Rainy Day in Shaldon: What Is Worth Doing

Short answer: Shaldon sits on the estuary rather than the open sea, so it is calmer than Teignmouth when the weather turns. The Smugglers' Tunnel is covered, and the village pubs are all within a couple of minutes of the green.

The sheltered side

This is Shaldon's advantage. It faces the estuary rather than the open sea, so when Teignmouth's seafront is being blasted, Shaldon is comparatively calm. The village is built around a green with everything close together.

The tunnel

The Smugglers' Tunnel through the red cliff to Ness Cove is covered for its length, which makes it the one bit of sightseeing here that rain does not spoil. The cove at the bottom is empty in poor weather.

Where to sit it out

• The London Inn on the green — the village pub, dog friendly, with a catch of the day worth ordering.
• The Clipper on the Strand — the big all-day place over two floors.
• The Ness up by the tunnel entrance — the best view in Shaldon, across to Teignmouth.
• The Bucket & Spade at Coast View — a rooftop terrace and big views, with a well-liked Sunday roast.

The zoo

Shaldon Zoo and Wildlife Trust on the headland is tiny and specialises in small primates. It is mostly outdoors, so treat it as a between-showers option rather than a downpour one. No dogs.

Across the water

Teignmouth's sea wall is one of the best storm-watching spots in Devon — waves breaking over the wall as trains pass a few feet away, with the station right there if it turns foul. The ferry may not run in rough weather, so check before relying on it.

Further afield

Torquay is twenty minutes and has more indoor attractions than anywhere in Devon, including Kents Cavern, which is underground and open year-round.