T
he English Riviera is full of surprises with its magnificent horseshoe-shaped bay, swaying palm trees, elegant Victorian villas, pretty yacht marinas, delightful coves and beaches plus its world famous Agatha Christie connections.
The whole English Riviera is a UNESCO-supported Global Geopark, a uniquely exciting place where cavemen and prehistoric beasts once roamed and where the natural beauty of the landscape has real ‘wow’ factor.
The two parishes of Babbacombe & St Marychurch in Torquay are small villages in their own right with stunning sea views over Lyme Bay. These villages are a delightful alternative to Torquay town centre.
The historic Babbacombe Cliff Railway transports visitors up and down the 240 foot cliff face at the spectacularly beautiful Oddicombe Beach. A stroll along from gorgeous Oddicombe Beach to Babbacombe Beach is a must. The quay is a popular spot with anglers, while the beach itself is one of the South West’s leading diver training and scuba centres. Coast path walks are a delight and there’s a vibrant theatre and a hugely popular model village.
Torquay is a haven of yachting, café culture and shopping with a picturesque harbour, lots of waterside restaurants, cafes and bars and delightful palm-tree lined promenades. A stroll through the beautiful Princess Gardens towards Torre Abbey Sands and along the promenade will take you to the fabulous new Royal Terrace Gardens. Here a stunning new illuminated staircase up the cliffs leads you to a viewing platform with breathtaking views across the Bay.
Torquay is an absolute haven for foodies with a collection of seriously good eating experiences from celebrated restaurants to award-winning fish and chips. Families are well catered for with plenty of family friendly eateries just strolling distance from the bustling harbour.
Historic Torre Abbey is an ancient monument and gardens offering a fascinating insight into 800 years of history. It has one of the biggest art collections in the West Country and is the site of the fascinating Agatha Christie Potent Plant Gardens. There are state-of-the-art exhibitions and galleries plus house family trails and children’s garden discovery backpacks.
A short stroll from the harbour is Torquay Museum where ITV recently donated the film set from Hercule Poirot’s study. The museum also holds the country’s only permanent Agatha Christie Gallery, dedicated to the Queen of Crime. The museum also hosts regularly updated, exciting exhibitions and kids will love the Interactive Explorers Gallery, not to mention the legendary Agatha Christie Festival every September.
Other places to visit are Kents Cavern one of Europe’s top prehistoric Stone Age caves with an extensive labyrinth of spectacular accessible caverns, the Living Coast Zoo on the sea front featuring birds and Cockington Village, often described as the prettiest village in England; the world-famous thatched village has remained virtually untouched throughout the centuries. Cockington Court, a 17th century manor house surrounded by a beautiful country park is the home of a large number of craft studios where you can meet the makers, browse and buy.
Torquay comes alive in the evening and pretty lights illuminate the marina and the town. In addition to a wealth of dining choices, there’s a great range of waterfront waterholes and chilled-out cocktail bars. You can enjoy a non-stop party in the popular nightclubs or why not book a top quality show at the Princess Theatre, one of many vibrant theatres around the Bay.
Paignton is blessed with beautiful sandy beaches, a traditional pier and an expanse of green parkland bordering the sea. During the summer months Paignton Green hosts festival, fairs and regattas. Other activities include taking the steam train along the picturesque English Riviera Geopark Coast Line from Paignton to Dartmouth. The world-renowned conservation charity, Paignton Zoo is home to thousands of amazing animals and plants.
Close by you can visit Occombe Farm operated by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust. It’s a working farm dedicated to reconnecting people with food and farming and has a great café and farm shop.
Nearby is Goodrington Sands with its wonderful Blue Flag beach and colourful beach huts. The area is also home to an exhilarating waterpark, several caravan holiday parks and the Seashore Centre at Goodrington offers information about the Geopark and organises some great rock pool safaris.
With mile upon mile of stunning coastline, crystal blue sea, six blue flag beaches, and picturesque fishing villages nearby, it’s easy to see why HOBURNE DEVON BAY is such a popular Devon holiday park. Whether you prefer contemporary static caravans or touring holidays, Hoburne Devon Bay’s’s outstanding facilities and proximity to local attractions like the Dart Valley Steam Railway, Paignton Zoo and Babbacombe Model Village makes it perfect for all kinds of family holidays.
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