Suggestions of Activities for a Week's stay at The Clifton at Paignton

Suggestions of how to spend some of your time whilst staying at The Clifton at Paignton.

 This is a suggestion of how to fill your time whilst staying here at The Clifton at Paignton.  

You may have already read of the walks you can take from the front door, and there are enough of those for your first week - well, here are some more to fill even more days, travelling a little further (but not far - max 4 miles!!)

Day 1


This is your arrival day, so after you've enjoyed a pot of tea or coffee on arrival at The Clifton at Paignton, and settled into your room, there may, if you've timed it right, be time to go outside to explore the local area.  Wander down to the sea front, sit a while at the beach, pop round to the harbour (always a sun trap) perhaps investigate a fishing trip?


If you leave The Clifton at Paignton in the opposite direction, you can wander round to Victoria Park and sit there a while.  Or, if you have arrived really early - we have some self guided walking tours of Old Paignton, which we may be interested to try.


Whatever you choose - we trust you'll have a wonderful day, and, if you've chosen to book an evening meal in house, then you know that you don't have to go off looking for somewhere to eat, with a chance of being told that you have a 45 minute wait - which can happen in busy times.
Kents Cavern

Day 2


Kents Cavern contains one of the oldest known human remains in Europe.  Accessed by Bus 22, alight at St Matthias Church (the bus driver will be very helpful) and then it's about 5 minutes down the hill to the cavern.


 Edward Vivian and William Pengelly were allowed to conduct excavations between 1846 and 1858.  At the time, it was generally believed that early humans had entered the caves long after the formation of the cave structures examined.  This changed when in the Autumn of 1859, following the work of Pengelly, excavations had established the antiquity of humanity.  Amongst the finds was a mandible, belonging to homo sapiens that has been carbon dated to 35,000 years BP (before present) In 1865 the British Association created a committee, led by Pengelly, to fully explore the cave system over the course of fifteen years.  It was Pengelly's party that discovered Robert Hedges' stalagmite inscription from 1688, and from the stalagmite's growth since that time deduced that human-created artefacts found under the formation could be half a million years old. Pengelly plotted the position of every bone, flint, and other artefact he discovered during the excavations, and afterward continued working with the Torquay Natural History Society until his death in 1892 at his home less than 2 km from the caves.


In 1903 Kents Cavern, then part of Lord Haldon's estate, was sold to Francis Powe, a carpenter who originally used the caves as a workshop while making beach huts for the Torquay sea front. Powe's son, Leslie Powe, turned the caves into a tourist attraction by laying concrete paths, installing electric lighting, and building visitor facilities that later were improved, in turn, by his son John Powe. The caves, now owned by Nick Powe, celebrated 100 years of Powe family ownership on 23 August 2003 with special events including an archæological dig for children and a display by a cave rescue team.  A year later a new £500,000 visitor centre was opened, including a restaurant and gift shop.


Attracting 80,000 tourists a year, Kents Cavern is an important tourist attraction and this was recognised in 2000 when it was awarded Showcave of the Year award and later in November 2005 when it was awarded a prize for being Torquay's Visitor Attraction of the year.


Kents Cavern in fiction


"Hampsley Cavern" in Agatha Christie's 1924 novel The Man in the Brown Suit, is based on Kents Cavern.  The 2011 science fiction romance Time Watchers: The Greatest of These, by Julie Reilly, uses Kents Cavern as a principal setting in three different time periods.

Day 3


Babbacombe Model Village


Easily accessed by Bus 22 (every 20 minutes)


Beautifully located in an old quary - a gardener's delight as well as an amazing model village which is being constantly updated with topical exhibits.


The last time we were there we visited the 4D cinema and laughed and laughed - it was great fun, and well worth the little extra entrance fee.


After visiting here you can walk along to Babbacombe Downs a beautiful cliff top area overlooking Babbacombe and Oddicombe Beach.  There's a wonderful Cliff Railway   run by volunteers to take you down to the beaches.


After these visits, you can either walk back to Torquay and onwards to Paignton, or you can catch the bus and relax on the way back, knowing that, if you've booked to have an evening meal at The Clifton at Paignton, then you won't have to go out searching for food, with the possibility of having to wait an age for a table.
Day 4: Bygones and Tessier Gardens

Day 4 to Bygones and after that to Tessier Gardens.


Located in the same area as The Model Village, to it's the 22 Bus again.


Bygones is a fascinating museum set in an earstwhile cinema.  There is no lift, unfortunately, so be aware of that.  You can wander along a Victorian Street, with all it's shops, visit the dentist and even walk through a WW1 trench or shelter in a WW11 Anderson Shelter.


After you've finished here, you can walk about 200 yards to Tessier Gardens.  A hidden gem which is well worth a visit.  A beautiful tranquil spot with beautiful trees and gardens.


If you haven't already done this on your visit to the Model Village, you might like to wander to Babbacombe Downs and take the Cliff Railway down to the Beach.  


Then the 22 Bus back to Paignton.
Day 5: Torre Abbey

Day 5 - to Torre Abbey


Torre Abbey is a fascinating piece of local history where you can completely lose yourself in what's on offer.  It's within walking distance if you choose, or the No 12 bus passes at the end of a pathway leading to it.


You'll find  a Blog elsewhere on Torre Abbey, so if you'd like further details on this wonderful place, then you can click here and find out.
Day 6 - Cockington Country Park

Day 6 - Cockington Country Park


Elsewhere you'll find a Blog on Cockington, so I won't go into too much detail here - but, it's a place that everyone who comes to the English Riviera visits.  It's renowned for it's cream teas (I recall on my Honeymoon, many many moons ago, my late husband and I went for cream teas there)


The village was listed in The Doomsday Book, and there are so many thatched cottages there - it's straight out of a story book/chocolate box cover.  The beautiful little church is 12th Century and not to be missed.
Sadly Day 7 is the final one of our 7 day suggestion

Day 7


If you've only 7 days to spend with us, then this, sadly is your last.  Time to pop into town to buy last minute sticks of rock to take home.


Don't worry though, because The Clifton at Paignton will still be here awaiting your next visit, when there are plenty more things for you to do.


Probably, the weather has been so wonderful that you've been disinclined to do any of the above, and all you wanted to do was to laze on the beach, or take the ferry from the harbour across Tor Bay to Torquay, or to Brixham.


You'll certainly by spoiled for choice at nearby things to do and Steve and Freda will be eagerly looking forward to seeing you again and giving you further guidance. 


We wish you a safe journey home.

Berry Head - located at the southern end of Torbay

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 07 Jun, 2021
Berry Head is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for both its biological and geological interest. The site of a Country Park located a short walk from Brixham

Buckfast Abbey

By Claire Brunn • 26 Apr, 2021
Buckfast Abbey is home to an active community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks, in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. and is a registered Charity. It can be accessed by taking the Gold bus to Plymouth and changing midway to the 88 to Buckfastleigh, and a few minutes walk from the bus stop. In addition to the Abbey itself, you will find a wonderful gift shop, selling produce from Buckfast Abbey including the famous Buckfast Wine and monasteries and convents around Europe. Wonderful jams, honeys, soaps and much more. A wide selection of books is to be found in a separate shop, and a wonderful restaurant to take refreshments. Beautiful gardens and grounds surround the Abbey. History The Abbey was originally founded in 1018 in the reign of King Cnut, and absorbed into the Cistercian order in 1147. After the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry V111 in 1539 it was stripped and later demolished. It became a quarry and then home to a Gothic mansion house. In 1882 a group of French Benedictine monks exiled and resident in Ireland read in "The Tablet" that the property was for sale for £4,700. They bought it and moved to Buckfast where it's first Abbot, Boniface Natter was blessed in 1903. Sadly h e was to lose his life in a shipwreck only three years later. Dom Anscar Vonier - who had survived the shipwreck, was blessed as the next Abbot, and it was he who set about rebuilding the Abbey, dedicated to St Mary, mostly in the footprint of the original. A team of six monks took on the task, of whom only one had stone work experience, and by 1932 it was able to be consecrated. However, the work was not yet completed - the tower had to be extended to house the bells. It was completed in 1938 - just three weeks before Abbot Vonier died, having lived just long enough to see his dream come to fruiition . The Abbey continues to operate as a Benedictine foundation today, and is a registered charity under English law. **************************** Having spent some time enjoying the tranquility of the Abbey, it's time to make your way back to The Clifton at Paignton, to enjoy a relaxing three course evening meal, lovingly produced by Steve.

Torre Abbey

By Claire Brunn • 12 Jan, 2021
Torre Abbey is en route from Paignton to Torquay, so to walk there the directions are as that walk (click here) Once you've passed The Palace Hotel on the LHS and reached a junction to The King's Drive a little further on you'll come to a footpath through Torre Abbey Meadows, which you lead you to the back of the Abbey. You'll have to pass the wonderful cafe - actually, you'll probably be in need of refreshment - go under an arch - with The Spanish Barn on your LHS - to reach the entrance of The Abbey. Once inside the Abbey, George Cary will tell you the history of The Spanish Barn.

A Coastal Path walk to Brixham

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 19 Nov, 2020
The walk to Brixham is along part of the 627 miles South West Coast Path. It's undulating, but most of it is paved, just a few short stretches when its not. Just over the cliff top from your base at The Clifton at Paignton, you'll come to the expanse of beach which is Goodrington Sands - a spot for refreshment - at first The North Sands Beach Hut and then at the other end The South Sands Cafe. The former is a take away only, but the latter has tables and chairs outside. You'll pass lots of beautiful, inviting coves along the way, the first being Saltern Cove - which is accessed over the Railway Bridge (crossing the Dartmouth Steam Railway track), over a field and down a high flight of metal steps. Next you'll reach Broadsands Beach - another long stretch, with the opportunity of refreshment, then over the cliff top from there you'll descend the steps to Elbury Cove - the only one that calls to me "come and swim" (Not that I've ever done it, as I'm not a confident swimmer, but it's so appealing) It's a beach of large pebbles, rather than sand, and there's one part that banks off, unlike the sandy inviting beaches which slope so gently are so very very safe. No facilities or refreshments here though. After this cove, you'll pass two more, Churston Cove and Fishcombe Cove (refreshments here) before reaching Brixham. Here you can enjoy the town or the harbour - or walk on further - past Shoalstone Outdoor Freshwater Pool and on to Berry Head an SSSI and a tranquil place of two Napoleonic Forts and a breeding colony of guillimots. The wonderful Guardhouse Cafe can be found here with wonderful refreshments and cake to die for! You could take as long as two hours to reach Brixham and then a further half an hour to reach Berry Head. Your choice then is to walk back or take advantage of the frequent bus service from Brixham back to Paignton.

An hour of walking to reach Torquay

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 19 Nov, 2020
The walk to Torquay starts along the coastal path. Turn left at the sea front and head north in the direction of Torquay. Along the promenade until reaching the Redcliffe Hotel, where you may choose between skirting on the footpath side or the beach side, depending on where the tide is. The promenade continues on the other side of the Hotel, and will end at the red cliffs, where a paved footpath/cycle track will lead up and along the bank leading towards Hollicombe Beach. Before that, there'll be a turning left over the mainline rail line and then right into Hollicombe Park and out the other side onto Torquay Road. From here it's pavement walking all the way into Torquay - always with the sea on your right hand side, so it's still a beautiful walk. You'll pass Torre Abbey - and there'll be a Blog on that to be found on here soon. I'll just say in passing that it's such a fabulous place to visit, both the Abbey and the gardens - so please earmark that for another day, or, of course, visit now if you prefer. Eventually you'll arrive in Torquay with numerous shops and eateries for your refreshment. Torquay has a beautiful harbour, sometimes with rather splendid yachts. Now the choice is yours - lots of retail therapy, or walk the "Agatha Christie Mile" - some of which you've already done, as you've passed The Palace Hotel and Torre Abbey Gardens. You have the choice of returning to Paignton on foot, or catching the frequent bus service - every 10 minutes during the week, and 20 minutes at weekends -back.

A 45 minutes walk to Cockington Village

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 19 Nov, 2020
The walk to Cockington starts along the coastal path. Turn left at the sea front and head north in the direction of Torquay. Along the promenade until reaching the Redcliffe Hotel, where you may choose between skirting on the footpath side or the beach side, depending on where the tide is. The prome nade continues on the other side of the Hotel, and will end at the red cliffs, where a paved footpath/cycle track will lead up and along the bank leading towards Hollicombe Beach. Before that, there'll be a turning left over the mainline rail line and then right into Hollicombe Park. Out the other side onto Torquay Road. This starts the pavement walking, but the compensation is the sea on the right hand side. Soon the Livermead Cliff Hotel will be reached on the RHS, and just past there a triple road junction with one of the roads signed Cockington (this is just before the Livermead Hotel on the LHS of Torquay Road Not far up that road, Cockington Lane will be seen. Don't take the road though - there's a latch gate into the field on the RHS of the lane leading into the water meadows, which makes a delightful approach to the village. The path joins the lane shortly before the village square and all the thatched cottages. Here you'll find Rose Cottage, a cafe with a stream running though the grounds, and where there is often someone playing the grand piano. The road on the LHS leads up into Cockington Country Park at the entrance to which there's a beautiful thatched cottage before the sweeping driving leading to Cockington Court and Cockington Church to its left. There's a wonderful cricket pitch on the RHS - I'll leave you to assess this one! Refreshments and crafts galore can be found in and around Cockington Court - pottery, glass, jewellery, wrought iron, chocolate and many others. The church is dating back to the 11th Century - and there's a pulpit which was recovered from one of the Spanish Galleons which floundered offshore during the time of the Spanish Armada. The country park is extensive affording some further walking or a horse and trap ride around it, and beautiful thatched the Drum Inn is awaiting your visit when you've finished.

Clennon Lakes

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 06 Oct, 2020
After reaching the North Sands Cafe at Goodrington, turn inland and walk to the Dartmouth Road. Use the pedestrian crossing to reach the other side, and walk through the Leisure Centre Car Park, through the gate at the left, past the outdoor Velodrome and then the lakes are on your left.

Oldway Mansion

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 24 Aug, 2020
The entrance hall of Oldway Mansion with it's magnificent marble staircase

Places in South Devon to escape the crowds.

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 09 Jul, 2020

A la Ronde

By Freda Bamford Dwane • 22 Jun, 2020
A La Ronde is an 18th-century 16-sided house located near Lympstone, Exmouth, 30 miles from The Clifton at Paignton, and in the ownership of the National Trust.
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