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Weekend break in Torquay - what to do and see?
We're having a weekend break in Torquay next month. Neither of us have been there before so it's new territory for us both.
Any suggestions from people who live there or know the town well as to what we should be planning and looking out for? We love walking, browsing little independent shops, and general sight-seeing.
We're not interested in pubs and clubs, and our meals are paid for in the hotel so we're unlikely to be eating out (unless their breakfast time is late for us as we like to be up and about early).
Any suggestions from people who live there or know the town well as to what we should be planning and looking out for? We love walking, browsing little independent shops, and general sight-seeing.
We're not interested in pubs and clubs, and our meals are paid for in the hotel so we're unlikely to be eating out (unless their breakfast time is late for us as we like to be up and about early).
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Babbacombe model village is brilliant.
http://www.englishriviera.co.uk/things-to-do/cockington-court-craft-centre-torquay-p1292453
Tbh, if it were me, I would have booked a weekend in Dartmouth or Salcombe for example, but as you are going to be in Torquay, a day trip to Dartmouth and either get a pleasure cruise to Totnes or take a steam train from Kingswear to Paignton.
Another day trip would be to walk some of the coastal path between Bolt Tail, Bolt Head, Prawle Point and Start Point.
Alternatively, there are many nice places to visit on the southern outskirts of Dartmoor.
Unfortunately, you've only got 2 days to look around. I had the best part of 21 years to see and look around this beautiful area of the UK. Have a nice break and let us know what you did.
Totnes is a good place for little shops to explore. If you should get good weather then the beach at Goodrington is the best beach in that area.
Paignton Zoo is definitely worth a visit and in Totnes you can acquaint yourself with the Totnes pound.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totnes_pound
http://hanburys.net
Cod Royale (with smoked salmon on top of cod) is Delish.
We spent most of Saturday pottering around town and then onto the Living Coasts, which was great. Late evening we went for a stroll round the park near Torre Abbey and along the coast for a couple of miles. We went to look inside the abbey on Sunday morning then caught a bus along to Brixham.
It was okay but we're not going to rush back there. Not very high on our list of favourite resorts, I'm afraid.
This weekend we're off to Llandudno - now there's a place worth a second, third and fourth visit.
The trouble is you went to the wrong place(s) in Devon, IMO.
Even if you were just passing through, this is a must see on the train.
The first line off branch from the left is going towards Torquay and Paignton.
FGW HST Dawlish Sea-wall, Exeter to Newton Abbot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMylXf0DXF0
So next time.
Sorry but who comes to Devon and picks Torquay, I wouldn't rush to go there myself maybe every ten years or so. Did you have a car? That's the best way to see Devon really as the best places for walking etc are not near train or bus stations
We have been to Llandudno and far prefer going to Torquay. There again, it is all down to personal taste and everyone likes different things.
Fawlty Titties
Generally yes, but bus route 93 from Dartmouth to Plymouth is especially scenic, between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge.
For instance, along Strete Gate and Slapton Sands.
http://www.southdevonaonb.org.uk/explore/start-bay/strete-gate
http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/devon_cornwall/journey_planning/timetables/?service=93&page=1&redirect=no
Once you get to Kingsbridge, you can catch another bus to Salcolmbe and walk past the town, Old Harry Rocks, North Sands, South Sands, along Sharpitor towards Bolt Head, passing Starehole Bay (where if you look carefully into the bay at low tide, you can still see the wreck of the tea clipper Herzigon Cecilie. If you are feeling more energetic, continue along the south west coast path, past the Great and Little Mewstones by Bolt Head, Soar Mill Cove (where the Herzigon Cecilie was initially wrecked on The Ham Stone) along to Bolt Tail and then on to Hope Cove.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herzogin_Cecilie
Alternatively. Once you get to Salcombe, you could catch the ferry from the Ferry Steps to East Portlemouth and walk back to Dartmouth. It's a very long walk, but walking to Start Point and then on to Torcross shouldn't be too bad for a young energetic walker. On the way you'll go past Gara Sands, Venericks Cove, Elender Cove, Prawle Point, Lannacombe Beach, Mattiscombe Beach, Start Point, Hallsands and Beesands.
But you will be able to see the sea - over there, between the land and the sky.
Or from any one hotel window, unless you believe the Earth is flat.
I don't think they were expecting to see any of those. Or is that included in the new tourist guide.
Well - its not good enough:p
Oops. My mistake. That branch is off towards Exeter Central and the other line going towards London. To go to Torquay and Paignton you branch off at Newton Abbot.
Major.
http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/transportroads/public_transport/rail/rail_map.htm
This section of line isn't particularly fast in normal running (good IMO, so you can take in the wonderful scenery), but as Dawlish Sea Wall was still undergoing repair, there are additional yellow speed restriction signs (TSRs).