Holidaying in Torbay doesn’t have to be expensive; our tips for having fun on a budget while staying by the seaside in Devon
Day One
Arrive at The Miggi. Settle into your comfy, book-themed room, enjoy a welcome cuppa, and perhaps choose a book to read from our shelves.
A two-minute stroll to our local beach to walk on the sand and watch the waves is soothing at any time of day, and a great way to stretch your legs if you’ve been sitting in a car or train all day.
You might want to take a short walk to our local chippy, The London Fryer, for vegan banana blossom “fish” and chips. The small portion is ample and under £10. You can eat in their cafe or enjoy it on the beach.
Day two
Walk along the seafront to the harbour (just under a mile level walk) and take a ferry. For £6 you get a boat trip along the coast, enjoying views of several beaches and coves, to Brixham.
A quaint seaside town, Brixham has several fantastic murals, a free museum, and several excellent charity shops. You can return by bus for just £2 (all buses are £2 per journey).
Day three
After breakfast, visit Cockington Country Park. Surrounded by woodlands, the country park is home to a quaint historic village, Cockington Court, walled rose gardens, and a craft centre with makers’ workspaces and studios.
The Country Park hosts a range of events, exhibitions and workshops through the year, including a sculpture trail around the gardens (free). There is a guide to various walking routes here.
Day four
After your nourishing Miggi breakfast, head to the Aztec Spa in Torquay.
The leisure complex has two pools, sauna, steam room, and jacuzzi. A day pass is £10 or you can “dip and dine” for £17 which includes lunch from a set menu (vegan option is a moving mountains burger with salad and chips), or £9 towards any dish on their full menu (vegan options shown clearly).
They have a range of spa treatments, sometimes available on special offer, check their website for all the options here.
Day five
After breakfast, visit Torre Abbey. The ancient abbey is set in 18 acres of gardens, including huge greenhouses and the Potent Plants garden which commemorates all the plants that feature in the novels of Agatha Christie. The gardens are free.
Next head to the tranquil Tessier Gardens, an award-winning adults-only park near Babbacombe, Torquay. Sit on one of the many benches arranged around the park to watch the squirrels. Free to enter.
Day Six
After your hearty Miggi breakfast, head to Berry Head Nature Reserve on the headland near Brixham. Surrounded by the sea on three sides, the reserve used to be a Napoleonic Fort and has views for miles across the bay.
Berry Head is home to a guillemot colony which is protected by the only Area of Special Protection in the UK. Over 200 varieties of bird have been spotted in the area.
Greater Horseshoe bats roost in the limestone caves in the headland. The bats are one of the most endangered species in the UK. During the Summer, the Trust offers ranger-guided Bat Walks.
There are dozens of paths and trails to explore before heading to the Guard House cafe which has panoramic views from the top of the headland and has a few vegan options on the menu for lunch.
The 300m path from the car park to the headland is well paved and the cafe is accessible for wheelchairs and scooters. The cafe is also dog-friendly.
Day Seven
After a leisurely breakfast, take a historic walking tour of Paignton. You can borrow the Heritage Society guidebooks from our library or book a knowledgeable member of the Society to act as a tour guide to visit Kirkham House, The Clink, and other medieval sites around the town.
Head back to The Miggi late afternoon for one of Phoenix’s epic afternoon cream teas, served on traditional tiered stands in our dining room. The cream tea tradition started in Devon, so your holiday can’t be complete without one!
At £25 pp this handmade feast is great value for money. You can take any treats you can’t eat in one sitting back to your room to nibble through the evening.
Last day
Our hearty breakfast should set you up for your journey home. Although your room check-out time is 11am, you’re welcome to leave your bags a little longer so you needn’t rush too much – there’s always time to pop to the beach and say goodbye to the sea (until next time).