A few days in Torquay, Brixham, -advice needed please?

[thejonesey]

We have to completely change our summer plans. I want to do something a bit different and was thinking of taking our 4m Searider to Devon so that we can boat down there for a change and, if the weather is poor, have other seaside options to keep two teenagers amused. We would probably stay in a hotel/ BandB -any suggestions? Where to launch? Where to go for bobbing around/waterskiing/ringo? What to do if the weather goes south? We are happy to be tourists and do the seaside thing for a couple of days!

 

[Hot Property]

Launch at Brixham by the lifeboat, small pebble beach adjacent to it. Ellbury cove is relatively quiet for water activities. There is a Facebook group with members more local who will know more than me!

Search for South West sports boat or there is a link on their website South West Sports Boat Rally

 

[Solent Sailor]

Torquay is grim. I was there last week for the first time in probably 25 years. Clearly a big drug problem in the town. The buildings look as if nobody has invested in anything there for years. Not normally one to be down on a place, but it was quite depressing really.

Brixham on the hand has improved immeasurably (6 years since I was there), and whilst hardly a shopping destination, has much nicer restaurants/cafes etc.

Both marinas are horrifically expensive, but sounds like that isn't too much of a concern for you. Lots of lovely coves and beaches, as suggested above.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Think about basing yourself in the Dart or Salcombe. So many more options if you can’t get out to sea.

 

[James_Calvert]

Good luck with accommodation.

Self catering cottages round these parts (the South Hams) are apparently fully booked for the summer and bookings for next year are filling up.

Of course Brixham and Torquay may be different...

 

[stelican]

Berry Head Hotel Brixham about half mile from breakwater beach slipway.
Good shelter in torbay in all but easterlies
Have a look at the webcam from Sea Tang guest house it shows the harbour /marina and slipway

 

[volvopaul]

We have to completely change our summer plans. I want to do something a bit different and was thinking of taking our 4m Searider to Devon so that we can boat down there for a change and, if the weather is poor, have other seaside options to keep two teenagers amused. We would probably stay in a hotel/ BandB -any suggestions? Where to launch? Where to go for bobbing around/waterskiing/ringo? What to do if the weather goes south? We are happy to be tourists and do the seaside thing for a couple of days!

What’s wrong with takin* you own b n b on the water. ,get Pip to tow the Avon behind the car and meet you there .
Salcome is a great place , as said I’d give Torquay a wide berth , it was tracksuit bottom heaven and single mums with pushchairs last time I was there , very grim .

 

[Seastoke]

What’s wrong with takin* you own b n b on the water. ,get Pip to tow the Avon behind the car and meet you there .
Salcome is a great place , as said I’d give Torquay a wide berth , it was tracksuit bottom heaven and single mums with pushchairs last time I was there , very grim .

Are you a dad again .

 

[thejonesey]

What’s wrong with takin* you own b n b on the water. ,get Pip to tow the Avon behind the car and meet you there .
Salcome is a great place , as said I’d give Torquay a wide berth , it was tracksuit bottom heaven and single mums with pushchairs last time I was there , very grim .

We only have a couple days Paul. I would normally have two weeks but (like everyone else) Covid has buggered that up...

 

[MrB]

You could spend a few days just exploring the Dart, it's lovely. Lots of places to visit enroute up the river and good places to eat. Great coves around Brixham too.

 

[stelican]

What’s wrong with takin* you own b n b on the water. ,get Pip to tow the Avon behind the car and meet you there .
Salcome is a great place , as said I’d give Torquay a wide berth , it was tracksuit bottom heaven and single mums with pushchairs last time I was there , very grim .

And that's just the marina.

 

[MrB]

A really good spot for "bobbing around/waterskiing/ringo " would be Churston/Fishcombe cove right next to Brixham marina (just to the left if you are heading out). It's a good place to drop the hook and use the beach and waterskiing is allowed. Fishcome cove, (it's all one cove but two small beaches) has a cafe and there are toilets there. If the weather changes it's just minutes away from Brixham and a short hop to the Dart. Perfect for a few days/week. Oh and just around the corner from that cove is Elberry cove with a small beach.

 

[Switch]

We were in Torquay marina this time last week just for one night. The only reason we stayed there was to eat at No.7 Fish Bistro which is excellent. Its a five minute walk from the marina. We don't bother to go into the town.

 

[thejonesey]

So head for Brixham and launch from there perhaps? I would love to mess about on the water but the kids may want a little more variety. Is there somewhere we can leave the boat either on the water or in a trailer park for reasonable ££s?

 

[stelican]

the marina should be able to accommodate.
Or raft up on a fishing boat!

 

[Nick Burnham]

A really good spot for "bobbing around/waterskiing/ringo " would be Churston/Fishcombe cove right next to Brixham marina (just to the left if you are heading out). It's a good place to drop the hook and use the beach and waterskiing is allowed. Fishcome cove, (it's all one cove but two small beaches) has a cafe and there are toilets there. If the weather changes it's just minutes away from Brixham and a short hop to the Dart. Perfect for a few days/week. Oh and just around the corner from that cove is Elberry cove with a small beach.

Not any more unfortunately - it's now a Seagrass conservation area and according to Torbay Harbour Authority. 'We ask that consideration is given to avoiding anchoring in known seagrass field areas'.

What's interesting about this is that I heard a couple of weeks ago that the harbour authority were out in a RIB taking names of owners and boat names! Seems a bit heavy handed when anchoring is clearly discouraged, but equally clearly, not banned...

 

[MrB]

Not any more unfortunately - it's now a Seagrass conservation area and according to Torbay Harbour Authority. 'We ask that consideration is given to avoiding anchoring in known seagrass field areas'.

What's interesting about this is that I heard a couple of weeks ago that the harbour authority were out in a RIB taking names of owners and boat names! Seems a bit heavy handed when anchoring is clearly discouraged, but equally clearly, not banned...

That's quite sad, it's a great spot but there is a lot of seagrass between the two small beaches . Are they still skiing there?

 

[thejonesey]

Now thinking about taking the big girl West (VP shamed me into it!) What is berth availability like at the moment? Can you book a day or two ahead? Last time we went we were turned away from Torquay and Brixham and given an unpleasant trip across Lyme Bay -Mrs J was not best pleased to be told that we had to push on to Dartmouth When we had green ones coming over the top!

 

[Nick Burnham]

That's quite sad, it's a great spot but there is a lot of seagrass between the two small beaches . Are they still skiing there?

Still water skiing out of Elberry Cove (in the corner of the bay)

 

[Rocksteadee]

Beware the Brixham Slop in an easterly.
Water going up and down by a metre be it quite slowly