AONB Coast & Estuaries
![Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary from East Portlemouth [© Clare Pawley Countryside Agency]](images/sub/_aonb_07_large.jpg)
![Kingsbridge estuary at dawn [© Clare Pawley Countryside Agency]](images/sub/_aonb_07_small.jpg)
The Salcombe & Kingsbridge Estuary
The feeder streams
The Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary is unusual because it has no large river feeding it – just a series of small streams from Frogmore, Bowcombe, Batson, East Allington, Sherford and other surrounding villages, rising at springs some 140 metres above sea level.
The estuary
The Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary is tidal up as far as Kingsbridge, the bridging point 5 miles inland. Like the other estuaries of South Devon, the original deep river valley has been inundated by later sea level rise, with the tide flooding in to create a wide expanse of water.
Designations
As well as being part of the AONB, the estuary is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Local Nature Reserve and lies within the South Devon Heritage Coast.
Getting around
- On foot: a booklet is available for sale from local tourist information centres, providing a series of walks around the estuary or choose from a selection of walks, free from our downloadable walks page.
- By river cruiser: a river cruiser service operates between Kingsbridge and Salcombe during the summer season.
- Ferry crossings: A passenger ferry operates a year-round service crossing between Salcombe and East Portlemouth.
Estuary conservation and management
- The care and management of the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary is co-ordinated through the Salcombe-Kingsbridge Estuary Conservation Forum.
- This Forum is supported by the South Devon AONB Estuaries Officer, Nigel Mortimer. To contact Nigel, call 01803 861465 or email nigel.mortimer@southdevonaonb.org.uk
- An estuary management plan has been published for the Salcombe-Kingsbridge estuary covering the five year period 2005-2010 and is available to download below.