We recently had a great family holiday in Torbay and would love to recommend our favourite days out!
Paignton Zoo | Cockington | Coleton Fishacre | Berry Head and Sharkham Point | Brixham
We had a fantastic day at Paignton Zoo – it really is a full day out!
There’s over 2000 animals and 80 acres of grounds, so lots of walking. All paths are surfaced and reasonably wheelchair and pushchair friendly but some are a little steep.
As well as the animals, this is also a botanical gardens so there’s lots of unusual plants and the grounds are stunning in their own right.
In some areas there’s lots of plant growth for the animals’ privacy and to give them a more natural environment but this does mean it can be tricky to see some of the animals – you just have to be patient and look closely!
Just a few of the older buildings are looking their age and a little tired but there’s lots of redevelopment going on – please don’t let this put you off.
Here’s our highlights:
- very active red pandas, which is unusual
- friendly staff
- free running lemurs – you walk through their open air enclosure
- big cats were more active in the afternoon – hear those lions roar!
- dozens of peacocks roaming free
- large crocodile swamp area – these are scary
- free flying tropical bird area – we all loved this !
Facilities
- no toilets at far end of zoo by giraffes – bear this in mind for little ones (or big ones) in the family – it’s quite a walk back to the facilities from the far end of the site
- lots of food shacks around the site
- large well stocked gift shop
- outdoor and indoor play areas
- no dogs except for registered assistance dogs
- lots of parking
- recommend booking online to secure your date and best price
Summary
A fabulous day out, worth every penny, there’s lots of walking and we will be going back next time we’re in the area – the whole family loved it!
Cockington village, Cockington Court, Country Park and arboretum
The Village – Cockington Court
Cockington Visitor Centre – Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (countryside-trust.org.uk)
There’s a lot to see and do in Cockington – it wasn’t as busy as we expected it to be and there’s also a lot of space for visitors to spread out!
Cockington village has thatched cottages, a forge, visitor centre, old water mill. gift shops, café, pub and ice cream shop. There’s lots of walks starting in the village to the surrounding countryside and on to the beach.
tcct-cockington-walking-map.pdf (countryside-trust.org.uk)
Cockington Court is Grade II listed manor house with a craft studios, gift shop, tea room, rose garden and gallery area – well worth a visit, we particularly enjoyed the glass blowing and blacksmith studios.
Cockington Country Park is 450 acres of garden landscapes, open parkland, countryside, lakes and woodland. There’s a really interesting 11th century church, gamekeepers cottage and estate lodges.
Here’s our highlights:
- estate walks – unusual trees – lots of space
- horse drawn tour around the estate (not every day)
- craft studios
- art gallery
- interesting11th century church
- playground
- lots of parking and toilets
Summary
We had a shorter day here but could easily have spent more time and walked around more of the estate.
There’s lots of space, so good for the children to run around – take a ball or some outside games.
Well worth a visit – there’s a lot here for just the price of a car park ticket.
It’s difficult to pick the one favourite day out of the holiday but this is probably it!
Coleton Fishacre is a stunning house and 24 acre gardens built in the 1920s in Art Deco and Arts and Crafts style. It was the country retreat of D’Oyly Carte family who were well-known for theatre and hotel management and they were keen gardeners and sailors.
Rupert D'Oyly Carte - Wikipedia
The Grade II listed house is delightful with super stylish art deco items and quirky features like the wind dial in the library which indicates good sailing weather and the bell on the side of the house which could be rung to call the family in from the cove at the bottom of the garden at meal times.
The beautiful gardens are Grade II* listed in the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens and they benefit from the milder climate with many unusual and tender plants from the Mediterranean, South Africa and New Zealand.
There are stunning views out to sea, access to the South West Coast Path, formal terraces, a hot border, rill garden, pools, rose garden, woodland walks, tree fern glade – all stunning and well maintained.
It was a lovely warm day when we were there and we had our lunch surrounded by butterflies and bees – there were also dragonflies and hummingbird moths around us.
The majority of paths in the garden are gravel and tarmac and can be steep in places, especially where they run down to the sea. There are also a number of steps which are uneven in nature – not all areas are accessible if you are unsure of footing or in wheelchair.
Facilities
- on site parking is for 3 hours only – we had a full day here so we recommend the offsite parking at the top of the drive at Brownstone and Coleton Camp TQ6 0EH Brownstone and Coleton Camp | National Trust
- usual high standard National Trust shop , toilets and café
- dogs allowed but not in the house
Summary
If you love Art Deco, Arts and Craft, gardens, stunning views.. then you really really really must visit here.. we didn’t want to leave !
Berry Head and Sharkham Point National Nature Reserves
Berry Head Nature Reserve & Cafe – Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust (countryside-trust.org.uk)
Berry Head car park - Gillard Rd, Brixham TQ5 9AP
Sharkam Point car park - St Marks Road, Brixham TQ5 9FH
Berry Head is a National Nature Reserve but it is so much more than that.
This is a stunning headland surrounded by water on three sides, with two Napoleonic Forts dating back to 1795, a lighthouse and exceptional views across Torbay and beyond.
The headland is 200 feet above the English Channel and the forts were built to protect Brixham Harbour from the perceived threat of French Invasion.
The lighthouse was built in 1906 and is still active. It’s the shortest lighthouse in the country but also one of the highest! It is only 5 metres (16 ft) tall but it is a 58 metres (190 ft) above sea level!
There’s also a limestone quarry which dates back 300 years. Some of this is off limits but there’s a lot of wildlife (butterflies, bees and birds) on the walk down to the quarry. There’s also nesting seabirds, peregrine falcons and bats in this area.
Lime from the quarry was used to make fertiliser, mortar and cement and the stone cut from the quarry was used to support the wartime D-Day campaign and is in some local buildings, such as Brixham Town Hall.
There’s 2 carparks – one for Berry Head National Nature Reserve and one for Sharkham Point National Nature Reserve - there’s a great walk between the two and both are walkable from Brixham centre.
There’s a circular walk around Sharkham Point and a beach at St Mary’s Bay but access isn’t easy.
Here's our highlights:
- over 170 acres to explore – woodland and coastal walks
- visitor centre and café
- lighthouse
- Napoleonic forts to explore
- superb walking area Berry Head to Sharkham Point - Walk - South West Coast Path
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for birds, bats and plants
- guillemots on the cliffs
- we spotted dolphins one evening from Sharkham Point and seals in St Mary’s Bay
Summary
There’s so much to do - we spent two days in this area and will definitely go back again.
Car park - Berry Head Road, Brixham TQ5 9AF
Brixham is a great base for a holiday in Torbay area – it’s quieter than Paignton and Torquay but still has much to offer.
There’s:
- marina – usually seals here
- harbour – watch the trawlers coming and going
- sea water lido
- water activities
- a mile long breakwater that you can walk along - a lovely evening stroll to watch the sunset
- flat level promenade from the harbour to the beaches – a great area at any time of the day – lovely planting in this area
- 2 beaches for rock pooling – these are rocky rather than sandy
It’s also a great base for South West Coast Path walking and access to Dartmoor.
There’s lots of independent shops in the town for the visitor – gifts, clothes, outdoor, photographic, craft, art, sewing, bakery – as well as shops for general supplies and homewares.
What about food? Well, you won’t go hungry in Brixham !
- as it’s a fishing port there’s lots of fish and chips (at lots of different prices)
- traditional tearooms
- pubs
- Caribbean food Verna's Pepper Shack: Brixham's Caribbean Restaurant
- amazing donuts and meals The Curious Kitchen | Donuts | Cafe in Brixham, Devon
- a health food shop Contact Us | Oats General Store | Brixham, England (oatsofbrixham.co.uk)
- traditional restaurants
- ice cream shops
- pasty shops
There’s so much to explore in the town:
- steep alleyways
- colourful houses
- stunning street art/murals on buildings Brixham Street Art II - YouTube, Brixham Street Art - YouTube
- William of Orange (King William II of England) landed in Brixham
- Golden Hind replica tour
- craft market
- Brixham Battery and museum - coastal defence built in 1940 http://www.brixhambattery.net/)
- golf course close by
- Brixham Heritage museum Brixham Heritage Museum - Brixham Heritage Museum (brixhammuseum.uk)
Summary
We can highly recommend a day out or a stay in Brixham – there is so much to do, the harbour lights are magical in the evening, everyone is super friendly and it’s a great base to explore the area, away from the hustle and bustle of Paignton and Torquay.
We hope this has helped you to find some great days out in Torbay - we'll be visiting for many more years, there's so much to do and see here !
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