Trail of discovery at Gara Rock
A new discovery trail devised by Gara Rock will take children and their families on a voyage of discovery when they visit the café restaurant or stay in the self-catering apartments and cottages during the summer months ahead.
And owners of the unique development have teamed up with Salcombe-based clothing company Quba & Co to offer everyone who takes part in the treasure trail the chance to enter a draw and win a prize each month.
Gara Rock is perched up high on the cliff tops of the rugged south Devon coast near East Portlemouth. It is steeped in history and tales of shipwrecks, Moroccan gold and Enid Blyton-style adventures go hand in hand with this very special part of the southwest coastline.
The treasure trail provides an insight into the history of the area taking treasure trailers to the old lookout tower, along the South West Coast Path and down to Seacombe Sands giving them a taste of all the elements that add up to make it such an extraordinary and memorable location.
Quba’s John Williams said: “It is a unique area of coastline and countryside which lies at the heart of every Quba design, and we are delighted to be involved. Encouraging people to really engage with their surroundings is wonderful.”
This magical spot is where many ships floundered on the rugged coast, settlements from the Bronze Age are etched into the hillside at Deckler’s Cliff, and lookouts watched the horizon for signs of German invasions during World War 2.
As a result of archaeological work just off Gara Rock tantalizing facts have been discovered about the prehistoric tin trade in the Bronze Age, sixteenth-century shipbuilding, seventeenth-century trade with North Africa with huge treasure troves of gold coins, jewellery and ingots discovered on a wreck situated directly in front of the development, and life at sea in the Royal Navy in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
A plaque unveiled earlier this year on the café’s outside eating area overlooking the cliffs and sea reveals to visitors fascinating clues to this and other secrets hidden by the sea.
Gara Rock manager Bridget Jones said: “Creating a way to encourage visitors to learn more about this stunning part of Great Britain should really help to fuel imaginations. There is so much history here and when you look out to sea it is over the remains of dozens of ships that you are gazing.”
The discovery trails are free of charge and can be obtained in the café or local Tourist Information Centres. Once completed they should be posted in the box and winners will be notified each month.
For restaurant opening hours, please visit the website www.gararock.com or call 01548 845945.
