Tropical vegetation, golden sands, blue skies and a clear sea have led this part of Devon to be known as the English Riviera. It all started during the Napoleonic Wars, when the rich could not go abroad, and today Torbay still attracts more visitors than the rest of Devon put together.
| Berry Pomeroy | Famous for its castle, whose ruins lie a mile north east of the village. None of the castles owners had much luck - the original Norman Pomeroy family met violent deaths. Another owner, Edward Seymour, was executed in 1552. It is actually a mansion within a castle. Now owned by English Heritage |
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| Brixham | In Victorian times the Brixham fishing fleet was one of the largest in the country. Today fishing continues only on a small scale. There is a pretty harbour - which has a plaque commemorating the landing of William of Orange here in 1688. And up the hill the mainly Victorian town looks down |
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| Chudleigh | Small market town. There is a dramatic limestone crag south of the town, with caves inhabited in prehistoric times |
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| Dawlish, Devon | A regency resort, favoured by Jane Austin and Charles Dickens. The town gardens, called the Lawn, have black swans living on the lake. And unusually for England, the railway runs along the sea, it is still the main line to Penzance |
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| Newton Abbot | The "new town" dates back seven hundred years. Newton Abbot is the home of the largest maltings in Britain, take a tour and dwell on the fact that they produce enough malt to make 15 million pints of beer |
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| Paignton | An out and out holiday resort, with the town supplying all that it implies, and a big sandy beach. The Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway runs along a scenic stretch of the Dart estuary |
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| Stoke Gabriel | A lovely little village built on the sloping hillside above the Dart estuary. The yew tree in the Norman church's graveyard is believed to be a thousand years old |
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| Teignmouth | Another of the Georgian resorts in this part of Devon, complete with harbour and pier. A 1700 foot long stone bridge bridge links it to Shaldon, a pretty village on the other side of the river |
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| Torquay | The capital of the "English Riviera" Torquay is
very sheltered, hence a balmy climate with lots of palm trees. Created
in the 19th century, the resort has a Victorian character.
As well as numerous beaches, Torquay offers a lot in the way of entertainment, including a theatre, museum and art gallery, as well as many other tourist attractions Today Torquay is the largest and most visited of the seaside resorts in Devon |
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