off the water
Aside from all the activities on or in the water, Brixham and Torbay have lots of other attractions worth considering. We have not visited many of them yet (due to Covid) but here are some suggestions:
In Brixham:
The Golden Hind (replica): right in the harbour - https://www.goldenhind.co.uk/
Brixham Heritage Museum - https://www.brixhammuseum.uk/
Brixham Battery Museum: very small and on one of the suggested walks (but very limited opening hours) - http://www.brixhambattery.net/ - they have several open days throughgout the year (usually bank holiday weekends) when they open up the underground bunkers and put on really good extra exhibitions with enthusiasts dressed in full WW2 gear (check their website for dates)!
Brixham Fish Market Tours - https://brixhamfishmarket.co.uk/brixham-fish-market-tours/
Berry Head Nature Reserve and Forts - https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1017322
Brixham Theatre: https://www.brixhamtheatre.co.uk/
In Torbay:
Greenway House (home of Agatha Christie): National Trust - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway
Coleton Fishacre: National Trust - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coleton-fishacre
Sharpham Wine and cheese - https://sharpham.com/
Compton Castle: National Trust - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/compton-castle
Torre Abbey, Torquay - https://www.torre-abbey.org.uk/
Splashdown Water Slides - https://www.splashdownwaterparks.co.uk/quaywest/ there is a brand new set up for young children for 2024 that looks really great!
Goodrington Park - behind Goodrington beach is the small boating lake and kids playground which tgether withe the sandy beach makes it an ideal place for young children
Paignton Zoo - https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/
Kents Cavern - https://www.kents-cavern.co.uk/ - really cool caves with a huge amount of ancint history
Occombe Farm - https://www.countryside-trust.org.uk/explore/occombe-farm/
Datmouth Steam Railway - https://www.dartmouthrailriver.co.uk/ - there are also great rail and boat round trips (check out the website)
Cockington Village - https://www.englishriviera.co.uk/explore/cockington-village-p1297643
Babbacombe Model Village - https://www.model-village.co.uk/
Totnes Rare Breeds Farm (not strictly in Torbay but a nice place to go with the family) - http://www.totnesrarebreeds.co.uk/
Woodlands Theme Park - https://www.woodlandspark.com/
Totnes: Totnes has beat to its own drum for many years and has a reputation for eccentricity - the town is focussed on localisation and fairtrade and worth a visit to wander the high street: lots of independent and 'vintage' shops. There is also an English Heritage owned castle - https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/totnes-castle/
Dartmouth: home of the impressive Roal Naval College - the best way to visit Dartmouth is to arrive by boat (ferry from Brixham) as you get a great view of the college from the mouth of the estuary. Again a lovely place to wander around and there is an English Heritage owned castle: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dartmouth-castle/. You can drive there and take the ferry across or drive to Kingswear, park and take the passenger ferry or you can take the bus from Brixham (number 18).
Dartmoor: It is only about a 45mins-1hr drive into the heart of Dartmoor either via Newton Abbott or Totnes but the change in scenery is amazing. You can walk for miles in all directions and there are plenty of great pubs to choose from. If you want to borrow a walk book for Dartmoor just let us know. We highly recommend the Old Inn in Widecombe for lunch or else the Warren House Inn where legend has it the log fire has burned for over 175 years non-stop.
