pubs in the branch area though copies do tend to get snapped up quickly. It is packed full of articles, pub reviews and brewery news along with a number of advertisements for pubs serving real ale in our area. It is our intention to start publishing an online version of News and Brews on this website. Until then, here's some pub news:
