Torquay’s waterside landscape makes it the perfect location for exploring the harbour and marine life of the English Riviera. Sailing courses, boat trips and watercraft hire are all available from the habourside. Water skiing and canoeing are also popular activities. For diving enthusiasts the bay offers a wonderful diversity of sea life and some underwater wrecks to explore. Many marine events are held each year. These include a number of national and international sailing championships and world-class laser and dinghy competitions.
The English Riviera coastline, across its 22 miles, also boasts a good selection of beaches from long sandy stretches to smaller sheltered coves. The surrounding coastline offers some spectacular scenery, walks and nature trails to follow with some great stop offs for refreshments, meals and of course perhaps a traditional Devon cream tea.
At Torre Abbey Sands, a short walk from Torquay town centre, you can get aboard the helium balloon taking you 400ft into the air and giving stunning views of South Devon and across to Dartmoor.
Torquay is within easy reach of the Dartmoor, a rugged and wild national park, steeped in legend and home to thousands of ancient monuments, burial chambers, stone circles and archaeological sites. Dartmoor is excellent for walking, while other ways to enjoy the park include cycling, climbing, watersports, fishing and horse riding. Visit the Dartmoor website to find out more.
In September 2007 Torquay, as part of the English Riviera, received international recognition for its rich geological, historical and cultural heritage. It became one of just 57 areas around the world to be endorsed by UNESCO and welcomed into both the European and Global Geopark Networks. Visit the Geoparks website for more details.
