Gara Rock
Otherwise known as Rickham Sands, Gara Rock is a large southwest facing beach of golden sand close to the hamlet of Rickham, near East Portlemouth, near Salcombe on the coast of South Devon.
Parking is a ten minute stroll away at the site of the former Gara Rock Hotel.
In the 1860s the Admiralty built a coastguard observation post as well as a terrace of cottages at Gara Rock, with a 'Life Saving Apparatus House'. This in turn was succeeded by the Gara Rock Hotel, until its demolition in 2006. The area has now been redeveloped into a select collection of cottages and apartments complete with a luxurious spa and the well respected Café-ODE restaurant.
The cliffs above the cove are a great place to spot ravens and kestrels whilst on the rocks below cormorants and shags are commonly seen. Just to the southeast of Gara Rock lies the secluded Seacombe Sands, also known as Abrahams Hole Beach.
South West Coast Path walkers will enjoy the walk southeast over Deckler's Cliff to Gammon Head and Prawle Point or northwest over Portlemouth Down and Limebury Point to the beaches on the eastern shore of the Salcombe Estuary.
Facilities
✔ Parking
✔ Sandy beach
✔ Dogs permitted
OS Explorer Map OL20: South Devon
This map is part of the Ordnance Survey's Explorer series designed to replace the old Pathfinder map series. At 1:25,000 scale this detailed map shows a host of attractions including gardens which are open to the public, nature reserves and country parks as well as all official footpaths, bridleways, roads and lanes. Other facilities covered include: camping and caravan sites, picnic areas and viewpoints, selected places of interest, rights of way information for England and Wales, National Trail and Recreational Path routes, and selected tourist information. The series is aimed mainly at the experienced map user but can be used by tourists and locals alike.
Local area
Holiday Parks
Stay at a nearby Holiday Park and keep the kids amused all day! Parks in the vicinity include those at:
Hotels
Plenty of hotels are available locally. Consider those in the local towns:
Salcombe
Kingsbridge
Caravans
In the vicinity is a choice of camping and caravan sites offering high quality, affordable holiday accommodation. Consider camps in Kingsbridge, Brixham, Paignton and Newton Abbot.
