A PLACE WORTH KNOWING
Coffee, a sauna and the harbour at your feet
A small café beside the ferry steps, with a wood-fired sauna looking over the Salcombe estuary.
The Old Stable gives the short crossing from Salcombe a lovely extra purpose. Beside East Portlemouth’s ferry steps, it serves organic coffee, homemade sausage rolls and sweet things, with the water and the town spread out opposite. It is an easy idea for a slow morning: take the ferry, pause for something warm and see where the rest of the day leads. If you want an experience to anchor the outing, book the wood-fired sauna next door. Communal sessions offer a sociable option, while private hire suits a small group. The view takes in the harbour and Snapes Point, so the setting does much of the work. Café and sauna days differ, and the simple changing arrangements reward arriving prepared rather than rushing straight from the boat.
The lovely little details
- The café is beside East Portlemouth’s ferry steps.
- Organic coffee, homemade sausage rolls and sweet treats.
- Book communal or private wood-fired sauna sessions.
SOMETHING TO LOOK OUT FOR
A ferry-and-sauna morning
Book a sauna session, then leave time for coffee by the harbour.
From the venueTHE USEFUL LITTLE DETAILS
Make a little plan.
Find them here
The Old Stable, Ferry Steps, Mill Bay Road, East Portlemouth, Devon, TQ8 8PU
Open directionsGetting there
Find it beside the East Portlemouth ferry landing above Fisherman’s Cove. Check the ferry’s current timetable if coming across from Salcombe.
Before you set off
Book communal or private sauna sessions through the official sauna page. For café enquiries call 01548 721900.
Check bookings & availabilitySauna days
The sauna is currently listed for Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Check the detailsArrive prepared
Allow 5–15 minutes before the session. Changing facilities are simple, and coming in swimwear is recommended.
Check the detailsA phone-free hour
Phones stay outside the sauna; choose communal hire or private hire for up to ten.
Check the detailsDetails checked 24 October 2026. Opening times, menus and access arrangements can change; confirm anything essential directly before travelling.
About this feature & our sources
This is an editorial discovery, researched from the venue’s own information and any visitor sources linked here. It is not a paid partnership or a first-hand review. Individual visitor tips reflect that person’s experience; they are not a live rating or a promise about your visit.
- The Old Stable · official café ↗
- The Old Stable · sauna booking and visitor information ↗
- Salcombe Information Centre · venue listing and gallery ↗
Each photo has its own source and credit in the gallery. Spotted something that needs updating? Let us know.
