Places to go, things to see…

Rosie has kindly provided a write-up of the local area. This is also available in a more commical A-Z style but here is the unadulterated original:

For those of you who might wish to extend your stay when attending the wedding.
The resort of Torbay is made up of three separate towns Brixham in the west; Paignton in the middle and Torquay in the east all surrounding the beautiful Tor Bay.
Brixham is still a major fishing port but is part of the holiday attractions. Paignton is where the campsites and holiday parks are situated. Torquay is the older resort with most of the larger hotels.
Torbay has a Tourist Office called TIC, Torbay Information Centre which is comprehensive and will give all the addresses details and suggestions that would be expected from a major resort. It is to be found at 5 Vaughan Parade, Torquay Devon TQ2 5JG 01803 211211.. This is between the inner harbour and the Pavilion at the other end of the beach from the Grand Hotel. TIC will give you all the information you need. Email: holidays@torbay.gov.uk Website: www.englishriviera.co.uk

Listed below is a small selection of their probable suggestions with the addition of some local knowledge comments. These are entirely subjective but you may find them helpful.


Shopping

Shopping needs can be serviced in Torquay town centre and in the large retail park, called The Willows, on the periphery of the town. If you are self catering there is a large Sainsbury’s supermarket here as well as M&S. Should you need a fix of Waitrose then that is on St Marychurch Road, on the way to the urban village of St Marychurch. St Marychurch itself is a pleasant shopping precinct with some older independent shops. It is also near Babbacombe. Another urban village is Ilsham which has a single parade of good and varied shops. See beaches for directions. Hoopers is a department store which overlooks the inner harbour and the bay. It has a first floor cafeteria/restaurant that, if you can get a window seat, is worth a visit.
Exeter has an excellent shopping centre as well as being a beautiful old city with lots of historical interest.
Then there is Trago Mills, a local institution. www.trago.co.uk
The Newton Abbot Trago, off the A382 north of Newton Abbot is a fascinating place. It is a leisure park, retail centre and hands on zoo. You may come away laden with goodies or may have bought absolutely nothing. However, the children, if you have any with you, will have enjoyed themselves. It is quirky, eclectic and somewhat bizarre but definitely worth a visit.


Beaches

The main town beach is good. It has many attractions behind it such as the balloon reputed to give a good view of the town and bay. Paignton beach is not far away and is very family friendly. At the time of writing we are not sure if Oddicombe beach and the Babbacombe Cliff railway are open after rock falls but Babbacombe Downs, actually small swathes of turf and gardens are pleasant.
Probably the best beach is Meadfoot. The best way to reach it is to go up Torwood Street from the harbour at the farthest end of the harbour from the Grand Hotel passing Hoopers on your left.. Turn right almost immediately at the first set of traffic lights, follow the road up and over the hill until you reach the sea on your right. There is some parking along the other side of the road from the sea, a car park at the end (paying) but free parking up the Ilsham valley which leads past a broad stretch of meadow, complete with stream to Ilsham village shops. These meadows are good for children and dogs. Kents Cavern www.kents-cavern.co.uk 01803 215136, also to be found in Ilsham village. Good for cold rainy days as temperature doesn’t vary but take woollies.
If you want a lovely scenic view then, beginning from Meadfoot Beach start up Ilsham Valley and turn very sharp right up the hill, traffic lights almost immediately. Carry on up the hill. The sea views are wonderful and there are two areas where you can get quite close to the sea, found at either end of Thatcher Avenue on your left but you don’t need to go up it, you can keep on Ilsham Marine Drive. The name, Thatcher is not political; it comes from the name of the big rock off the coast. If you carry on along the Marine Drive to its junction with Ilsham Road you can either turn down the Ilsham valley to the sea at Meadfoot Beach or you can turn right to Ilsham village shops and Kents Cavern. At the end of Ilsham Road you can turn right to Babbacombe and St Marychurch or left back down to the harbour.

There are little coves accessible only on foot between Brixham and Kingswear but these are for dedicated walkers and sun worshippers. If anybody is staying over the far side of the river Dart then there is an excellent private i.e. pay to park beach at Blackpool Sands www.blackpoolsands.co.uk Then there is Slapton Sands which go along to Torcross with Slapton Ley behind it. These were the locations for the practices for the D Day landings. There are memorials to be found but also ducks and wildfowl aplenty, particularly at the sharp bend at the farthest end of the road from Dartmouth.


Gardens houses and castles

Torre Abbey, www.torre-abbey.org.uk 01803 293593 which is within walking distance of the Grand Hotel, is a mediaeval abbey also the home of an art gallery and Agatha Christie’s study. She was born in Torquay but her home has since been demolished. The gardens around Torre Abbey contain some beautiful and unusual plants such as echiums, from Madeira and resembling gigantic lupins. The National Trust now owns Greenway, Agatha Christie’s house on the river Dart. You are encouraged to visit by public transport as parking is virtually non existent. It is situated on the river just by the passenger only ferry to Dittisham. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-greenway 01803 842382 Email: greenway@nationaltrust.org.uk
Coleton Fishacre House and Gardens, ww.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-coletonfishacrehouseandgardens Email: coletonfishacre@nationaltrust.co.uk 01803 752466, again National Trust are near the village of Kingswear on the Torbay side of the river Dart. Former home of the D’Oyley Carte family, the gardens are a beautiful, if very steep valley going down to the coast path and then via steps to a cove.
Plant World (www.plant-world-seeds.com) is not at all easy to find but, if you are a gardener then it is not to be missed. Apparently it has been featured on Gardener’s World but it has unusual plants which are rarely seen in the UK. It is on the St Marychurch Road OUT of Torquay towards Newton Abbot.


Local towns

A trip to Dartmouth to see this lovely old town and its castles, Dartmouth Castle, Bayard’s castle and, across the river, Kingswear castle is well advised. There is something to be said for driving to Paignton and taking the Steam Railway www.pdsr.co.uk 01803 555 872 as traffic in Torbay is always awful and horrendous in summer. If you arrive by train from Paignton then you can catch the car or passenger ferry across to Dartmouth. Check prices and availability of return tickets. Kingswear and Dartmouth have been used extensively as film locations so you will probably recognise much of the town. There is a pleasant but quite steep in places walk out to Dartmouth Castle www.english-heritage.org.uk/dartmouth 01803 833588 or there is a little ferry from the Quay. Very good shops galleries and restaurants in this town. Many, but not all of them, are to be found in Foss Street, a small pedestrian street parallel to the river. Simon Drew’s two shops here are recommended if you wish to buy any souvenirs or presents.
Totnes can be reached by road or by ferry from Dartmouth. This is a fascinating old town complete with castle. It has lovely individual shops and a reputation for being “New Age”. Totnes is not far from Dartington with its Hall and Cider Press Centre.
This is a shopping, restaurant gallery and craft centre just outside Totnes in the village of Dartington. www.dartington.org/cider-press-centre 01803 847500


General Attractions

Paignton Zoo www.paigntonzoo.org.uk 01803 697500 is of interest to those with children and those who like exotic animals.
Living coasts www.livingcoasts.org.uk 01803 202470 is to be found in Torquay itself, on Beacon Quay on the farthest side of the harbour from the Grand Hotel.. It is very visible above the sea with huge nets to contain the birds and probably to keep out the local gull population. Babbacombe Model Village www.model-village.co.uk 01803 315315 is of interest to all and is surprisingly contemporary. They usually try to include something which has happened recently.
Cockington Village www.cockingtoncourt.info is to the right of the main sea road from Torquay to Paignton A3022, take the first right after the Grand Hotel. This is a Domesday Book village of thatched cottages with a Norman church. It is an Arts and craft Centre set in lovely gardens.


This has been just a snapshot of some places which we know well. It is for that reason that we have not recommended restaurants, except for views or another feature. We have not lived in the Bay for some time and restaurant quality is notoriously changeable. There is now a Michelin starred restaurant, possibly on Beacon Quay, Torquay. There are fish restaurants in Brixham and the renowned New Angel on the quayside in Dartmouth. Asking in local hotels and guesthouses should elicit more current information. Many of the local attractions have reduced entry prices if you combine visits so, again, ask where you are staying or in the Tourist information Centre.


A-Z

This is still work in progress but why not indulge me... www.jackoandjonesy.com/a2z.html