Cockington & Babbacombe

Babbacombe near Torquay

Whilst Babbacombe is situated adjacent to Torquay, it continues to enjoy total independence with its very own promenade, theatre, shops, restaurants, take aways, hotels, B&B's and of course the world famous Babbacombe Model Village. There are the most stunning coastal views right across Lyme Bay past Exmouth and Lyme Regis on the jurassic coast as far as Portland Bill.

All this sits high above two beaches and a harbour with footpath and road access in addition to the historic Babbacombe cliff railway, one of only a few original working funicular railways still in existence today. Babbacombe leads naturally into the adjoining village of St. Marychurch which has its own thriving shopping precinct with a wide choice of independently owned small shops and boutiques.

Cockington

Only a mile from Torquay seafront, the Domesday book village of Cockington has hardly changed through the centuries.

NB. Coach drop in Cockington is at Herbert Road - 15 minute walk downhill in to village so NOT suitable for the infirm.

Many villages lay claim to being 'picturesque', but the village of Cockington is the real deal. Take a walk back in time along Cockington's narrow lanes, lined with thatched houses with their colour washed walls of stone and cobb. You'll experience a quiet charm that is a quintessentially English with its manor house, cricket ground, thatched pub, cream teas and a place to stay.

Everything about Cockington oozes history with many of the cottages dating back to the 16th Century and some, like the old Forge, mentioned in the Doomsday Book.

Once there you will be free to discover this charming village and surrounding Country Park with its hundreds of acres of gorgeous trails and rural vistas perhaps taking lunch at the Lutyens designed pub or a cream tea at a choice of Tea Gardens. There are numerous leisurely strolls around the village taking in the shops selling gifts and mementoes of your visit. You can discover the old stocks, an abandoned water mill, the Alms Houses for the former estate, mediaeval carp lakes, water meadows and an ancient gamekeeper's cottage nestling in the woods. Walk a little further and you come across the Manor House, Cockington Court, a hub for contemporary creative crafts and arts.

Depart approx 17.00/17.30