Local experiences
Things to do
You may choose to spend your days relaxing on our terrace sofas listening to the waterfall and fountain sipping a cocktail or local beer from our fully licensed bar, but here are just some of the fabulous things to see, do and eat during your visit to The English Riviera…
Close to the Haytor
We are fortunate enough to be located only a 4-minute stroll down to Torquay Harbour and its fantastic shops, restaurants and bars.
Have a wander around the picturesque Cockington Village (10 min drive), explore the shops in Cockington Court and finish off with a Cream Tea at Weavers Cottage Tea Shoppe.
See the famous Babbacombe Model Village (7 min drive) one of Torquay’s most popular attractions- a miniature model village and railway set in glorious gardens.
Why not jump on a boat at Torquay Harbour over to Brixham and have a tasty Brixham crab sandwich for lunch.
You are spoilt for choice for a beach trip – there are so many award-winning beaches on our doorstep including Meadfoot Beach (10 min walk), Babbacombe Beach (7 min drive), Anstey’s Cove (5 min drive), Oddicombe Beach and Funicular Railway (8 min drive) to name just a few.
Day trips from the Haytor
A short drive away are a number of National Trust properties to explore including Agatha Christies holiday home; Greenway (26 min drive), or the wonderful Coleton Fishacre House and Gardens (30 min drive).
Head to Paignton (12 min drive) and jump on the Famous “Round Robin” Dartmouth Steam Railway and enjoy the sights of the beautiful Devon countryside.
Castle-lovers are spoilt for choice – visit Berry Pomeroy Castle (20 min drive), Compton Castle (16 min drive), Dartmouth Castle (56 min drive) or Totnes Castle (25 min drive).
Explore Buckfast Abbey (35 min drive), a working monastery with tranquil gardens and beautiful architecture.
Torquay is located a short drive from so many fantastic locations including Brixham (25 min drive), Totnes (23 min drive), Exeter (48 min drive), Kingswear (30 min drive), Dartmouth (50 min drive), Exmouth (Exmouth) and many more.
Good food
The only thing you need to know about Torquay’s culinary scene, is you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Upon booking, we will send you a full list of recommended restaurants to book for your stay, here are just a few of our favourites and all less than a 10 minute walk away….
01803 295 055
A family run bistro with an extensive blackboard menu of seafood fresh from the Brixham day boats. There is also a wine bar sitting on the first floor offering 80+ wines – enjoy whilst watching the sun go down across the bay.
01803 380 180
Artisan cuisine made from seasonal local produce with an Austrian touch. Werner Rott is an Austrian Chef/Restaurateur with a wealth of experience behind him producing exquisite flavoursome dishes using seasonal local produce.
01803 293430
Cosy Italian restaurant, serving delicious lunch and evening meals in a traditional Italian setting.
01803 414142
Family run restaurant, nationally recognised and won number one fish and chip shop in Devon in 2021.
01803 200 044
The multi award-winning The Elephant is a Michelin star restaurant run by chef Simon Hulstone and his wife Katy. Simon has won multiple awards for his creative cuisine and has represented Great Britain in prestigious competitions around the world. At The Elephant, they offer a changing menu based around local and sustainable ingredients, a must-book for a special occasion or a holiday treat!
01803 294466
Family run restaurant offering Turkish and Greek food which is a heritage of Ottoman cuisine, a fusion and refinement of Central Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Balkan cuisines.
Active adventures
We may be biased but Torbay features some of the most beautiful walks in the UK for all fitness levels. We have a number of suggested routes in our visitor book for guests.
As a starter we recommend the stunning Meadfoot beach which is a 10-minute walk away and you can pick up the SW coastal path for picture-perfect views across the bay.
Less than a 30-minute drive away is the world-famous Dartmoor National Park – 386 square miles of breath-taking moorland for you to explore on foot, bike or horseback.
For adrenaline-junkies why not whizz round the bay on The Raptor, England’s fastest RIB ride by Torquay Watersports – you may be lucky and spot some dolphins or seals! Or take a Devon Safari 4×4 or e-bike adventure, Ocean Adventures can pick you up from the hotel for a fun-fuelled afternoon.
For rainy days
Visit Kents Cavern (4 min drive) and wander through prehistoric caves – the oldest recognised human dwelling in Britain.
Stroll down to the Hole in the Wall pub (5 min walk) and have a drink in Torquay’s oldest pub, opened in 1540.
Head to Torquay Museum (7 min walk) and detect your way through Britain’s only Agatha Christie gallery.
Visit Torre Abbey (7 min drive), Torbay’s most historic building, an ancient monument dating back to 1196, housing an impressive art collection boasting over 600 incredible works of art from the 18th century to the present day.
Wander back in time at Bygones (7 min drive) – three floors of fascinating collections of memorabilia.
The location is perfect and within easy walking distance for Torquay harbour and the wonderful restaurants, we always like No 7 and this year enjoyed the Elephant and Bianco's. We cannot recommend the Haytor highly enough.
19th September 2023
