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A Salcombe Year: Month-by-Month Events & Seasonal Highlights for 2026
- Harriet Taylor
- 4 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Let us help you make the most of Salcombe, and choose the best time of year to visit. From the height of summer, when the harbour is full, crowds are buzzing and Regatta Week dominates the calendar, to the quieter, more refined moments and lesser-known local events you may not even realise are happening, Salcombe offers something different in every season.
Below is our month-by-month Salcombe diary for 2026, designed to help you decide when Salcombe will suit you best – with clear insight into what’s on, what the town feels like, and which type of stay each month tends to suit.
JANUARY
Why visit
January is Salcombe at its most restorative. The town is calm and uncluttered, the estuary often mirror-still in the mornings, and the coastal paths feel wonderfully spacious. It’s the month when Salcombe reveals its quieter confidence – less about activity, more about atmosphere. Days tend to revolve around long walks, good food, and watching the light change over the water, rather than ticking things off a list.
What’s on locally
No major events – and that is very much the point. A handful of pubs and cafés remain open, and the town feels reassuringly local.
Who it’s ideal for
Guests who value peace, privacy and a slower pace, and who enjoy Salcombe for its setting rather than its calendar.
FEBRUARY
Why visit
February is still quiet, but it works brilliantly as a winter family escape. There’s space, fresh air, and the sort of simple freedom that’s hard to find during term time. Beaches are empty, pubs are relaxed, and dogs are welcome almost everywhere. Take a look at our dog friendly properties in Salcombe.
What’s on locally
February Half Term (mid‑February): while there are no large-scale events, cafés, ferry services and local attractions tend to be open, and the town feels gently welcoming rather than closed.
View our February Half Term holiday homes
Who it’s ideal for
Families wanting a low‑key half‑term break
Dog‑owning guests who enjoy winter beach walks
Parents who value fresh air and space over organised entertainment
MARCH
Why visit
March is the quiet turning point of the Salcombe year. The town begins to stir without losing its sense of calm: boats are quietly prepared for the season, cafés extend their opening hours, and there’s a subtle but welcome lift around the harbour. It’s a month of freshness and anticipation, when the coastline feels especially open and invigorating.
Walks are at their best – clear views, crisp air and the first proper signs of spring in the hedgerows – and there’s a pleasing sense that you’re arriving just ahead of the crowd.
What’s on locally
Seasonal reopening of businesses, early sailing activity on the estuary, and a gentle return of life to the harbour.
Who it’s ideal for
Couples and active guests who enjoy being slightly ahead of the season, early sailors, and anyone wanting spring energy without school-holiday busyness. View our Salcombe holiday homes perfect for couples.
APRIL
Why visit
April brings colour, warmth and the first real sense of holiday energy. Easter is a particularly good time to be in Salcombe – lively, cheerful, and very family‑friendly.
What’s on locally
Easter weekend: 3–6 April 2026
Salcombe Rugby Club Easter 7s (date TBC, traditionally over Easter weekend)
Spot the Chick – Easter Trail: a new tradition in Salcombe for Easter, where children explore the town spotting hidden chicks in shop windows and around the harbour.
Who it’s ideal for
Families who would like to enjoy the Easter holidays by the coast, multigenerational get together with the grandparents joining for Easter breaks, and guests who enjoy Salcombe when it feels lively but not overwhelming.
MAY
Why visit
May is when Salcombe really begins to shine. The town feels bright and settled, the water takes on richer colour, and days often have a warmth that encourages an easy, outdoor rhythm. It’s early enough in the season to feel relaxed, yet lively enough to feel unmistakably like a holiday.
May half term is a particularly popular week in Salcombe, offering families a proper break without the intensity of high summer. Beaches are busy in a gentle, manageable way, the harbour is active, and there’s a pleasing balance between energy and ease. Add in the May bank holidays and you have ideal long weekends – perfect for short stays that still feel substantial.
What’s on locally
Salcombe Crabfest – Sunday 3 May 2026: one of the town’s most enjoyable food-led events, celebrating Salcombe’s famous brown crab with chef demonstrations, tastings and a relaxed, sociable atmosphere around the harbour.
Dartmouth Music Festival - 15th - 17th May
May Half Term - 23rd - 30th May : a much-loved school break in Salcombe, especially popular with families seeking space, water-based activities and fresh air
View our May Half Term luxury Salcombe holiday homes
Early May (May 4th) & Late May (May 25th) Bank Holidays: ideal for long weekends, with a lively town atmosphere
Who it’s ideal for
Guests who enjoy good food, beautiful walking, and a relaxed but vibrant town without school-holiday crowds.
JUNE
Why visit
June offers long, sunlit days, warm water in the estuary, and a relaxed pace combine to create a distinctly continental atmosphere. It’s the month when boating, swimming and lingering by the water become the norm rather than the exception.
There’s an ease to Salcombe in June – lively enough to feel exciting, but never overwhelming – which makes it one of the most consistently enjoyable times to visit.
What’s on locally
Busy sailing calendar and increasing on-the-water events
The Salcombe Yacht Club hosts major dinghy events, with June often featuring the popular Gig Regatta and the build-up to bigger events like Merlin Rocket Week (which usually starts late June/early July).
Who it’s ideal for
Those who like their holidays energetic but unhurried – and who appreciate Salcombe at its most balanced. For anyone who are not tied to school holidays June and September are the months to visit.
JULY
Why visit
By July, Salcombe fully embraces its Mediterranean comparisons. The harbour sparkles, beaches are bathed in light, and the rhythm of life revolves around the water. Mornings often begin with a swim, afternoons drift between beaches and boats, and evenings settle into a relaxed harbour-side hum.
It’s Salcombe at its most confident and well-practised – vibrant, sociable and unmistakably summery – with a sense that everyone is making the most of the season.
What’s on locally
Merlin Rocket Week – 5–10 July 2026
Salcombe Town Regatta Week – 25 July to 1 August 2026 : the town’s flagship summer event and a cornerstone of the social calendar. Regatta centres on sailing and water‑based competition, but its appeal goes far beyond the races.
Expect a full programme including:
Daily sailing and dinghy racing organised by Salcombe Yacht Club
Crabbing competitions and children’s harbour events
Swimming races and on‑the‑water challenges
Evening entertainment, live music and fireworks (weather‑dependent)
It’s traditional, joyful and deeply rooted in Salcombe life – many families plan their holidays around Regatta week year after year.
Who it’s ideal for
Families with toddlers to teens and sailing enthusiasts who enjoy a lively, social Salcombe.
AUGUST
Why visit
August remains one of Salcombe’s most popular months, even though the Town Regatta has already taken place. The reason is simple: this is peak summer in every sense. The harbour is full, beaches are alive with family life, and the town settles into a confident, well-established holiday rhythm.
August is about making the most of Salcombe’s setting – full days on the water, long afternoons on the beaches, and evenings that stretch on well past sunset. It’s energetic, sociable and unapologetically busy, and for many families it is the month they return to year after year.
What’s on locally
Family-focused harbour activities and events throughout the month
Kingsbridge Fair Week 18th - 25th July
Who it’s ideal for
Families with children of all ages, sailing households, and guests who enjoy a lively, communal summer atmosphere where there’s always something happening.
SEPTEMBER
Why visit
September often delivers Salcombe at its most sun-drenched coastal. The sea is warm from the summer sun, the light is soft and golden, and the pace of life slows noticeably once schools return. Many days feel quietly glorious – calm water, warm air and space to enjoy it all.
For those who know Salcombe well, September is when everything aligns: summer conditions without summer crowds.
What’s on locally
Salcombe Brewery Co Sprint Triathlon – Sunday 13 September 2026 The Salcombe Brewery Sprint Triathlon takes place from North Sands on the 13th September 2026 consisting of a 700m swim, 19km cycle and a 3km trail run to finish. As with all our Let's Go Velo events the focus is on challenging yourself whilst still having fun in a social and welcoming environment, so it is great for those wanting a fun sporting challenge or are new to triathlons.
Who it’s ideal for
Guests who want summer conditions, excellent swimming and space to breathe.
OCTOBER
Why visit
October is one of Salcombe’s most understated and rewarding months. The pace slows noticeably, yet the town still feels very much alive. Days are often crisp and clear, the light softer and more flattering, and the coastline takes on a dramatic, elemental beauty that’s perfect for walking.
There’s a sense of refinement to Salcombe in October – less about beaches and boats, more about long coastal paths, seasonal food and evenings spent somewhere warm and welcoming. It’s a month that appeals to those who enjoy Salcombe beyond high summer, when its character feels calmer and more contemplative.
October half term also brings a gentle lift in energy, with families enjoying the space, fresh air and freedom that Salcombe offers without the intensity of peak summer.
What’s on locally
October Half Term: a popular time for families looking for an autumn coastal break, with walking, crabbing, boat trips (weather permitting) and relaxed days exploring the town and beaches.
Salcombe Live (music & comedy) – early October (2026 programme TBC)
Dartmouth Food Festival – 23–25 October 2026 (nearby)
Who it’s ideal for
Guests who enjoy culture, food and a quieter version of Salcombe.
NOVEMBER
Why visit
November is understated and deeply peaceful. The town belongs to locals again, and there’s a real sense of calm. The pace slows right down, the harbour belongs to those who know it well, and there’s a pleasing sense of space everywhere you go. Light levels drop, but in return you get dramatic skies, shifting seas and a coastline that feels raw and beautiful.
It’s a wonderful month for exploring. Coastal paths are often at their most atmospheric, with bracing walks out towards Bolt Head, Snapes Point or South Sands followed by something warm and restorative at the end. With fewer people about, you notice details more – the shape of the estuary, the changing tides, the way the town settles back into local life.
November suits guests who enjoy Salcombe as a place rather than a programme: time to walk, think, read, and explore without distraction.
What’s on locally
No major events
Who it’s ideal for
Guests who actively choose quiet months and value space, light and atmosphere over events.
DECEMBER
Why visit
December in Salcombe is quietly magical. The town takes on a softer, more intimate feel, with winter light over the estuary, festive touches around the harbour, and a pace that encourages you to slow right down. It’s not about crowds or spectacle, but about comfort, scenery and time spent together.
Days often begin with a coastal walk – bracing, beautiful and wonderfully uncrowded – followed by long lunches, fireside suppers and unhurried afternoons. For many guests, Salcombe in December offers exactly what they’re looking for at the end of the year: space to breathe, good food, and a sense of calm that’s increasingly hard to find elsewhere.
Christmas and New Year are especially appealing here for those who prefer celebration without excess. Large houses lend themselves to gathering friends or family, while the coastline provides a dramatic and grounding backdrop to the festive period.
What’s on locally
Christmas events and festive dining in Salcombe and nearby villages, such as wreath making, meet Father Christmas, 'sip and paint'
RNLI New Year’s Eve Resolution Run (31 December): a much-loved local tradition, with runners (and walkers) of all ages taking part to raise funds for the RNLI.
Who it’s ideal for
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