Brixham - never been, what's it like?

[Sunsparkles]

Hi, I've decided on a week in Brixham mid sept. I've never been and it looks wonderful. Anyone who's been tell me about it please, what to do, where to visit nearby, what do you love, what to watch out for etc...

Also, I haven't actually booked a cottage yet so if you have recommendations that would be fab!

Thanks 😁

Go fishing! You can book into half day fishing trips and catch mackerel and herring. It’s great fun!

Hilly,lots of steps down to harbour.And sadly all the lovely quaint fisherman's cottages are holiday lets.(which is obviously where everyone stays) And they can be not very kid/mobility friendly.(we stayed in a 3 storey cottage with open stairs and the patio was really high along steps with a lowish wall)Parking can be a bugger.(residents cars are all scraped along the sides). Bits are a little run down.
But is beautiful, easy to go other places, lovely food, nice walks around harbour, go out on boats etc.

It’s lovely, we stayed at Wall park touring and camping site. They also do cabins.

You can walk down to the harbour from there.

Loads to do in the surrounding areas. Lots of walks, open air sea pool, water park in Paignton.

I go to Torquay every year. If there are kids with us they enjoy Brixham because of the pirate vibe and the boat trip. Some good fish restaurants, not just Rockfish and some cute shops but TBH it’s a bit out of the way if you’re arriving by car.
I much prefer Dartmouth.

Nearby there is Berry Head (pay parking) which was a Napoleonic stronghold, so banked up enclosures rather than walls. It’s easy to explore and there’s a great place for lunch or coffee.
Paignton walking society offers interesting guided tours. Dogs welcome.
If you have kids Pennywell farm is good.

Depending on what you like to do for holidays there is lots to do and the area is lovely. We’ve stayed in Brixham and also in Kingswear. We love the cafe at Berry Head- you can walk from the centre of Brixham pretty easily. We’ve also enjoyed National Trust places- Coleton Fishacre and Greenway (Agatha Christie’s place); the steam railway and walked the coastal path from Brixham to Kingswear (Definitely only attempt if you are used to a whole day of coastal path walking) and got the bus back to where we started. The coastal path from Brixham to Paignton is an easier walk. You can take the bus to Kingswear and then the ferry to Dartmouth and have a lovely day there.

Thanks everyone, we have booked a cottage and are very excited to go. A little concerned about parking but I'm sure we'll figure it out! Hoping for great weather, but given this is England we are accepting that whatever the weather we will be able to enjoy out time in the town and surrounding area. Excited!! 😃

Oh fab, it’s really lovely down there! You’ll love it.

Just here now. It’s really lovely and I’m hard to please!

Visit Totnes, explore the market and the independent shops on the high street. Stop at the Bull Inn for lunch and Kommune for coffee. Then walk to Dartington via the footpath.

Go to Salcombe.

Visit Dartmouth (via steam train from Paignton) and do a boat trip. Check out the Seahorse or The Angel if you want a fancy meal.

Go on Dartmoor, take a walk then find a nice pub in one of the villages for a cream tea or roast.

Second recommendations to visit Greenway and Colton Fishacre. At Greenway take the boat across to Dittisham and have an ice cream or a pint. From Colton you can do a walk that has some great views of the sea, if that appeals.

Walk to Berry Head in Brixham. Do a sea safari in Brixham if they're running. Check out the Curious Kitchen and/or Port Espresso for brunch.

Miss Torquay town but visit Babbacome, Cockington, and Meadfoot beach - swim in the sea. The walk from Cockington from the seafront is nice. While in Babbacombe take the Cliff Railway and walk along to the Cary Arms pub for a drink on the terrace.

Visit Elberry Cove in Paignton. Don't bother with the town centre.

Brixham harbour is smelly - rotten fish niff. Saw a seal in the harbour last time I was there. Bus service not too bad. Torquay isn't as good as it used to be - a bit run down as is Paignton. The "Round Robin" is fun - includes steam railway from Paignton to Kingswear, ferry to Dartmouth, boat to Totnes and then bus back to Paignton.
Torre Abbey in Torquay is interesting. If you have kids Broadsands beach is the best. Babbacombe model village is impressive and also nearby Kents Cavern is really interesting. There is also Paignton Zoo.
I was born in Torquay, so am a bit underwhelmed by Totnes being turned into a "new age" jamboree and my home town, nearby Ashburton, which was a busy market town now being all antique shops and expensive delicatessens.
If you like charity shops, Rowcroft Hospice (local charity) are the best. They have good cafes too.

I do like Brixham. Not been for a year or so I think, but have visited regularly.
My 2 favourite shops are the one where 3 sisters run an art shop/gallery in Middle Street, I think The Colours of Brixham - lovely prints and cards all 3 are talented artists, and then further down the road on the other side a quaint very old fashioned textiles shop, LG Brown & co - they sell amazing quality tea towels, towels, bed linen etc. All at amazing prices (think they do a massive wholesale trade among the B&Bs and hotels) however they have NO website, No social media and No card payment, it's cash only!
I keep meaning to take the (30 min) ferry to Torquay and back.
Definitely recommend walking some of the costal path and do include a visit to Coleton Fishacre, the grounds are lovely, a very pretty location.

If you like swimming, go to Shoalstone pool. It's a lovely open air seawater lido, and it's free (if you go by car, you have to pay for parking).

Blackpool Sands is another great beach - very picturesque. You can get some food, hire paddleboard equipment, go in the sea, use the sea sauna.

Thanks everyone this has given me a great list of things to do!

It's just me and my partner (no kids! Whoop) and we don't like an itinerary holiday, but I always like to have a list of options to hand for the days we want to do something more than just mooch about, saves the stress of researching on the day 😁

Does anyone have any hints on what streets we might find parking? Street parking as opposed to car parks which honestly seems a massive faff (3hrs max even with a permit?!!)