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Family holidays rarely go exactly to plan and that's usually part of the fun.
Someone will be starving half an hour after breakfast, the children will decide that crabbing is far more exciting than the activity you've actually planned, or everyone will suddenly run out of energy just as you're about to set off somewhere.
So our favourite Salcombe family itinerary isn't packed from morning until night. It's a few really good ideas, plenty of time at the beach and enough flexibility to change your mind.
Here's how we'd spend a few easy family days in Salcombe.
Arrival day: don't plan too much
After a long car journey with children, nobody needs an itinerary.
If you're staying at Kennford, get unpacked, pick up anything you've forgotten from the nearby Co-op and then head out for a wander.
Island Street is around a two-minute flat walk away and the centre of Salcombe is approximately five minutes away, so there's no need to get everyone back into the car.
Let the children look at the boats, wander along the waterfront, find an ice cream and start getting your bearings.
For dinner, keep things simple. Head to one of Salcombe's family-friendly pubs, grab a burger from Yes Burger, pick up a takeaway or eat somewhere in town before walking home.
There will be plenty of time for adventures tomorrow.
Day one: beach, ferry and ice cream
Start your first full day with the water.
Keep it simple at North Sands
If you don't want to venture too far, head to North Sands.
It's a lovely sandy beach for families and having food and facilities nearby makes life considerably easier when you're travelling with children.
Take buckets, spades and everything you need for the beach, find your spot and let the morning unfold rather than worrying too much about what comes next, just make sure to check the tides. At high tide the beach is completely covered.
Or make the journey part of the adventure
For many children, getting on a little passenger ferry is almost as exciting as wherever you're actually going.
Catch the ferry across the estuary to East Portlemouth and explore the beaches on the other side. You can make a whole day of it or simply spend a few hours there before hopping back across to Salcombe.
Another option is the ferry to South Sands, giving you a boat trip and beach day rolled into one and one of my favourite beaches and with a cafe and toilets on hand its the perfect family set up..
Ferry services can vary with the season and conditions, so check the current timetable before setting off.
Whichever you choose, there should probably be an ice cream somewhere on the journey home.
Day two: one of our favourite easy beach days
For us, South Milton Sands is one of the easiest beach days with children.
Once you're there, you have the things that can make a family beach day much simpler parking close to the beach, toilets and somewhere to get food and drinks without having to pack everyone up and go somewhere else halfway through the day.
There's plenty to keep children occupied, whether that's playing on the sand, exploring the rock pools or getting in the water when conditions are right, with the distinctive Thurlestone Rock just offshore.
The one thing to plan for is parking. During the school holidays and on beautiful summer days, the car park can fill quickly and the surrounding lanes get busy, so we'd recommend heading there early.
Once you've parked, though, it's a wonderfully easy place to settle in for the day.
Or head to Hope Cove
Hope Cove is another lovely choice for a family beach day.
You've got two beaches, places to stop for food and drinks and the village itself to explore. Spend the day on the sand, wander a little way along the coast path or stop for lunch when everyone needs a break from the beach.
Again, in the height of summer it's worth getting going earlier rather than later to secure parking.
Then head back to Salcombe for an easy evening.
Day three: let the children choose
By now, you'll probably have discovered what everyone wants to do again.
And that's often better than inventing another full day out.
Go back to the favourite beach. Catch the ferry again. Spend the morning in Salcombe. Get an ice cream. Go crabbing. Have lunch somewhere you liked the look of earlier in the week.
You could also head out for a family walk, but don't feel you have to tackle miles of the South West Coast Path to enjoy it. Pick a manageable section, take snacks and turn around when everyone has had enough.
A family holiday doesn't need to become an endurance event.
What if it rains?
This is South Devon. We can't write a family itinerary and pretend it's going to be sunny every day.
Luckily, a wet morning doesn't have to mean sitting in the holiday cottage waiting for the weather to change.
Head into Kingsbridge for the cinema or swimming at Quayside Leisure Centre. Paper Bird Island is another option for younger children, while China Blue in Totnes is a fun choice if everyone fancies getting creative.
For a bigger day out, Woodlands Family Theme Park has indoor as well as outdoor attractions, making it useful when the forecast is looking mixed rather than completely hopeless.
And sometimes the best rainy-day plan is the simplest one: wellies on, walk into Salcombe for hot chocolate and cake, then retreat home for a film.
Keep food easy
Eating out with children doesn't always need to mean booking a restaurant weeks in advance.
Salcombe has plenty of relaxed options, from pubs and fish and chips to burgers, pizza and seafood.
The Fortescue Inn, The Victoria Inn and The Kings Arms are all options for a pub meal, while Rockfish on Island Street is handy if fish and chips are on the agenda.
You could grab a burger from Yes Burger, find a pizza or simply pick up a takeaway and head home.
When you've spent six hours at the beach, nobody is going to complain about eating in pyjamas.
Why Kennford works for a family stay in Salcombe
Kennford sleeps up to eight guests across four bedrooms, including a small bunk room that's particularly suited to children.
There's space for everyone around the dining table, a secure garden and one private off-road parking space.
But one of its biggest advantages for families is its location.
The Co-op and Island Street are around a two-minute flat walk away and Salcombe town centre is approximately five minutes away. That means you're not constantly loading children, beach bags and everything else into the car just to go into town.
Come home from the beach, wash off the sand and wander back out for something to eat.
Don't try to do everything
There are enough beaches, walks, boat trips and days out around Salcombe to fill several holidays.
You don't need to fit them all into one.
Pick one main thing each day, leave room to change your plans and don't underestimate how happy children can be with a beach, a bucket and an ice cream.
Sometimes the easiest Salcombe family itinerary is the best one.
Planning a family holiday in Salcombe?
Take a look at Kennford, our four-bedroom, dog-friendly Salcombe holiday home for up to eight guests, just a short flat walk from Island Street and the centre of town.
Useful links
View Kennford for a family Salcombe stay
Explore family-friendly North Sands
Explore more South Devon guides