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The Little Blue Book: A 'Friendmas' by the Sea
Crackers on the table, the fire lit and your oldest friends under one roof. Here's how we'd plan the perfect festive weekend together in Salcombe.
North Sands, Salcombe
The 'Friendmas' has become one of the best parts of the festive season. Not a crowded restaurant where nobody can hear each other, but a proper gathering: your oldest friends under one roof, with a fire, a feast and time to catch up properly.
Salcombe in December is made for it. The lights are up, the pubs have their fires lit, the coast path is on the doorstep for clearing heads, and some of our larger houses still have space in the calendar. This is our Little Blue Book guide to the perfect 'Friendmas' weekend.
My perfect 'Friendmas' weekend
If I were planning a friendmas in Salcombe, this is how it would go.
Friday evening: arrive as the light goes, light the fire and open something good. Keep supper simple: cheese and charcuterie from Posh Hamper and warm bread from the Bakehouse, or a luxury ready meal such as the crab mac and cheese from Salcombe Suppers.
Saturday morning: the obligatory sea dip from Customs Quay at high tide to clear the head. Then pick up croissants from the Bakehouse and bacon from Coleman's for a proper breakfast.
Late morning: walk out to Bolt Head, and further if you're feeling energetic, with a pit stop for a drink by the fire at South Sands Hotel on the way back.
Saturday lunch: back to town for a pint and a sandwich by the fire at the Victoria.
Saturday afternoon: a slow browse of the shops for Secret Santa presents, then home for a hot bath.
Saturday evening: the main event. Crackers, candles, a playlist someone has spent far too long on, and a festive sharing feast cooked in the house, so nobody is stuck in the kitchen. Oh and then of course some obligatory Charades.
Sunday: a slow morning, with another dip for anyone needing to shake off last night's celebrations. A late brunch at the Wardroom with views over the estuary, then the ferry over to East Portlemouth for a walk on the beach. Grab some last treats from Cranch's, and head home, already planning next year's.
Harriet's insider tips
Book the food with the house. December catering dates go quickly, so it's worth arranging both at once.
Divide the jobs before you arrive. One person on the playlist, one on Secret Santa, one on the crackers. It makes for a much calmer Friday.
Do the big dinner on Saturday. Friday is for arriving and unwinding. Saturday, after a walk and a lazy afternoon, is when everyone is ready to celebrate.
My favourite: the dip all together ... don't chicken out, the feeling is so worth it.
Choosing the house
For a friendmas, the house is everything. You want a table big enough for everyone, bedrooms enough that nobody draws the short straw, and spaces to gather as well as to slip away.
Sunrising, Salcombe. Sleeps 12. A beautifully reimagined Victorian schoolhouse a short walk from the harbour. The extendable table seats twelve with estuary views, and a second kitchen means early risers can make coffee in peace.
Sunrising at Christmas Sleeps 12, Salcombe
Higher Cross Park, Thurlestone. Sleeps 10 + 2. The ultimate celebration house. Its own bar for the cocktails, a games room for the post-dinner rematch, and a hot tub under the winter stars. All just moments from the chocolate-box village of Thurlestone, with its thatched cottages, village pub and beach.
Flying Swans, Batson Creek. Sleeps 6 to 8. For a smaller group. Timeless English style, still water beyond the garden, and a gentle walk into town.
Collacott, South Milton. Sleeps 8. A beautifully restored 16th-century thatched schoolhouse, five minutes from South Milton Sands. Four king bedrooms, each with its own ensuite, so nobody draws the short straw. A farmhouse kitchen with an Aga for the feast, a log burner and deep sofas for afterwards, and a cedarwood hot tub and heated gazebo in the garden for a festive nightcap under the stars.
Leave the cooking to us
The best friendmas is one where everyone is at the table, including whoever usually ends up cooking.
Our private catering takes care of it all. A generous festive sharing feast, a plated three-course dinner, or a proper afternoon tea when you come in from the cold. We cook with the best seasonal produce from the South Hams, and leave you to enjoy the evening.
Walks for the morning after
Salcombe to Bolt Head. Out past North and South Sands, up through the woods and round to Starehole Bay, with Bolt Head rising above you. Bracing, beautiful and guaranteed to blow away any cobwebs.
The Snapes Point loop from Batson. A gentle circuit of about 3.5 miles, with the best view of Salcombe from anywhere at the top. Perfect for slower starts.
The pubs for a festive pint
The Victoria Inn. Roaring fires and a cheerful hum. Big enough for a group, and dogs are welcome too.
The Kings Arms. Cosy, relaxed and in the heart of town, with estuary views.
A friendmas punch
A big bowl of something festive, made at your leisure in one of our Taylor Made Salcombe holiday homes, for everyone to help themselves.
The Creek Punch, with Devon rum (serves 8)
300ml Devon rum
1 litre cloudy Devon apple juice
300ml cranberry juice
100ml fresh lemon juice
1 litre ginger ale
Apple slices, orange slices and cinnamon sticks, to serve
Mix the rum and juices in a large bowl or jug and chill. Just before serving, add the ginger ale, plenty of ice and the fruit.
Plan your 'Friendmas' with us
That's what a friendmas in Salcombe is all about: good food, good friends and a weekend with nowhere else to be. Our Taylor Made Salcombe homes are made for exactly that, with every detail taken care of before you arrive.
Short breaks are available through November and December. Tell us how many of you there are and we'll find the right house and take care of the food.
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