The Cricket Inn

Twisty lanes and steep hills ensure that this village inn, with its celebrated seafood and views over Beesands beach on Devon’s south coast, still feels like a wonderful discovery. Despite the inn’s name, it’s the sea that’s the focus here with breezy contemporary interiors in nautical colours, and vintage photographs celebrating Beesands’ fishing heritage dotted around. The airy restaurant, with sea-facing glass sliding doors, serves ‘delicious and imaginatively cooked’ locally caught seafood, such as crab soup, seafood pancake and fish pie, as well as traditional fish and chips. A Josper grill turns out steaks and vegetarian dishes, too. When the weather’s fine, take a table on the roadside terrace. The New England-style bedrooms – three for families, most with sea views – are spick, span and shipshape in fresh blues, whites and sage greens, with tongue-and-groove panelling, rope-framed mirrors and jolly ship’s wheels. All have Nespresso machines and smart TVs. Bathrooms have walk-in showers. The Heath family ensure a friendly welcome while the South West Coast Path, which runs past the door, helps you work up an appetite for dinner, perhaps preceded by a local ale or cider.