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Located in South Devon and comprising the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, The English Riviera is a walker’s paradise. Its sheltered position, mild climate and numerous walking trails through verdant woodlands, along winding coastal paths and hidden tracks, provides the perfect destination for walkers of all abilities.
Not only does the stunning South West Coastal Path meander along our coastline, The English Riviera also holds the accolade for being an UNESCO Geopark. There are 140 Geoparks in the World and ours is the only seaside resort with this status. With all this natural beauty on our doorstep, we are eager to share it with you.
This is a lovely trail which will appeal to both dogs and their owners! We walk from Battery Gardens, with its outstanding coastal vistas and head inland through the historical Churston woods to the quaint village of Churston. The trail takes us across a golf course (remembering to respect the local golfers) and drops down to Broadsands beach which offers a chance to let your dogs off their leads and pick up refreshments. We return via Elberry Cove (one of Agatha Christie’s favourite beaches) and follow the South West Coastal Path through woods before finishing at lovely Fishcombe Cove
Even if you’ve never read an Agatha Christie novel or watched one of her plays, it doesn’t matter! This fascinating tour tells the story of Torquay’s best known resident who has sold over 2 billion books (4 times as many as JK Rowling) and is recognised as the most translated author in the world. She also found time to work as a nurse, a Pharmacist, become a distinguished archaeologist and a classically trained pianist. A remarkable women with an equally remarkable story to tell.
Roll up for a magical musical tour of the English Riviera, exploring the fascinating and unexpected songs that were written in, inspired by, or have associations with Torbay. Join local cultural historians and music lovers Kevin Dixon and Matt Newbury as they take you on a Torquay walk, pausing to hear the songs in their relevant locations and hearing the trivia behind them. The walk will take in everything from hymns to punk rock and folk to pop, with some shanties and music theatre thrown in for good measure. It is a truly unique way of exploring the Bay and learning about lots of musical trivia along the way.
We start and finish this tour from Torquay harbour. The walk leaves the hustle & bustle of the town and heads into the tranquillity of the Lincombes with its grand Georgian and Victorian architecture, before arriving at beautiful Meadfoot beach, where we stop for refreshments before returning along the South West Coast Path via the iconic London Bridge and the Imperial hotel.
• Find out how Torquay grew from a small fishing village into an internationally renowned resort
• Watch the US Army leaving Torquay for Utah beach on 5 June 1944
• Visit one of the UK’s most spectacular Regency crescents
• Enjoy the breath-taking scenery across the bay to Brixham and Paignton
• See the church which was converted into one of Europe’s top night clubs
Just over 200 years ago, Torquay was a sleepy fishing hamlet with a population of c800 people. Today, it’s the largest of the three towns that comprise Torbay, with 65,000 residents. To find out what caused this growth and how the town transformed into one of the most fashionable resorts in Europe, join this very gentle, circular walk around the harbour. It’s ideally suited for guests who would prefer a shorter stroll on paved, flat terrain.
Here’s a fabulous opportunity to create your perfect cocktail! Guests will be invited to wander around Torre Abbey’s beautiful walled garden in the company of distinguished local gardener and writer, Simon Akeroyd, who will advise which plants to pick. At the end of the tour, Simon will provide a helping hand to assist you make a ‘Torre Abbey’ cocktail using the foraged plants. The drinks will be enhanced with Yarde of Cockington sparkling wild wine. The price of the cocktail is included within the ticket price
NOTE – this is an adult only tour
Together, we will celebrate and immerse ourselves in England’s Seafood Coast, the hub of which is Brixham’s world famous fish market. This stretch of coastline benefits from the most diverse range of fish caught anywhere in the UK, with over £40m worth being landed each year. The tour takes guests through Brixham’s bustling streets, within touching distance of the fishing fleet. And by the end, your taste buds will be able to savour the fish freshly caught that day.
Arguably, one of the finest walks in the Festival programme. This circular walk offers so much variety and wonderful tales, all set against the sandy coastlines of Babbacombe and Oddicombe beaches. Guests will take a ride on the 96 year old Cliff Railway and stroll past two of Torquay’s best visitor attractions, finishing the tour on the highest promenade in Britain!
Join this walk to experience one of the most interesting and diverse coastlines in South Devon. The walk takes guests through the network of gun batteries which protected Brixham from sea and air during World War 2. Emerging from the woods, the sight of the harbour is breath-taking, especially on a glorious sunny day. Keep your eyes peeled for seals which are often spotted playing in the harbour. Guests will then be greeted with a distinctive ‘fishy’ aroma, a sure sign you’re reaching the working harbour! The tour heads around the inner harbour, passed William of Orange’s statue and ends by the Breakwater cafe for a well earned cuppa
Step back from Paignton’s sea front to discover the story of the town’s development. Guests meet in Palace Avenue, a beautifully created Victorian arcade. From there, we travel back in time to medieval Paignton and discover a town with origins dating to 700 AD when it is thought a Saxon farmer, Paega, settled here with his people. Our circular walk includes a forgotten Paignton centred around its 12th Century Parish Church that became eclipsed when the seaside town burst into life with the coming of the railway, tourism and vigorous Victorian development.
On this circular walk you will experience the outstanding natural beauty of the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. From Kents Cavern, where Britain’s earliest humans lived 500,000 years ago, we wander through tranquil woods along breath-taking coastlines. The tour picks up a section of the South West Coast Path that incorporates the spectacular headland of Thatcher Point, the most photographed geological feature in Torbay. Passing the northern headland of Torbay, we head back to the starting point along the Bishop’s Walk, with views across Lyme Bay to the Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage Site and via Anstey’s Cove, reputed to have been Agatha Christie’s favourite beach
Encompassed in this tour are some of Brixham’s most iconic structures and landmarks. The walk begins with a stroll along Brixham’s Breakwater to the lighthouse at its end, before heading up through woodlands to emerge at Berry Head, a national nature reserve…..and keep a sharp look out for dolphins which often make an appearance! Finish the tour with well earned refreshments at The Guardhouse cafe whilst savouring the sweeping views across Lyme Bay
It may come as a surprise to learn that Torquay’s contribution during both World Wars was very significant. Many hotels were converted to hospitals, while numerous homes were requisitioned for evacuees. Over 50,000 RAF personnel were trained here before going on active service. German air raids were frequent, inflicting damage on 10,000 buildings during the Second World War. The Anzacs and American GI’s chose Torquay as their base and made a lasting impact on the population, especially the ladies! There’s so much more discover on this tour….
• Learn about the massive contribution Agatha Christie made during both World Wars
• Hear the story of Torbay’s residents who offered rooms to thousands of evacuees escaping the bombing
• Listen to the emotional story of Torquay’s bravest resident, who risked her life during the Second World War to help make D-Day a success
• Stand at the spot where the American troops departed for Utah beach
• Visit the graves of Torquay’s two Victoria Cross recipients
A circular walk starting on Paignton Promenade in front of the neo-classical styled Paignton Club. Passing under an archway, the walk takes us to the Harbour and (tide permitting) on to the perfectly named ‘Fairy Cove’.
By steps, we head to Roundham Head with panoramic views across Torbay and hear how HMS Venerable was crushed on the rocks below. Next we wind our way down through Cliff Walk and along the promenade at Goodrington seafront where we learn about the Napoleonic Admiralty Hospital, and the fate of many poor sailors.
We walk back through Young’s Park, with its boating lakes, beach huts and café, and learn of the Great Western Railway, built by Brunel, that brought trainloads of holiday makers from Paddington to Paignton. If we are lucky, we may catch sight of one of the beautifully restored heritage steam trains that run from Paignton to Dartmouth.
As the sun is setting, guests will set off on their adventure through Cockington Park and the surrounding woodlands. Very quietly, we’ll visit the places where there is known bat activity and watch them emerging from the woods. Best of all, to help spot the bats and identify some of the common species, guests will be supplied with bat detectors!
This tour will open guests’ eyes to the natural and made man beauty of the Wellswood, an area that visitors to Torquay rarely experience. Starting at Wellswood Village, this circular walk takes guests past Kents Cavern, along a forest trail, before emerging at stunning Meadfoot beach. The route winds through some of Torquay’s most affluent areas, where grand Georgian and Victorian buildings stand proud along quiet lanes, with wonderful views out to sea.
By the beginning of the twentieth century Torquay was the richest town in the nation and many of our most famous writers and poets visited or lived in the resort. We will be hearing of their time here as we stroll though the glamorous Queen of The English Riviera, a place they (mostly) came to love! Among others we will include Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Mary Shelley, Robert Louis Stevenson, Charles Dickens, Lord Tennyson, Agatha Christie, James Joyce, and TS Eliot.
A guided tour of Kents Cavern, Britain’s oldest known dwelling, followed by an illustrated talk on the cave’s role as a gateway to the UNESCO Global Geopark.
Nick is the 5th generation custodian of Torquay’s famous cave. His great-great-grandfather was foreman on the Victorian excavations. He chairs the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. In the cave you will discover how Victorians combined archaeological and geological knowledge to provide scientific evidence for the antiquity of humankind at Kents Cavern. You will witness nature’s artistry, finding out how caves are formed and the reason 80,000 prehistoric artefacts were entombed for hundreds of thousands of years under Torquay. Nick will point out in-situ Ice Age animal fossils and features not included on the regular cave tour and will show you what total darkness feels like.
In the comfort of the visitor centre, he will explain more about the story of Kents Cavern, illustrated with historic photos of the cave and his family. He will finish by setting out what it means for Torbay, the English Riviera, to be one of only 140 other places in the World to be designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.
For ‘green-fingered’ guests, make sure to book this tour, which is hosted by Ali Marshall, Head Gardener at Torre Abbey. She’ll take you on a gentle stroll around the walled garden at Torre Abbey, looking at and discussing the rare and exciting plants in the collection. We’ll also talk about the history of a garden that has survived over 800 years, followed by a brisker walk through Torre Abbey’s grounds and along the seafront, searching out the trees and plants that have made the English Riviera the horticultural paradise we know today.
This walk begins at Occombe farm and takes guests across open farmland to the centuries-old Cockington Country Park – a Doomsday book village, with thatched cottages, an historic Manor House, quaint church, three pretty ornamental lakes, a traditional English pub and craft studios. Cockington Country Park has received the prestigious Keep Britain Tidy and Green Flag Award 25 times since its launch. The walk returns to Occombe through the woods, which are a designated nature reserve managed by Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust.
During the nineteenth century, there were more members of European royal families in Torquay than anywhere else in the world and by 1900 the town was the richest in Britain. This walk will be a 10,000 year tour of the history of the town. We will see how a cluster of rural hamlets was transformed to become the Queen of the English Riviera, the leisure centre of a vast Empire. We will hear of Stone Age hunters, Vikings, raiders, invaders, smugglers, and pirates.
This walk begins with a short stroll around Occombe farm meeting all the farm animals, whilst hearing the story of its development as a major tourist attraction on the English Riviera. Afterwards, guests will have a chance to listen to a talk about its organic farming methods. And afterwards, why not wander around the impressive on-site shop with its delicious range of farm foods and gifts.
NOTE: Dogs are not permitted on the farm
“More people believe in ghosts in Torquay than anywhere else in England”. This light-hearted walk takes us through the many legends and ghosts associated with the town. There are stories of Pixies, the Devil, England’s most haunted house, sea serpents, spectral Spanish ladies, musical spirits, and many more.
This tour will appeal to guests looking for a gentle stroll, on flat terrain, along the coastline of Broadsands beach, which is recognised as one of the most popular and visually pleasing beaches in the English Riviera.
