About Devon
Whatever you are
looking for, Devon has a resort for you. If you yearn for a beach
town packed with entertainment, there's the area around Torbay
and the English Riviera. There's also Salcombe for sailing, and
Dartmouth and Brixham for those looking for Devon's salty seadog
past.
DAWLISH
This sedate 19th-century town is ideal for those seeking a quiet
holiday. It was a favourite of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens,
who set part of Nicholas Nickleby in the town. One distinctive
feature of Dawlish is the great railway embankment built along
the coast by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1846 that gave Victorian
city children their first ever view of the sea. It separates the
beach and the resort.
Don't miss the ornamental gardens, known as The Lawn, through
which the Dawlish Water brook runs to the ocean. It is home to
Chinese swan geese, East Indian ducks, and other exotic wildfowl.
TEIGNMOUTH
Long since eclipsed by its rival Torbay, Teignmouth has undergone
a revival in popularity in recent years . A theatre, pier and
cinema top the attractions of this traditional resort. The sweeping
expanse of inviting dark red sand affords safe bathing right in
front of the town.
TORQUAY
The poet Tennyson once described Torquay as "the loveliest
village in Britain". But when the railway arrived in 1848
bringing hundreds of visitors, a tree-lined seaside metropolis
blossomed around the old harbour. It is now more akin to a city.
This is the heart of the English Riviera – some people even
compare it with Mediterranean resorts like Monte Carlo. Beaches
are comparatively small here, but the town offers nightlife and
popular entertainment as well as an excellent shopping centre.
Among the major attractions are Torre Abbey and the Oddicombe
Beach cliff railway. The station is famous for its links with
Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.
PAIGNTON
Paignton is a family resort, boasting no less than three splendid
beaches: Goodrington Sands, Broadsands and the town beach. You
will also find several small coves such as Saltern and Elberry,
as well as easy coastal walks and a harbour which dates from Paignton's
days as a fishing village. Traditional attractions to suit all
tastes and pockets are available, with Paignton Zoo , the Quaywest
outdoor water park and the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway
perennial favourites.
BRIXHAM
Brixham is the gem of the Torbay district. Despite the massive
influx of visitors, the harbour has lost none of its charm and
remains surprisingly unspoilt.
In fact, as well as being a tourist magnet, this town is still
very much a working port, with trawlers sharing the water with
leisure craft. Pride of place in the harbour is a replica of the
Golden Hind, the ship in which Sir Francis Drake sailed around
the world. A statue just next to the harbour marks the landing
of William of Orange in 1688.
DARTMOUTH
Once the leading trading port of Devon, Dartmouth has been one
of Britain's most important harbours since the Middle Ages. Crusaders
set sail from here in the 12th century; Sir Walter Ralegh patronised
the port during the great Elizabethan age of discovery; and in
1944, a flotilla of 400 boats departed for the D-Day landings.
There are many pleasure-boat trips on offer, both out to sea and
up the estuary of the River Dart. Dartmouth Castle, completed
on the orders of Henry VIII in 1537, is also worth a visit.
SALCOMBE
Salcombe lies at the mouth of a series of creeks that offer boats
sheltered berths. While the town itself has grown up around its
harbour activities, the best beaches are to be found on the opposite
side of the estuary at East Portlemouth; Sunny Cove really is
as its name suggests.
Even the gardens have a decidedly sub-tropical appearance, with
the coastal paths and cliff tops a haven for numerous rare species
of brightly coloured butterflies and birds.
ILFRACOMBE
Popularised by
the Victorians fishing boats bobbing at high tide in the harbour,
visiting yachts moored for the night. In season take a cruise
along the rugged North Devon Coast.
Beaches Enjoy the
surf beaches - Saunton, Croyde and Putsborough to name but three.
LYNMOUTH
A village resort
made popular in Victorian times during which it became affectionately
known as Little Switzerland. Hugging the sides of the wooded River
Lyn valley, surrounded on each side by high steeply sloping cliffs
.
WOOLACOMBE
Woolacombe has
the sandy beach, and its near neighbour, Mortehoe, the rocky cove.
A family resort with a repertory theatre in summer. Visitors come
to enjoy the beaches, thought the 12th century local church is
said to contain the tomb of one of the murderers of Thomas a Becket,
who sought repentance in this corner of Devon.
No matter which
end of Devon you visit,you will find something to make you want
to come back again and again.......
