Things to do in South Devon Coast
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Greenway
The enchanting summer home of crime writer Agatha Christie sits beside the River Dart near Dartmouth. Part-guided tours allow you to wander between rooms where the furnishings and knick-knacks are much as she left them. You can check out her hats in the lobby, books in her library and clothes in her wardrobe, and listen to her speak (via replica radio) in the drawing room.
Woods speckled with splashes of magnolias, daffodils and hydrangeas frame the water, while the planting creates intimate, secret spaces – the boathouse and views over the river are delightful. In Christie's book Dead Man's Folly, Greenway doubles as Nasse House, with the boathouse making an appearance …
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Coleton Fishacre
For an enchanting glimpse of Jazz Age glamour, drop by this former home of the D'Oyly Carte family of theatre impresarios. Built in the 1920s, its gorgeous art deco embellishments include original Lalique tulip uplighters, comic bathroom tiles and a stunning saloon – complete with tinkling piano. The croquet terrace leads to deeply shelved subtropical gardens and suddenly revealed vistas of the sea. Hike the 4 miles along the cliffs from Kingswear, or drive.
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Paignton Zoo
This 80-acre site is dotted with spacious enclosures re-creating habitats as varied as savannah, wetlands, tropical forest and desert. Highlights are the crocodile swamp, orang-utan island, vast glass-walled lion enclosure, and a lemur wood, where you walk over a plank suspension bridge as the primates leap around in the surrounding trees.
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Living Coasts
A vast open-plan aviary bringing you up close to free-roaming penguins, punk-rocker style tufted puffins and disarmingly cute bank cormorants.
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Dartmouth Castle
Mazy passages, atmospheric guardrooms and great views from the battlements. Get there via the tiny, open-top Castle Ferry
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Kent's Cavern
At Kent's Cavern, expect a stalactite to drip water on your head and temperatures of 14°C in an atmospheric, prehistoric subterranean world. These caves were inhabited in the Stone Age, making them the oldest homes in Britain. The animals that roamed Torbay then were a mite different too - guides lead you past hyena's lairs, cave bear dens and mammoth teeth.
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Al-beb
Take a virtual trip to north Africa courtesy of this brightly tiled Moroccan eatery crammed with woven fabrics and bright ceramics. It dishes up first-rate meze, tagine and couscous. Don't be surprised if a bit of belly dancing kicks-off too. If it's full, try the excellent Indian restaurant, Maha Bharat, at No 52, which is also open for dinner.
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Dartmouth-Dittisham Ferry
The best way to get to Greenway is on foot or by boat. Hike along the Dart Valley Trail from Kingswear (4 miles), or walk along the west bank from Dartmouth to the sleepy village of Dittisham (4 miles), then cross the river by the Dartmouth-Dittisham Ferry. It normally runs from 09:00 to 16:45, but if you're relying on it, call to check.
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Cockington Country Park
Cockington Country Park is a 450-acre patch of calm green space just a mile inland from Torbay's seafront bustle. Its heavily thatched village (complete with Lutyens pub) is pretty, if more than a little touristy, but the rose garden, craftsmen's workshops and cricket pitch (check to see if a match is on at the weekend) are delightful.
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Dartmouth Museum
The Dartmouth Museum displays a jumbled collection of costumes, swords, ships-in-bottles and vintage toys. The museum stands at the end of the Butterwalk, a row of wonky timber-framed houses that look as though they could collapse at any moment (although they have managed to remain standing since the late 17th century).
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Funicular Railway
Torbay boasts no fewer than 20 beaches, and a surprising 22 miles of coast. Tourists flock to the central Torre Abbey Sands (covered by water at very high tides); the locals opt for the sand and shingle beaches below the 240ft red-clay cliffs at Babbacombe. These can be accessed by a glorious 1920s funicular railway .
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Torre Abbey Sands
Torbay boasts no fewer than 20 beaches, and a surprising 22 miles of coast. Tourists flock to the central Torre Abbey Sands (covered by water at very high tides); the locals opt for the sand and shingle beaches below the 240ft red-clay cliffs at Babbacombe. These can be accessed by a glorious 1920s funicular railway.
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Babbacombe
Torbay boasts no fewer than 20 beaches, and a surprising 22 miles of coast. Tourists flock to the central Torre Abbey Sands (covered by water at very high tides); the locals opt for the sand and shingle beaches below the 240ft red-clay cliffs at Babbacombe. These can be accessed by a glorious 1920s funicular railway.
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RB's
Sleek and very chic, RB's is all slim leather chairs, cream wood and brown napkins with sparkling silver rings. The food is pretty stylish too: local guinea fowl with bacon, pork wrapped in Parma ham, and vegetable and potato frittata. Save room for the treacle crumble tart with Devon clotted cream for pud.
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Number 7
Fabulous smells fill the air at this buzzing harbourside bistro, where the menu is packed with super-fresh crab, lobster and monkfish, often with unexpected twists. Try the king scallops with vermouth or fish and prawn tempura.
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Barcode
Quite simply the best bar in town, this is where Torbay's cool crowd hangs out. Raspberry red walls and twinkly lights surround huge, round cane chairs and a chimenea in the fireplace. The cocktails are works of art, and the snacks are tasty (try the homemade lamb and mint burgers).
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Elephant
One to remember, Torbay's Michelin-starred restaurant is full of imaginative flavour fusions: venison with vanilla and beetroot; sea bass with hog's pudding gnocchi. If that's a bit much, they'll do you a steak. There's fine dining in the Room, or brasserie fare downstairs.
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Orange Tree
This award-winning brasserie adds a dash of Continental flair to local fish, meat and game. Try to resist the Brixham crab lasagne with crab bisque or the south Devon steak with a rich blue cheese sauce. Then succumb to Chocolate Temptation, a brownie, mousse and parfait combo.
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New Angel
Dartmouth's Michelin-starred eatery is run by celebrity chef John Burton Race (of French Leave fame), so it serves up pheasant, Devon duck and local fish with more than a dash of Continental flair.
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Crab Shell
The shellfish gracing these sarnies has been landed on the quay a few steps away, and much of the fish has been smoked locally. Opt to fill your bread with mackerel with horseradish mayo, kiln-roast salmon with dill, or classic, delicious Dartmouth crab.
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Boathouse
Munch bistro standards (from steaks to spaghetti) and fresh fish at this breezy café on the seafront on the way to Paignton. You can hang out with a cappuccino on the sun-drenched terrace or sip a glass of white wine in chilled surrounds inside.
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Alf Resco
Tucked under a huge canvas awning, this cool hangout brings a dash of cosmopolitan charm to town. Rickety wooden chairs and old street signs are scattered around a front terrace, making a great place for brunch alongside the riverboat crews.
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Dartmouth Arms
As an antidote to Dartmouth's sailing chic, join the locals for an unpretentious pint at the atmospheric Dartmouth Arms. There's polished wood everywhere, even on the ceilings, and navigational lights and cross-sections of ships dot the walls.
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Taylor's
You can watch the boats on the boat float from the huge bay windows here, while the menu takes care of your tastebuds. There's everything from grilled lobster and Dartmouth crab to Devon lamb or asparagus and goat's cheese tart.
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