Contact Details

holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

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Half Day Itineraries

The Agatha Christie Connection

This tour will give you a glimpse inside the life and times of the famous crime writer Agatha Christie who was born in Torquay and spent much of her life here.

Start your tour with a visit Torquay Museum and see the Agatha Christie exhibition with family photographs, personal items and hand written excerpts from some of her famous novels.

Take time for a coffee in the museum's café before you head for the various other points of interest along the trail of the Agatha Christie Mile.

The Agatha Christie Mile takes you to some of the places that were inspirational in the life and works of the great writer including Princess Gardens, the Pavilion, the Agatha Christie Bust and Princess Pier. The tour starts from the Imperial Hotel and takes you along the seafront to finish at the Grand Hotel, where Agatha spent the first night of her honeymoon.

The trail can be walked independently but for a real insight into Agatha's life then why not take a guided tour of the trail with one of our local experts.

Mentioned in the Domesday Book, Cockington has hardly changed through the centuries. Explore this thatched village and its historic manor house, Cockington Court, Torbay's oldest surviving building.

In the 1900's, Cockington Court was home to the Mallocks, friends of Agatha's family. Amateur theatricals were often organised and Agatha was encouraged to take part in the open-air dramatics on the lawns in front of the house. The Court is now home to a craft village with studios in the house and stables. Horse and cart tours are available through the grounds.

The Paignton Tour

Visit Oldway Mansion, the magnificent legacy of Paignton's most colourful family - the Singers of sewing machine fame. Inspired by French and Italian architecture, the grand marble staircase and the gallery modelled on the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles is a must-see.

There is also a less formal garden, featuring a grotto, two ponds, a waterfall and a wide range of subtropical plants.

Stop at the traditional tea rooms for light refreshments before making your way to the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Departing from Paignton Station, this is arguably one of the most delightful journeys by steam along the English Riviera's coastline. Passing the picturesque village of Churston, the line crosses inland to the banks of the River Dart before terminating at Kingswear.

On arrival at Kingswear, you can extend your excursion with a visit to Dartmouth and Totnes or take a trip along the River Dart to Greenway. The train returns to Paignton at regular intervals throughout the day.

The English Riviera's Coast and Wildlife

Start at Living Coasts, a unique visitor attraction - thiscoastal zoo gives visitors an insight into the natural world that is here on our doorstep. Living Coasts features a range of fascinating coastal creatures against the backdrop that is the English Riviera's breathtaking coastline.

To experience this coastline from the outside take the local ferry to Brixham. The Torbay Belle departs from Haldon Pier, just 2 minutes walk from Living Coasts. Discover the wonders of our geological cliffs and the wildlife that surrounds them. On arriving at Brixham Harbourside take a short journey to the impressive headland of Berry Head.

The area defines the southern part of Torbay with the 65 metre limestone headland dropping sheer into the sea, acting as a shelter for the Bay from the south-westerly winds. The nature reserve is home to several species of rare and threatened plants as well as a variety of birds (including a guillemot colony), bats (a colony of the endangered Greater Horseshoe Bats reside in the caves below) and also moths, dragonflies and butterflies.

The headland is also the site of Napoleonic war era fortifications, constructed between 1795 and 1806, which are among the best preserved in the country and are protected as an ancient Monument.

If time allows, stop at the Visitor Centre and Cafe before completing this half day tour around some of the English Riviera's coral coastline.