Wow, where to start, Torbay is a goldmine for interesting places, like
Torre Abbey, founded in 1196 as a monastery. During the 1500´s it was the wealthiest Abbey of its kind in England. Re-opened on 5th July 2008 after a massive 2 year restoration, the most hallowed and ancient parts, for the first time have been opened up to the public.
Then there´s Greenway on the River Dart, it was bought by Agatha Christie and her husband Max Mallowan in 1938, and is now owned by the National Trust. On the other side of the river opposite Greenway Quay, is the picturesque village of Dittisham, which can be reached by a small passenger ferry. The Higher Ferry which crosses the River Dart is able to carry 32 cars at a time, and forms part of the A379 between Kingswear & Dartmouth.
If you are a keen golf fan, you will not be disappointed with Churston golf course, with views that are so breathtakingly beautiful, if you are not careful they will take your mind off why you came here in the first place.
Cockington is a picturesque village, with old cottages within its boudaries, which is about half a mile away from Torquay. The forge has been in the same place in the village for 500 years, and the church has probably been around since the 11th century. The Almshouses fell into disrepair, and were rebuilt between 1790 and 1810, and the famous Cockington Court was built over the remains of a Medieval court.
Berry Head is a National Nature Reserve, a great place to visit with some glorous sea views. There were two forts built on the pre-existing iron age hill fort site overlooking Torbay, but now only the ramparts remain. The former artillery house now houses a public display, featuring details about the history of the area, and ofcouse, the all important café.
Stoke Gabriel is a lovely place, just 2 to 3 miles outside Torbay, as a child I spent many days here, on the River Dart, fishing the lake, trying to catch the mullet, I don´t think I ever caught any thou, they were to clever. I´ve heard people say Stoke Gabriel is the best kept secret in Devon !
Lastly you must visit Dartmoor while staying in Devon; no description can describe on a clear day the raw beauty of the moor. There are so many places of interest here that I would need a whole new website to describe it, so the best thing to do is to click on the Dartmoor link above which is run by Dartmoor National Park Authority and takes you to their website. Also a visit would not be compleat without a visit to Dartmoor Prison Museum located in Princetown, 150 yards from HM Prison Dartmoor.
Other places of interest in Dartmoor National Park are Castle Drogo run by The National Trust.
Devon is one of the most beautiful counties in England, with its great landscapes and rolling hills and 100´s of miles of coast line from the popular South Devon coast to the rugged North Devon coast, which on a very clear day can be seen from Dartmoor, a real breathtaking sight.