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South Pool sits in a beautiful location by South Pool Creek on the eastern bank of the Kingsbridge Estuary. For many, the village is synonymous with the award-winning Millbrook Inn, a cosy gastro-pub which is renowned for providing fine French-influenced food in traditional English surroundings.

As part of our ongoing series of articles about our favourite South Devon villages, here’s your guide to South Pool.

Getting to South Pool

South Pool is easy to reach from anywhere in South Devon, being two miles from the A379 at Frogmore.

From Kingsbridge

South Pool is around five miles from Kingsbridge.

  1. Leave the town on Embankment Road/the A379 and follow the road to the village of Frogmore.
  2. Just past @the Bakery, you’ll see a bridge on your right. The turning is marked South Pool. Take this right and cross the bridge.
  3. Follow the road for just under two miles until you arrive at South Pool.

From Dartmouth

South Pool is 13 miles from Dartmouth.

  1. Leave Dartmouth on the A379. Coming from the bottom of town, this means taking a left at the first roundabout at the top of the hill and following this road.
  2. Follow the A379, which will take you through the pretty villages of Stoke Fleming and Strete, then past the Blue Flag-awarded Blackpool Sands followed by historic Slapton Sands, so don’t forget to appreciate the views!
  3. At Torcross, you have several options:
    1. The shortest option:
      1. When the road bends right at Torcross at Torcross Village Stores, turn left onto Church Tor Road.
      2. Follow this narrow road until you reach a junction. Turn left.
      3. Continue along this lane, which will take you to South Pool Creek. Turn right at the junction to enter the centre of the village.
    2. An easier option
      1. If you’d prefer to spend less time on narrow lanes, continue on the A379 to Frogmore.
      2. Just past the bus stops, where you see the creek to your left, turn left and cross the bridge.
      3. Follow this road for just under two miles until you reach South Pool.

At a glance

The church peering out the hills in South Pool


South Pool is a small South Devon village with a population of just 143 residents, according to the most recent Census. However, being in such a picturesque spot means that it’s a popular place to visit, as does the draw of one of the region’s best gastro-pubs. With public footpaths through stunning countryside connecting different parts of the village, it makes a nice location to explore on foot, either after arriving by car or perhaps mooring a boat on the pontoon.

Walks through South Pool


The Millbrook Inn


Serving delicious food in a friendly pub atmosphere, the Millbrook Inn is a renowned bar and restaurant in the centre of the village. With a mission statement to ‘take localness to the limits’, chef Jean-Philippe Bidart fuses English ‘pub grub’ with French cuisine, whilst making the most of the fresh, local produce available in Devon.

The Millbrook’s menu changes almost entirely with the seasons. However, their signature Bouillabaisse, a fish stew with saffron, fennel seeds, orange zest and rouille, has claimed pride of place on the menu for the past five years.

Keen to keep up their reputation as a village pub as well as one of the best restaurants in South Devon, the Millbrook has lots of local ales on tap as well as a large selection of wines, mainly sourced from France.

There’s outdoor seating, making it the perfect stop-off while out on a summer walk.

Find out more on their website.

Other points of interest

A bench by a stream leading to South Pool Creek


The village itself is a notable point of interest, with many footpaths through this scenic settlement as detailed on the Parish Council website.

In addition, there are plenty of other reasons to make the trip to South Pool…

The top of the village of South Pool


The creek

Being by the water in an area of such natural beauty, one of the best ways to enjoy a visit to South Pool is simply to wander down to the creek and appreciate the scenery. You can walk along the water’s edge on either side, and you’ll find plenty of benches located perfectly for taking in the views.

South Pool Creek when the tide is out


South Pool Creek is very tidal, so you’ll need to check the tides carefully if you’re planning to arrive by boat or kayak to use the pontoon.

The Church of St Nicholas and St Cyriac

The Church of St Nicholas and St Cyriac


Built almost entirely with local slate, the Grade I listed St Nicholas and St Cyriac church mostly originates from the 15th century, although may date back to as early as the 1100s.

You can find out more about the building, its services and other activities on the Church of England website: https://www.achurchnearyou.com/south-pool-st-nicholas-st-cyriac/

The village hall

South Pool Parish Hall


There’s a well-used village hall near the centre of the village, where regular events such as fundraising quiz nights are held. You can find out more about events in South Pool on the Parish Council website.

Holidays in South Pool

Estuary House


South Pool provides the perfect backdrop for a relaxing break in the English countryside at its most unspoilt. Just five miles from the pretty market town of Kingsbridge and less than four miles from a range of beautiful beaches to the east and west, this location provides something for everyone.

Estuary House (South Pool)Estuary House is a stunning detached five-bedroom holiday home just a few steps from the estuary. This impressive property provides luxurious accommodation for up to 10 guests, alongside wonderful views of the village, estuary and private gardens.

Discover Estuary House today.

Looking for something different? Take a look at our full range of almost 400 luxurious holiday homes.

East Allington (square)We hope you enjoyed this guide to South Pool. If you appreciate this pretty South Devon village, you might also be interested in East Allington, home to another popular local pub, the Fortescue Arms.