A HEADY scent of garlic butter and grilled seafood is the perfect pairing to my view.
From beyond my mountainous crab platter, I can see dinky, weathered rowing boats bobbing on the winding creek, while the sun beams down on to a rickety jetty where seagulls are poised.
Spain may boast significantly warmer summer days than the UK, but when the sunshine makes an appearance on the south-west coast of England, there is truly no better place in the world to be.
Salcombe has always been on my bucket list.
Before my recent visit, I had heard of the Devon town’s beauty through travel magazines and friends — some of whom were so captivated by its scenery, they chose it as the place where they popped the question.
And I get their thinking.
Charmingly wonky pubs overlook vibrant blue waters dotted with sailing boats, while narrow streets a little way back from the seafront are lined with candle shops, small boutiques and delicatessens serving fresh cockles.
I was visiting with my family as part of my mum’s 60th birthday celebrations and we were really pushing the boat out — pun intended.
Our ultra-luxurious holiday home, carved into a tall cliff, had views that somehow surpassed those from the main harbour and was kitted out with everything you could ever need for a celebratory getaway — and more.
It may come with a luxurious price tag, but if you do have plans to propose or are celebrating a milestone birthday, this house is the perfect place.
Set a little stroll away from Salcombe’s main hub, just above South Sands Beach, Lilleby is split across several floors, with five immaculately decorated bedrooms, a huge living room complete with pool table, and various levels of outdoor terraces affording sea-view al-fresco dining, a barbecue, hot tub and sunloungers.
The highlight of the Finest Stays property, however, is undoubtedly the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room, where floor-to-ceiling windows allow for prime views of the sea waves colliding into rocks and the pretty pastel houses that line the sandy shore.
The property’s interior design and furnishing only makes things more dreamy — marshmallow-like sofas, glossy bathrooms kitted out with giant reed diffusers and a sleek kitchen that comes with all the mod-cons and enough utensils for hosting a fancy dinner party or proposal meal.
Mornings were spent wandering to the quiet beach below — a gate at the bottom of the property’s garden offers direct access to the footpath which leads to the sands.
At this time of year, the undisturbed pathway is carpeted in fragrant wild garlic that can be foraged for feasts back at Lilleby.
If you’re not one for cooking, South Sands Beach is home to a glorious cafe, Bo’s Beach, with a wide decking area located right above the sands and furnished with wooden picnic benches facing the ocean.
We gobbled egg and bacon baps with coffee while watching the sea tractor ferry passengers from boats to dry land.
For a proper Devon lunch or dinner, head to Crab Shed, a stunning 45-minute stroll north of here.
This teeny restaurant has won awards for its high-quality and excellently cooked seafood, plucked fresh from local waters.
Try the whole cracked crab, its star dish, served with baguette, crispy fries and a crab cracker so you can scoop the meat from the legs and claws.
Opt for it cold, served with mayonnaise, or hot and doused in garlic butter.
Don’t forget to visit Salcombe Dairy for a scrumptious scoop of ice cream afterwards, and the Salcombe Distilling Company for a gin-tasting experience.
For a proper pint, The Ferry Inn has a great beer garden jutting out over the water.
Keep your eyes peeled for one of the many festivals throughout the year, too.
These include the Town Regatta, taking place from late July to early August.
We’re an energetic family, so much of our time was taken up exploring some of the breathtaking hiking trails nearby.
More serious hikers may even want to make their way to Dartmoor National Park, around a 30-minute drive away, to tread moss-covered hills where wild ponies and deer graze.
Even if you have packed your best camera, this scenery has to be seen to be believed — especially the views from the kitchen of Lilleby.
Just be prepared, you may feel more than a little crabby when you have to leave.
GO: Salcombe
STAYING THERE: One week’s self-catering at the five-bedroom and five-bathroom Lilleby costs from £352.80pp based on 10 people sharing.
See fineststays.co.uk.