Jesmond Dene, Torquay
Small family guest house in Torquay town centre, ideal for shops, seafront, harbour and all entertainments.
Full central heating, tea-making facilities in bedrooms and parking space, which must be reserved at time of booking one night stays welcome at any time. Open all year except Christmas and New Year.
Single rooms £ 18 per night; double rooms £36 – £ 46 per night; family rooms also available.
Full details from Jean and Brian Cheese.
Contact:
Jesmond Dene
85 Abbey Road
Torquay TQ2 5NN
Tel: 01803 293062
Torquay stands on the hills overlooking the harbour. Palm trees, yachts and waterskiers give the place an almost Mediterranean feel in summer.
Torquay’s colours, contours and pastel villas all echo its French counterpart. It is the closest you’ll get to the Mediterranean without going abroad.
Sporting a mini-corniche and promenades landscaped with flowerbeds, Torquay, the largest of the Torbay resorts, comes closest to living up to the self-styled “English Riviera”. The palm trees and the coloured lights that decorate the harbour by night contribute to the town’s unique identity, a blend of the mildly continental with classic English provincialism.
Torquay’s transformation from a fishing village began with its establishment as a fashionable haven for invalids, among them the consumptive Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who spent three years here. In more recent years the most famous figure associated with Torquay – crimewriter Agatha Christie – has been joined by the fictional TV hotelier Basil Fawlty.
Torquay’s waterfront is the focus of life in the town. Here you’ll find the palm-lined promenade, seafront gardens, a lively harbour and an international marina.
There is an abundance of pavement cafes, pubs, restaurants and nightlife, good shopping and a host of family attractions. Yet within minutes of the town centre there are beautiful beaches easily accessible by foot, road or water.
As for dining and entertainment, you’ll find nothing better. This is an area renowned for the variety of its pubs and eateries, serving good food and drink – including a Michelin star restaurant.
In addition, there are shows, music and performances to choose from along this golden stretch of Britain’s coast which all combine to leave the visitor with the warm memory of a great holiday experience.
The heart of the town is the harbour which is lined with cafes, bars and restaurants; a great place to watch the world go by. From here, take a pleasant stroll along the marina with the area’s trademark palm trees, or hop on a boat for a cruise across the bay or round to Dartmouth.
Torquay is host to many more attractions, including Babbacombe Model Village, Kents Cavern, Torquay HiFlyer. Or take a trip back through time to Cockington village where thatched roofs prevail and watch a blacksmith working in the 14th century forge.
Those looking for a beach will not be disappointed either. Torquay is the ‘sandcastle capital of the UK’ offering the ideal mix of sand and water, according to research conducted by Bournemouth University. Torquay’s main beach, Abbey Sands, takes its name from Torre Abbey which is sited in ornamental gardens behind the beachside road. The Norman church that once stood here was razed by Henry VIII, though a gatehouse, tithe barn, chapter house and tower escaped demolition.
Just up the road from the marina, Torquay Museum has some interesting material on Agatha Christie, who was born and raised in Torquay, as well as local history and natural history collections.
At the northern end of the harbour, Living Coasts is home to a variety of creatures found on British shores, including puffins, penguins and seals. You can see the animals in their re-created habitats, and feed them at various intervals throughout the day. The rooftop café and restaurant have splendid panoramic views.
