AREA GUIDE
All you need to know about what Torbay has to offer
Torquay, Paignton & Brixham
The Torbay region of South Devon, commonly referred to as 'The English Riviera', contains the delightful towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham with their 22 miles of coastline, consisting of sandy beaches, private rocky coves and picture-perfect harbours.
Torquay, with its iconic palm trees and busy harbour could fool you into thinking you were on the Mediterranean. From the Royal Terrace Gardens, there are amazing sea views across the bay which are magnificent especially at night, with the lights reflecting onto the sea. The arching sandy beach bay that leads onto the delightful marina at the foot of the town centre, is every bit the centrepiece to one of the UK's most visited holiday regions. The town caters for all ages as it is home to top family attractions, award winning restaurants, a host of water sports and international sailing events and a wide range of bars and nightclubs.
As a contrast to cosmopolitan Torquay, Paignton is another tourist magnet with blue flag sandy beaches albeit with a slightly more traditional feel. A variety of family attractions that includes world famous Paignton Zoo, a fabulous Victorian Pier, a Steam Railway and an 18th century harbour that runs many fishing trips and boat tours.
Brixham on the other hand is a picturesque fishing harbour surrounded by brightly painted cottages. The town is steeped in maritime history, famous for tales of smugglers and pirates, celebrated by an annual Pirate Festival. The connections to the sea influence all aspects of life with the busy harbour providing the many high-quality seafood restaurants.
Transport Links
Torbay is known for having well-established commuter links to Exeter, Plymouth and Newton Abbot.
Transport into the area by car has drastically improved due to the completion of the South Devon Link Road in December 2015. The road connects Torbay and Newton Abbot, bypassing Kingskerswell, which leads to Exeter, the M5 and beyond.
Trains to Exeter, Plymouth and further afield are available from Paignton, Torquay and Torre Railway Stations. Mega Bus and National Express coaches also operate services to and from Torbay which creates cheap, convenient links into the area. Exeter Airport is also in close proximity.
There are numerous Buses linking the towns run by Stagecoach. There is also a year-round ferry which is available for travel between Brixham and Torquay whilst there is also a seasonal service operating between Brixham, Paignton and Torquay between April and October.
Local Schools
Torbay is one of just 22 local authorities in the UK that can boast that not one of its primary schools falls below Government expectations. There are currently around 30 Primary Schools in Torbay crating a variety of choices for prospective parents.
There are also a number of secondary schools in Torbay which include the well renowned Torquay Girls & Boys Grammar Schools and Churston Grammar School among others. There is also a large emphasis on providing better vocational options as well as academic options. This has led to the opening of The Devon Studio School in Torquay and The South Devon High School in Paignton.
South Devon College has more than 1,000 apprentices and more than 600 employers actively engaged on apprenticeship schemes every year making it a popular choice for local young people keen on learning a trade and furthering their education.
Beaches & Countryside
With the highest concentration of Blue Flag beaches in England the English Riviera has some of the best beaches in the country. With over 20 to choose from, whether you’re looking for wide, sandy beaches, or smaller, more secluded beaches, there’s something for everyone. Many of Torbay’s Beaches are linked by the South West Coast Path which stretches from the south side of Brixham through to Maidencombe and beyond.
Some of the main beaches in Torbay are: Babbacombe & Oddicombe; Meadfoot Beach; Torre Abbey Sands; Preston & Paignton Beaches; Goodrington Sands; Broadsands; Elberry Cove and St Mary’s Bay.
South Devon is also home to the Dartmoor National Park. Dartmoor is a unique place with its wild, open moorlands, many tors, deep river valleys and rare wildlife. It is also rich in history with prehistoric remains dating back to the late Neolithic and early Bronze Age such as standing stones, hut circles and kistvaens.
Attractions
Details to follow
