If we love Southwold, where should we go in the South West?

[eeyore2]

We have had some lovely holidays in Southwold in Suffolk but we're thinking about trying out the South West for this summer or next. Only problem is we have absolutely no idea about the different places we could go to. What we love about Suffolk: beautiful beach, pretty town, small enough to walk around rather than driving everywhere, lots of nice little pubs, delis and restaurants (we are quite 'foody' and like to cook, make nice picnics and eat out when we are on holiday), restful atmosphere (no brash flashing lights or big arcades). Any suggestions of places in the South West we might fall in love with? We are looking to go self-catering and budget could stretch quite high if the place was really lovely. Thanks!

Looe, Polperro?

Dartmouth? Worth a google.

Topsham. on the Exe estuary - half-hourly train service between Exmouth and Exeter. Good shops, pubs etc. Children's paly area, Dart's Farm complex etc.

Salcombe?

Fowey
Padstow
St Ives
Cawsand (tiny but perfect)

After having spent most of my teenage years in Southwold long before it was fashionable only the Isle of Wight does it for me. Fowey okay, but no windswept long beach, Padstow UGGGG too many people and St Ives a bit up itself. For a day trip Milton on Sea is okay, but couldn't stay there.
I have been forcibly moved from East Anglia to the South so to get my fix I nagged DH till we had a flat on the Island.

Have been to both Topsham & St Ives & liked both though they are v different from each other

Padstow IMO is too small

Weymouth? Lyme Regis? Tenby? (not SW I realise but ticks all the other boxes )

Will think on...

I love Southwold with a passion and dream of living there! I'd second the suggestion of Padstow or someone near to there like Bude, which is a bit quieter.

Thank you everyone! This is plenty of food for thought. Any other ideas very welcome too!

Totnes.

St Ives is similarly arty, but a bit of a scrum in the summer. In Cornwall, I'd prefer to stay somewhere like St Just - pretty little town, within easy reach of St Ives but also a short drive from brilliant beaches at Sennen Cove, and interesting cultural stuff such as the open-air theatre at Minack, or St Michael's Mount at Marazion. Really, anywhere down that end of Cornwall gives you lots of options.

Wales also worth considering - Tenby is lovely, maybe not as much cultural stuff going on as at Southwold. Aberaeron also pretty and great for foodies, but beach is pebbly, though there are sandier beaches nearby.

Fowey again. No windswept long beach but very picturescue and you can easily drive to the bigger beaches. Has a proper fish shop, friendly and reasonable butcher/deli, restaurants/cafes/pubs, art galleries, shops - lovely.

lyme regis (nice town but sand imported)

The Roseland peninsula of Cornwall. St Mawes is within a few miles drive of some lovely beaches.

Bude seems a nice town with a very large beach.

We love looe, polperro and anything on the SE coast. it isnt as far as down to the end when you are driving to get here and it doesnt get heaving like it does on the north coast. kingsand and cawsand are also really lovely too. Rame peninsular is one of the undiscovered joys imo - and i too am a southwold lover lots of very happy memories of hols on the beach with the smell of beer around you. lovely church too.

Salcombe, Hope Cove, or anywhere in South Hams just lovely.

I second Tenby... my favourite seaside by far!

I agree with St Ives. it is a beautiful place. Very arty. lots of wonderful places to eat. deli's and local food easily available if you want to make your own picnics etc. (it is a foody's heaven!) very pretty working harbour. lots of great beaches - you'll be spoilt for choice. beautiful walks. lovely shops and no car needed (which is handy as most of the self catering places in st ives don't have cars and public parking is a nightmare). st ives does get busy in the height of summer though so if you don't do crowds you should stay slightly outside. st just is beautiful and a great place for accessing local places, but imo you will need to use the car a lot. (the best pasties are made in st just so I'd recommend a visit at least!)

my preference for a holiday in st ives would be to stay in carbis bay - about 1 - 1.5 miles from st ives. you don't need a car. the beach in carbis bay is absolutely gorgeous and is much quieter than those in st ives. and you can easily walk along the coastal path from carbis bay into st ives (takes around 20 mins or so and is a beautiful walk) . also there is a wonderful little train that goes from st erth to st ives , you can catch it in carbis bay and be in st ives in seconds (cost c £2 single for family of 4 - much cheaper than parking in Cornwall!). great for getting home from the pub if you don't fancy the walk at the end of the day!

look on owners direct or holiday lettings for a good choice of apartments and cottages to suit all tastes & budgets.

Salcombe
Dartmouh
St Ives
Mousehole
Marazion

actually.....I would put Marazion first

I would second Lyme Regis, very unspoilt. I didn't know the sand was imported, but figures really that there is a pebbly beach, then a lovely sandy one. Not far to drive into Devon, Sidmouth or Exmouth worth a day trip. I am not that familiar with Devon or Cornwall, but saw Padstow on a tv programme and thought it looked nice.

Lyme Regis.

Mumbles in Gower. 2 delis, 1 homemade cake shop, 1 chocolatier, 2 homemade ice cream cafes, farmers market (very foodie) second Sat of the month, hundreds of restaurants and cafe's, great pubs and wine bars, lovely independent shops, great parks and fabulous beaches (too many to do in one holiday).