Win! Cary Arms & Spa stay 

Liz Nicholls explores the beautiful Cary Arms in Babbacombe Bay – Agatha Christie country – where you could win a B&B stay 

Agatha Christie knew it well: Devon is a place hushed in secrecy. But some secrets deserve to be shared, and the Cary Arms & Spa is one of them. 

Perched on the curve of Babbacombe Bay, the inn, now also home to a Temple Spa haven, doesn’t so much overlook the sea as melt into it. The Cary seems to grow out of the cliffs, its whitewashed walls and slate roofs nestling among ferns and wildflowers. Step on to the terrace and you’re immediately suspended between sky and water, overlooking a sweep of turquoise sea, framed by blood-red cliffs. The surrounding landscape only adds to the magic. Woodlands cling to rocky outcrops, so green and alive, you wouldn’t be surprised if a fairy popped out from behind a mossy stone.  

The setting feels timeless, the kind of place where the hours loosen their grip. In the afternoons, the bay glows a softer, golden green, as if filtered through memory itself. On still days the sea lies flat as jade glass, broken only by the bobbing nod of a seal. When the weather turns, waves crash theatrically against the breakwater. And nestled into this dramatic coastline, the Cary Arms is more than a hotel: it is part pub, part retreat, part seaside fairytale. You arrive expecting charm; you leave wondering if you’ve dreamt the whole paradise. No wonder Agatha Christie, AKA “The Queen of Crime”, lived for some time in nearby Torquay (as well as Oxfordshire) – this haven on the English Riviera earned a place in her heart. 

Cary’s accommodation strikes a rare balance: a heavenly home from home, refined without feeling stiff. The magic, though, is in the details: the carafe of sloe gin waiting in your suite, the way the morning light pours through floor-to-ceiling windows, the sight of boys flinging themselves from cliffs with the casual courage of youth. These are the textures of Cary – the little mysteries that make a mark. 

The bar hums gently in the evenings, locals mingling with guests, laughter rising over the clink of glasses. Outside, the sea keeps watch, glowing pink at sunset, with a bell to ring if the dolphins come by, jumping for joy. The food is a love letter to the ocean, as well as land-loving produce from this green and pleasant county. We were astounded by lobster arancini, crisp on the outside and rich with sea-sweet meat within, and pappardelle tangled with crab, subtle and buttery, as delicate as a whisper. Even a humble fish finger sandwich is food of the gods here, slathered with tartar so good you could happily write sonnets about it. And special mention to the burger (my boyfriend, AKA “Burger King”, said it was the best of his life), flame-grilled and gorgeous thanks to a layer of bacon “jam” that has to be tasted to be believed. Don’t you find the seaside makes you hungry? Just as well! 

And then there’s the spa, newly launched, scented with herbs and warm oils. Treatments here are less about indulgence and more about restoration. I can still recall the out-of-body experience and skin glow after my Truffle Massage with Erin. It wasn’t just a massage, it was a journey, as if my knackered old skin had been kissed by angels and my soul gently placed back where it belonged. 

And this is perhaps the greatest secret of all: that the Cary Arms is not just somewhere you visit. It’s somewhere you return to, in your mind, again and again. Long after you’ve left, Devon lingers. In the salt on your lips, in the echo of waves at night, in the memory of a view so still and perfect it hardly seemed real. 

Some secrets are worth keeping. Others are worth sharing. The Cary Arms & Spa is both. 

Nestled on the Babbacombe Bay beachfront, Cary Arms & Spa in Babbacombe, Torquay, is not only beachy-chic but dog and family-friendly with unbeatable sea views, gastro-pub dishes, en suite bathrooms, free wi-fi & TVs, tea and coffee making facilities, and high-end toiletries; plus most accommodation offers terraces and balconies. Suites add extra bedrooms and/or living rooms. There are also bedroom cottages. 

Visit caryarms.co.uk to find out more. 

How to enter

To enter our prize draw, fill in the form below before 12pm on Friday 26th September.

Where to find more prizes?

Head to our competitions page to find all of our current prizes.

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