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– where Paignton is a family, seaside resort, Torquay is a more lively, cosmopolitan place. Worth a visit are:
- Torquay Harbour and Marina – gaze at the luxury boats and wish for a lottery win!
- The Living Coasts – a coastal zoo featuring marine life and birds – only opened in 2004
- Bygones Museum – a personal favourite! Crammed with memorabilia from Victorian times to the present day. From the front it doesn’t look much, but it’s like a Tardis – bigger on the inside – spot the mice (hidden in the pictures on display)!
- Babbacombe Model Village – life in miniature – another favourite – great for all ages – just round the corner from Bygones so you could do one in the morning, lunch on the Downs, and visit the other in the afternoon
- Babbacombe Downs and Cliff Railway – stroll along the Downs taking in the stunning views of the red sandstone coast, then take the railway down to Oddicombe Beach for an ice-cream. A must – learn the story of John Lee – the man they couldn’t hang
- Kents Cavern – fascinating, world famous prehistoric caves
- Torquay Museum of Natural History – where many of the finds from Kents Cavern are on display, and much, much more
- Cockington Village – a picturesque Devon village with thatched houses, walks round the ponds, cricket pitch and Church. Probably one of the most photographed places in Torbay!
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- Paignton Zoo – forget the old concrete bear pit and cramped lion in a cage – they’ve spent over £6M on making the place a delight for animals and humans!
- Brixham Marina and breakwater – the Marina is a recent development – lots of small boats
- Fishing Harbour – the smell of fish, dive bombing seagulls (seriously – don’t feed them – they can be over-eager to share your chips) and lots of pubs and restaurants – it’s a bustling, working port. Look out for the replica of the Golden Hind, statue of William of Orange, and the Coffin House (when a young couple married against the wishes of the father of the bride, he built them a house as a wedding present – in the shape of a coffin to show his feelings!)
- Berry Head – the tallest and shortest lighthouse in England (tall because it is on the cliff tops, short because it is one storey high) – visitor centre with information about the wildlife - remains of the Napoleonic Fortress – stunning coastal scenery – on a clear day you can see across to Portland Bill
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Picture supplied by Paignton zoo
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- Town Centre - a time warp from the 1970’s where the fashion is still to dress hippy style. An historic town, with Castle and many ancient buildings - well worth a wander round.
- River Dart – flows through Totnes – there are some superb riverside pubs for lunch
- A must! Britannia Royal Naval College, the Butter Walk, Dart Marina, Bayards Cove, the Ferry and views across the river to Kingswear. Don’t drive – parking is a nightmare – take the steam train – or go by boat
- Market Day – Wednesday – livestock on sale and the pubs are busy
- Horse Racing
- Trains
Otherwise – I am not a fan of Newton Abbot (Grandpa always said “Newton Abbot – you can ‘ave it”)
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