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South East Devon
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You may view the information for ALL the towns and villages
in South East Devon (the page may be very large)
or
You can view your
preferred location from the list on the left.
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A steam train passing Bishopsteignton viewed
across the River Teign - Photo:
Martin Southwood |
This historic
village overlooks the picturesque Teign
Estuary. It has its own local museum and a
ruined church, dating to the 14th century.
Nearby is the picturesque nature reserve of
Little Haldon Heath. |
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One of the most
picturesque of all the towns in the Torbay
region, Brixham is as popular with artists as
it is with beach-loving holidaymakers. The
village sits high above a harbour where there
is a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship ‘The
Golden Hind’. A statue celebrates the fact
that William of Orange landed here in 1688 as
he prepared to become William III. The nearby
promontory of Berry Head has the remains of
fortifications from the Napoleonic Wars while
caves in the area have been inhabited for
thousands of years. |
Brixham Marina - Photo:
Robert Neilson |
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Dartmouth Castle - Photo:
Sheila Tarleton |
This once-mighty deepwater
port on the River Dart has played a major part
in British history. The Pilgrim Fathers came
here on their way to founding modern America,
Edward III’s fleet sailed from Dartmouth to
assist the siege of Calais and the town’s 15th
century castle was the first built in England
to withstand the force of artillery.
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Now a popular
seaside resort, Dartmouth lies to the south of
Torbay and has a number of significant buildings.
These include the 17th century
timber-framed Butterwalk, which houses a nautical
museum, and the restored Agincourt House. The
town’s towered church dates to the 1600s.
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Bayard’s Cove is a cobbled
quay lined with restored 18th
century houses and contains a stone
inscription recording the sailing of the
Mayflower in 1520.
Dartmouth Castle and its
sister castle, Kingswear, which lies on the
opposite bank of the River Dart, were designed
so that a heavy chain could be stretched
between them to stop an invasion force from
sailing inland. |
Baynard's Cove - Photo:
Sheila Tarleton |
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Dawlish sea wall - Photo:
Stephen Dawson |
A charming seaside town,
Dawlish sits on the edge of rolling Devon
countryside where it meets the sea. It was a
favourite haunt of the writer Jane Austen and
the fictional birthplace of Charles Dickens'
Nicholas Nickleby. Visitors flock to the
town's park to see exotic plants such as palms
and gigantic cacti. The town's main beach
stretches north to the long, gently sloping
beach of Dawlish Warren. Dawlish Museum has an
eclectic mix of exhibits and is even home to
the D-Day bagpipes. |
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This historic town on the
Teign estuary has held a weekly market since
1220 and its most famous landmark, the tower
of St Leonard’s Church, can be seen for many
miles. The town’s various attractions include
Tuckers Maltings, the only working malthouse
left in the West Country, and Newton Abbott’s
well-known horse racing course. |
River Teign at Newton Abbot - Photo:
Richard Knights |
Bradley Manor House, owned by
the National Trust, is one of the oldest inhabited
houses in Devon and boasts an impressive
collection of pre-Rafaelite paintings as well as
Arts and Crafts furniture. It is set within a
magnificent park. Visitors to nearby Old Forde
House have included Charles I, William of Orange
and Lord Fairfax.
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Goodrington Sands at Paignton - Photo:
Geoffrey Lloyd |
Paignton Zoo and the
Goodrington Sands are this resort’s archetypal
attractions together with pleasant,
rust-coloured beaches, a steam railway and the
usual trappings of the seaside. The resort’s
remarkable Victorian pier runs for an
astonishing 780 feet.
Kirkham House is a
magnificent 15th century house
replete with medieval-style furniture created
by modern craftsmen. The Torbay Aircraft
Museum ranks as a ‘must-see’. |
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Lying at the mouth of the
river Teign opposite Teignmouth, Shaldon is a
thriving picturesque village with many listing
buildings, a bowling green and numerous quaint
shops and pubs. As well as the watersports,
fishing trips and beaches along both the river
and by by the sea, visitors to Shaldon can
also enjoy walks along the coastal path
towards Torquay which affords spectacular
views of the bay. |
View from Shaldon footpath with Teignmouth in
the background - Photo:
Derek Harper |
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View of Teignmouth from coastal path - Photo:
Derek Harper |
Overlooked by the distant
hills of Dartmoor, this popular coastal town
has all the traditional features of a seaside
resort while retaining its importance as a
working port. Tourists can visit the Victorian
pier, perambulate on the long promenade, play
on the beach or just watch the boats come in.
The oldest part of the town has an elegant
crescent of Georgian homes together with a
sea-facing area of lawns, flowerbeds and
children's play areas. The town’s golf course
is 800ft above sea level. A huge bridge spans
the estuary of the River Teign. Fanny Burney
and John Keats both famously holidayed at
Teignmouth. |
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Birthplace of the thriller
writer Agatha Christie and Torbay’s leading
seaside resorts, Torquay is a key component of
the so-called ‘English Riviera’, boasting
splendid beaches, a thriving yachting centre
and elegant public gardens. Its warm climate
even permits palm trees to flourish. |
Torquay Pavilion - Photo:
Derek Harper |
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Torquay seafront by night - Photo:
Andrew Forrest |
It started life as a
modest fishing village but eventually turned
its attention to tourism with the Victorian
bathing boom. One of its most illustrious
visitors was Elizabeth Barrett Browning. It
looks especially photogenic at night when its
small harbour and marina are illuminated.
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While its domed pavilion
has been transformed into a shopping centre,
Torquay has many traditional and historic
delights, including a fine row of terraced
homes dating to the 19th century,
the medieval gatehouse of Torre Abbey and a
tithe barn which held foreign prisoners in the
wake of the ill-fated Spanish Armada in 1588.
Nearby 14th century Compton Castle
is now a National Trust property. |
Compton Castle - Photo:
Crispin Purdye |
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View over Totnes - Photo:
Derek Harper
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Overlooked by an 11th
century castle, Totnes was once an important
port but now stands at the highest navigable
point of the River Dart. Packed with
historical interest, it boasts an unusual,
arcaded high street and a museum housed in an
Elizabethan merchant’s house. |
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Its church dates to the 15th
century and its civic centre to 11th
century. A key attraction is the Tones Motor
Museum. Nearby is the family home and gardens
of Agatha Christie, now run by the National
Trust. She bought the estate in 1938 and some
30 acres are open to the public. |
Bridge over the River Dart at Totnes - Photo:
Mike Crowe |
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