Cary Arms & Spa, Devon

Overview

Plunge down the breathtakingly steep cliff road to locate this boutique bolthole beside Babbacome beach and leave touristy Torquay behind. Revamped by the de Savary family, the Cary Arms is a soul-soothing hideaway and the place to seek out for chic beach living.

The rambling old inn clings to the cliff and successfully combines the personality and laid-back charm of a classic English inn with all the luxury and style of a first-class hotel. Think, rustic, stone-walled bar, local real ales and hearty food alongside swish, contemporary bedrooms and beach huts that echo New England in style, and a clutch of stunning characterful cottages to rent on the cliff above the inn. Add fabulous views across Babbacombe Bay and you have one cracking coastal gem.

For the ultimate relaxation, relax in the state-of-the-art boutique Cary Spa, replete with sea-facing hydrotherapy pool, experience showers, sauna, steam room and gym.

Rooms from

Doubles & suites: £175 & £270
Beach huts & suites: £255 & £300

Cottages: £495 a day

Good to know

All major credit cards accepted
Alfresco & private dining
Weddings
Spa facilities
Parking available
Dog stay: £20

Outdoor adventures
With Dartmoor National Park on your doorstep, there's stunning walking, cycling, horseriding and canoeing to enjoy when at Cary Arms.

Waves and water
Fabulous coastal views await for visitors - making it the perfect spot for some seaside rest and relaxation.

Dog-friendly
Dogs are welcome in overnight in two ground floor rooms; two beach huts; one beach suite; and three cottages . Dog beds and bowls provided as well.

Family favourite
Children can choose from their own "Nippers" menu, cots and highchairs are also available.

Rooms

You're spoilt for choice at The Cary Arms, with a range of rooms to suit every budget. There are eight sea-facing rooms and two suites in the main inn, six stylish "beach huts" and two large suites perched just above the water, plus seven characterful cottages.

Contemporary seaside chic sum up the rooms, all are fresh and light with elegant painted furnishings, striped fabrics, Italian linen on super comfortable beds, spacious tiled bathrooms with underfloor heating, walk-in showers and White Company goodies, and beautiful terraces for soaking up the sun and those magnificent sea views.

The seven characterful and luxurious cottages, nestled into the cliff side above the inn, each have their own individual charm, with log burners for winter stays. Some have sea views, so you can enjoy a soak in tub whilst soaking up the view. Be sure to wake up early to watch the sunrise over the bay, then strike out along the coast path or be pampered in the Spa Room.

Restaurant & bar

With the ocean lapping at the rocks below the inn, it's no surprise that seafood is a strong suit, so order the catch of the day - landed just 12 miles away at Brixham, you won't find fresher!

Watch words in the kitchen are freshness and seasonality, underpinned by a deep-rooted respect for the surrounding waters and land, with the seasonal menu and daily specials board reflecting coast and country in equal measure, from quality South Hams beef to Lyme Bay lobster and line-caught seafood.

Expect good gastropub food cooked simply and well. From a typical summer menu, choose Brixham scallops, pea puree, seared chorizo, and basil pesto, followed by lamb rump, asparagus and apricot and honey sauce, or classic beer battered fish and chips with tartare sauce, and homemade chocolate and hazelnut brownie. There are lunchtime sandwiches (crab with lemon mayonnaise) and roasts on Sundays.

Arrive early on warm, sunny summer days, snap up a table in the terraced garden, which tumbles down to the beach, and dine alfresco on fresh baked pizzas from the wood-fired outdoor oven.

Private dining

For special occasions, book the Captains Table (seats 6) perched above the sea, or the quirky Pod (seats 4), probably two of the best tables along the Devon coast.

Things to do

From spectacular, wide-open moorland to more secluded and sheltered tree-lined river valleys, Dartmoor National Park has so much to offer all year round. Great walking, cycling, horse-riding and canoeing are just a few of the possibilities.

For some culinary retail therapy, head to Totnes, a mecca for foodies with plenty to see and do. Packed with butchers, cheese shops, fishmongers and grocers, enjoy the urban outpost of the Watson family's Riverford Farm, where you'll find meat, poultry, fruit, veg and wine. The Ticklemore Cheese shop sells local artisan cheeses, including those from nearby Sharpham Wine & Cheese Estate. Cranches Sweet Shop is packed with goodies you haven't seen for years - sherbert lemons, pear drops and midget gems.

Enjoy unspoilt Devon from the comfort of a vintage steam train, with a picturesque jaunt on South Devon Railway. The line hugs the beautiful River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes for seven miles - period uniforms, original station buildings and vintage motors complete the picture.

Fancy some arts and culture? Bradley Manor in Newton Abbott is a delightful small medieval manor house surrounded by woods & meadows, with an impressive collection of pre-Raphaelite pictures & Arts & Crafts furniture inside.