Cary Arms & Spa is perfect for early spring breaks in Devon

A Devon weekend break might be the last thing on your mind at this time of year, but Andrew Dent thinks a family weekend at Cary Arms & Spa will change your mind.

Devon weekend breaks are wonderful any time of year

Many of us are accustomed to making the annual summer pilgrimage to Devon: family holidays by the beach, ice creams, traffic jams and disappointing weather. It is somewhat of a British tradition to allocate at least one week a year to attempt to get all the elements right and pull off the magical British seaside break.

That is all well and good, but what about going in the early spring? Are you mad, I hear you say? No actually, we have discovered just the property to get away from it all and experience some great hospitality and stunning coastal scenery: Cary Arms & Spa, Babbacombe Bay in Devon.

Year round sea views, Beach Hut, Cary Arms & Spa

A Devon weekend break at Cary Arms & Spa is easy any time

First of all the logistics. It really is not that far away: less than four hours’ drive from London and less than two from Bristol. Also, no need to concern yourself about summer traffic jams or caravans blocking narrow lanes at this time of year.

Cary Arms & Spa is much more than just a hotel, in fact it seems to dominate the whole cove it is nestled in. First there is the hotel itself with its traditional sea-facing rooms and suites. Then there is a selection of super-fun luxury Beach Huts, perched right on the cliff’s edge. And finally, you have a handful of cottages set up above the main hotel complex.

If it is a cheeky weekend away without the kids (thanks Grandparents) then I recommend the Beach Huts. If it is an en-famille trip, then go for any of the cottages. They are all wonderfully presented, and depending on the size of your group, can accommodate six or eight people comfortably.

The south west coast is open for fun, all year round

There are plenty of activities right on your doorstep. The hotel sits directly on the South West Coast Path, so cliff walking is a favourite. You can head out and explore the hidden caves and breath taking views as you climb above the bubbling ocean. No seaside walk is complete without a family game of pebble skimming which turns out even more challenging with a choppy winter sea, but still as much fun. For the golfers in the family, I can recommend a round at the Torquay Golf Club with its run of holes along the cliff tops, providing a stunning view and quite a challenge when the wind get’s up.

Torquay itself is just a 15 minute drive away. Here you will find the activity of the weekend at Torquay Watersports Rib Ride. They offer a 60 minute and a 90 minute tour of the UNESCO Geo Park that is Torbay. I was such an amazing experience and we all absolutely loved it. It is really a fun way to get out on the water, see the coastline, as well as spotting wildlife (dolphins, porpoises and sea birds) and learning about the history of the area.

They run tours year round, and will provide some wet weather gear, but it’s still best to layer up. We did the public trip, but it is possible for a private hire if you’re a bigger group. The kids had to be dragged off at the end of the trip.

Brixham, Devon

An early spring weekend break in Devon gives you the time and space to explore

There are lots of other places nearby to visit, we tried the small harbour towns of Brixham and Dartmouth. Brixham is a bit more workmanlike, as it has one of the busiest fishing ports in the UK. Dartmouth on the other hand is more picturesque (and therefore more touristy) and has become a foodie hot spot attracting the hipster London crowd.

We ate at The Seahorse on the harbour front which is celebrated for its hyper-local produce. Fish arrives daily from a few miles away and the owner was regaling us with his mushroom hunting adventures on the adjacent hills. It can be pricey at dinner but the lunchtime 3-course ‘locals menu’ is excellent value at £35 per head.

Cove Cottage Top Bedroom, Cary Arms & Spa

Cary Arms & Spa is the perfect end to every day, even if you don’t catch your own dinner

After all the activities and day trips, it is a pleasure to head back to the hotel, grab a drink at the bar, head to the spa, or perhaps, go and fish off the wharf.

I tried the last option and the hotel provided all the gear (rods, bait, buckets). Sadly, what they don’t provide is any luck. Despite being told that I could eat what I caught, I returned empty handed. Weirdly, there was still Fish and Chips on the menu that evening. So perhaps the Chef had seen my type before and figured he better order some in, just in case.

Effortlessly amazing fish and chips

Dinner can be delivered to your cottage, but we spent it in the cosy bar of the Cary Arms; fire raging, drinks flowing, musician playing. Laughter and re-enacting all the fun things of the day spent out and about.

So if it is time to stop saving the seaside for summer, get out and book a Devon weekend break and blow some cobwebs away. As crazy as it might seem to head to the ‘English Riviera’ off-season, it is in fact a wonderful experience, with lots of things to do, and in Cary Arms & Spa you have the best possible place to return to for warmth, comfort and friendly hospitality.