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If you love animals and wildlife then Devon's English Riviera has a host of attractions just for you. There are lots of places to explore that will create wonderful memories to take home.
Paignton Zoo Environmental Park
Paignton Zoo is a world-class wildlife conservation park set in beautiful and extensive gardens with large lakes. The park is home to some of the planet's most rare and amazing creatures. Discover all your favourites, including gorillas and orang-utans, giraffes, lions, tigers and rhinos plus some more unusual species. A must-see is the Crocodile Swamp. Here, amid the lush tropical foliage and steamy atmosphere, you'll come face-to-face with huge crocodiles plus large snakes, turtles and fish. Then there's Amphibian Ark, the Avian Breeding Centre and Monkey Heights. Paignton Zoo is a registered charity working on worldwide conservation projects.
Berry Head National Nature Reserve
Guarding the southern edge of Devon's English Riviera, Berry Head National Nature Reserve, is a famous hotspot for thousands of local and migrating birds. Perched high up on 200 feet (60 metre) cliffs, this beautiful headland is surrounded by water on 3 sides and has some of Devon's most breathtaking views. You can enjoy a pleasant walk up to the site from Brixham or drive up to the visitor car park. The high cliffs are home to the largest breeding colonies of guillemots on the south coast of England and these are Berry Head's most famous residents. You can often see dolphins and porpoises just off the headland.
Occombe Farm are building a new farm park and play attraction with animal trail and paddocks. Occombe Farm Shop is open. Occombe Farm Café is open. Occombe Farm Park & Play is hoped to open this winter.
Devon's English Riviera has an amazing range of marine life and the whole area is protected under the Torbay Marine Conservation Zone. Fascinating marine creatures such as the long snouted seahorse, Devonshire cup coral, sponges, anemones, sea squirts and the native oyster all live here. Rock pooling is a great activity for the whole family with captivating crabs, awesome anemones, peaceful prawns and sassy starfish to spot. Goodrington Sands, Meadfoot Beach, Corbyn Head and Shoalstone are all top spots - Goodrington Sands has been rated in the top ten places to rockpool in the country. Look out for bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoises, grey seals and basking sharks that can often be seen near the beaches, in the harbours or off the headlands.
Cockington Horses
Cockington's famous horse drawn carriage rides are a wonderful sight to behold in this quintessentially English village, a stone's throw from Torquay. Here you can browse the village, visit the beautiful country park and meet the makers at the wonderful craft centre at Cockington Court.
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English Riviera, Devon, TQ2 5JG
Waymarked Trail
The English Riviera has 22 miles of coastline and a UNESCO Global Geopark, all of which can be discovered on the South West Coast Path, which runs along South Devon's beautiful bay between Maidencombe in the north and Sharkham Point in the south.
Fairy Cove
Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6DG
beaches@torbay.gov.uk
Fairy Cove is a little magical beach to the South of Paignton Sands, just over the Harbour wall, which is popular with families. Comprising red sand and shingle with impressive red sandstone cliffs at the back.
Establishment Features
Sharkham
BRIXHAM, Devon, TQ5 9FH
info@countryside-trust.org.uk
Sharkham Point is the headland to the south of St Mary's Bay. From here there are excellent views of St Mary's Bay and the heritage coast beyond. There are further panoramic views from the coastal path that passes above the beach.
Beneath its cloak…
Woodlands at Berry Head Nature Reserve
Gillard Road, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 9AP
berryhead@countryside-trust.org.uk
Parkland/Woodland Garden
You may be surprised to know there are woodlands on this well-known headland - almost 20 acres of it! With large footpaths and good visibility between trees, the woods at Berry Head Nature Reserve is an ideal place to allow young children and dogs…
Totnes Road, PAIGNTON, Devon, TQ4 7EU
The park is edged all around by trees sheltering it away from the town and, once inside, you can walk around the meadow and woodland and feel removed from the hustle and bustle of urban life. The meadow gives the park its name as it comes from the…
Clennon Lakes
Penwill Way, PAIGNTON, Devon, TQ4 5JR
Natural Wildlife Site
Clennon Lakes is a nature reserve consisting of manmade lakes created by the council in the 1980s. They are the most important wetland site on the English Riviera and home to many species found nowhere else in the Bay. On the lakes, you will find an…
The Grove, Churston and Marridge Woods
BRIXHAM, Devon, TQ5 8LH
The woods are mostly set around a valley so there are some steep hills as well as rocky, muddy footpaths which become slippery when wet and may not be suitable for those who are less mobile.
With over 100 acres to explore, a network of footpaths…
Preston Down Road, Preston, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 1RN
info@occombe.org.uk
UPDATE: May 2021: Occombe Farm is being redeveloped to create a brand new Farm Visitor Attraction. Please do check our website before visiting whilst work progresses. You can find out more about this redevelopment on our website: https://www…
Greenway Ferry
Booking Kiosk, The Quay, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8AW
info@greenwayferry.co.uk
Greenway Ferry & Pleasure Cruises offer a wide range of family trips - Visit Agatha Christie's Greenway House from Dartmouth with Greenway Ferries
Overlooking some of the most stunning views of the river Dart stands the home of Agatha Christie – the…
Venue Facilities
Cater for groups
TORQUAY, Devon, TQ2 6UF
Manscombe Woods are the woodlands next to Cockington Country Park. Begin your walk at the idyllic Cockington village with traditional thatched roofs and horse drawn carriages. Wander round the Cockington Estate with large, manicured gardens, stroll…
WeFerry/Fun Fish Trips
Booking Kiosk, Vaughan Parade, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 5EG
info@weferry.co.uk
The Teignmouth Round Robin – from Brixham, Paignton & Torquay
In 2018 we successfully launched our exciting new venture – The Teignmouth Round Robin. We took hundreds of people from Brixham, Paignton & Torquay on a boat & rail adventure up a…
Oyster Cove
Paignton, Devon, TQ4 6DT
Oyster Cove is an attractive beach which is very popular with local people. The beach is located along the South West Coast path to the south. At low tides there are many rock pools to explore.