The location of this inn, on the shores of beautiful Babbacombe Bay, is hard to beat. Add to that a spa with sea views, a restaurant serving hearty food and a variety of accommodation and it has wide appeal. It's a hotel of two halves: the original Victorian building has rooms with a traditional seaside-hotel feel, a cosy bar and classic pub-style restaurant. Closer to the water are modern beach huts and suites with chic interiors. All rooms have little luxuries, like coffee machines, complimentary sloe gin and White Company toiletries, and most have a sea view. There are also well-equipped self-catering cottages. If you're looking for a peaceful hideaway on the English Riviera, this could be it.
It's rare to find a hotel right on the water and not across a busy road from it - Cary Arms & Spa is nestled in its own bay.
It's a short walk to Oddicombe Beach where you can take the cliff railway to Babbacombe. Torquay is 10 minutes by car.
By car: 50 minutes from Exeter, 2 hours from Bristol and 4 hours from London. Free on-site parking.
By train: London Paddington to Torquay takes under 3 hours. It's a 10-minute taxi to the hotel. thetrainline.com
The beach huts and suites are romantic enough for a couple's getaway, but the hotel is family-friendly, especially the self-catering cottages. Make sure you have lunch in the terraced cliffside gardens with a seagull's-eye view down over Babbacombe Bay as it shimmers in the sun.
The hotel lent us fishing rods and bait and we fished from the sea wall alongside the locals.
- Restaurant
- Bar
- Terrace
- Beachfront
- Games room
- Spa
- Pet-friendly
- Family-friendly
- Free parking
- Free Wi-Fi
The two spacious beach suites practically dip their toes in the water and have uninterrupted sea views and private sundecks. All rooms contain thoughtful touches, like decanters of sloe gin, sticks of rock, coffee machines and White Company toiletries.
Deluxe Room, Luxury Room, Captain's Suite, Shell Suite, Pebble Suite, Beach Hut, Beach Suite
Facilities include: ensuite bathroom with toiletries, bathrobes, tea and coffee facilities, TV, free Wi-Fi
For privacy and superb sea views book the Captain's Table, which sits on its own elevated platform. We recommend the plump scallops from nearby Brixham, served with flavoursome chorizo.
Cary Arms: traditional inn, locally sourced produce, seasonal menus. Dishes include ale battered Brixham fish, fillet steak and oven baked duo of fish. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
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