Local Towns

Local Towns to Torquay. All can be reached along the coastal path and make great days out!

Teignmouth (see on a Google Map)

Teignmouth is few miles from Torquay heading in northerly direction. The coast road is quite spectacular, with steep cliffs along much of the way and a view point, where you can park your car and admire the wonderful view of Lyme Bay, at Labrador Bay. This route also takes you through Babbacombe and Maidencombe on the way. Teignmouth is an attractive local seaside town with the river Teign a major focal point for small commercial vessels, coasters, crabbers and pleasure craft. Teignmouth has a Victorian pier, excellent beaches and is just across the bridge from Shaldon. There are a few back streets which have some good local pubs and restaurants and all are very popular at regatta time. The coastal path also tracks from Torquay to Teignmouth, just follow the signs (with an acorn on). The path is however quite steep reaching down into Shaldon, which is just across the river from Teignmouth.

Teignmouth

Shaldon (see on a Google Map)

Shaldon is a lovely little village on the Torquay side of the Teign estuary (great for flounder fishing early in the year and bass summer and early Autumn) Shaldon is a thriving village tightly packed into the space between river and hills! This village has two churches, a boutique, butcher, hairdressers, coffee shops and three pubs! Add to this the village green, the beach right on many houses doorsteps, luxury rental beach huts, the small wildlife park, tea gardens, 18 hole golf course, bowling green and the hidden beach. You may also hear the name Ringmore which is a small collection of houses which can be walked to from Shaldon easily and is slightly further up the estuary. Please note: Dog walkers are permitted on Shaldon beach, but certain restrictions are in force on sections of this beach. There is also a passenger ferry service to Teignmouth from the beach (which has been running since the 13th century). There is also “Ness Cove” which is accessed via a smuggler’s tunnel (now enlarged and improved). At the end of the tunnel is a cove beach surrounded by Red Cliffs. This is often an unknown beach to visitors. Ness Cove beach has steep steps at the beach end so access for the disabled is quite difficult. There is a local music community and the annual Shaldon Festival attracts well known musicians from far and wide and takes place over several days in June.

Paignton

Families have been visiting Paignton for generations enjoying a traditional English seaside resort. Peaking in the early 1970’s today’s baby boomers still bring their children back year after year. Paignton has been around since the Domesday book and before, but it wasn’t until the Victorians discovered the Devon coastline that serious developments occurred. Not much has changed in natural terms and the pleasures of Paignton remain much the same. Building sand castles, rich Devon ice creams, frolicking in the shallow and safe waters of the local beaches, visiting the world famous conservation Zoo and spending a few coins in those amusement arcades! The harbour is still a small local and attractive place to stroll, with Fairy cove to be found just over the harbour wall.

Further around the coast is Goodrington with its water park, seafront pub, greens and great beaches. Further on around the coastal walk is Three beaches and Broadsands, Elberry cove and Churston (see below). We have our own Paignton website. Please click the link to see more.

Three beaches and Broadsands, Elberry cove and Churston

Between Paignton and Brixham on the coast side of the road are a range of beaches and places to enjoy. They are not as well known or a popular daily but are great to visit along the coast path and to enjoy quieter beaches and lovely scenery. Three beaches is the name give to a series of coves (the main one being Saltern Cove) between Goodrington South Sands (South Sands nearly always has beach space even at high tide whereas North Sands is completely tidal)and Broadsands. The coves are not suitable for bathing and are very rocky, but good for shells and if you are a geologist, ideal for examining the Devonian period. The Paignton Steam railway runs along the top of these cliffs and onto the viaduct standing high above the valley at Broadsands a mile further on. Three beaches can be reached by car through Waterside a small town with a range of shops on the main road.

Broadsands (very sandy) can also be reached by car by turning left at the Library at Churston and dropping down under the viaduct where there is a very large car park adjacent to the beach. The beach is very wide (“Broad Sands”) and shallow sloping with a couple of cafes. It is a popular location with locals many of whom have their own beach huts. Separating Broadsands from Elberry Cove (all pebbles) is a lovely large grass promontory with a great pitch and putt green. Elberry is much smaller and is used by ski boats and is quite steeply sloping. From here you can walk a few miles to Brixham passing the Churston Golf course on the right and a number of old quarries to the left, down through the woods. A path leads off his coast path to Churston, a local village between the coast and the main road to Brixham. There is a great pub here with accommodation, Churston Court.

Brixham

Brixham is classic working fishing harbour town with pastel coloured fishermen’s cottages and a long breakwater and inner harbour protect Brixham from rough seas. There is also a marina with restaurants and bars, a choice of local beaches and a saltwater outdoor swimming at Shoalstone. We have our own website that gives a lot more information about Brixham.

Dartmouth

Dartmouth can easily be reached by train from Paignton to Kingswear, which takes about 30 minutes and then a 5 minute ferry ride across the River Dart. The railway is the famous Dart Valley Steam Railway and this is associated with the ferries so all works seamlessly. You can drive to Dartmouth by either taking the higher or lower car ferry at Kingswear or driving to Totnes and around the upper navigable reaches of the Dart then to Dartmouth. Allow 35-40 minutes.

Dartmouth is itself extremely famous for its marine history, its castle, its ancient architecture, its water front properties, restaurants, large number of pubs and its Royal connection with the Royal Naval College. You can read more about Dartmouth here.

Click here to see some local holiday rentals if you wish to stay awhile!