Torquay & Devon Tourist Information – Grand Hotel Blog » What to Do Torquay

TORQUAY GETS UNESCO URBAN GLOBAL GEOPARK!

yvonne — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:43:30 +0000

WOW – the world’s first Urban Global Geopark has been established in Torquay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RATmkF9zXy4&feature=sub

This is the link that will give you a sneak preview into UNESCO’s first Urban Global Geopark and you can see it in all its glory when you come to Torquay, heart of the English Riviera. The more you get to know, the more fascinating the history of our island becomes. See firsthand that the English Riviera is more than just a pretty face!!

All Creatures Great and Small want a Grand entrance!

Jax — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 13:17:33 +0000

Aside from the normal and welcome chatter with our guests and “quacker” with the resident family of ducks (determined to claim the swimming pool as their annual summer home), we seem to have developed a new breed of customer. How or where this particular guest appeared from is anybody’s guess as it was a hedgehog! One minute nothing and the next, curled up in the Bar, was this sweet little prickly thing that had made itself quite at home. And, it was sober to boot! No sooner had it been gently escorted back to an appropriate place in the garden when at the front entrance appears a collie dog. Collared, coiffed and very respectable it was too, wagging its tail. It seemed to be satisfied with the Grand welcome as once petted and admired, it turned and trotted off. So I guess there is some truth in the saying that if you are around long enough, sooner or later everyone will beat a path to your door. The more the merrier we say!

Right now there is good entertainment available in the hotel. Every Friday and second Saturday you can chill out in the Compass Bar and Lounge to the sounds of Howard Jones – an excellent singer who will have you up and dancing before you know it! Complementing Howard on alternate Saturdays is Talitha another singer guaranteed to get the feet going. (Even the manager has been spotted on the dance floor!). On Wednesdays and Sunday lunchtimes, Paul Vincent, a pianist who has accompanied the likes of Morecambe and Wise and Norman Wisdom amongst others during an illustrious career, will tinkle the ivories and of course, Sunday evenings, Tuesdays and Thursdays feature our resident pianist Neil Reid.

The atmosphere is great, the staff hospitable and there is always something to watch so it’s no surprise that the word of a friendly welcome is travelling fast – even in the animal kingdom!

Summer Ball 2008, Grand Hotel, Torquay, Devon

jp — Tue, 13 May 2008 11:24:00 +0000

“WHY WAIT TILL CHRISTMAS TO GET DRESSED UP!”

Due to the overwhelming success of Torquay’s famous “Holy Ball”, the Grand Hotel is pleased to announce the launch of Torquay’s first annual Summer Ball.

The beautiful and elegant Grand Hotel is the perfect location to spend a warm summer evening, drinking Champaign, watching the sun set over Torbay and then dancing the night away.

So why wait until Christmas to dress up! This exclusive evening will take place on Saturday 14th June and will feature live entertainment. The dress code is evening dress for the ladies and black tie for the gentlemen.

Tickets are only £17 per person and this includes champagne & canapés. Why not start the evening off with an even bigger bang and enjoy a sumptuous 3-course meal for an additional £22 per person. We also have a number of Accommodation packages available.

Tickets are on sale now and are selling fast – book early to avoid disappointment.

It’s a blue valentine’s for Some

jp — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:39:00 +0000

It may be Valentine’s Day but spare a thought for 25 ladies who are going to be feeling more blue than pink with the blushes of romance. Where are all the single men?

For those not enjoying coupledom at this noted time of year, a Singles event with a difference – speed dating over dinner – has been organised this Saturday (Feb 16th) at Torquay hotel, The Grand. A positive response was received in droves but from women. In typical new century style it seems to be the women who are making the first move and the men have gone all shy!

Given the amount of people dating on line, has it now become virtually impossible to find true love in real life? Unless some single males in Torquay find the courage to come out of hiding then sea is going to be all that is in the air. This doesn’t bode well for a leap year!

Everyone is in the same position – Single, so men why not to prove women that you’re just as brave as them and you never know you just might find the one you’ve been looking for.

Hidden Valley and Village at Cockington

scottiey — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:55:00 +0000

Cockington is a Domesday Book traditional country estate, complete with manor house, church, formal gardens, village, water-wheel, woodlands, meadows and pasture. It is famous for its well-kept thatched cottages and pleasant environment, right on the edge of Torquay and only minutes away from the busy sea-front. It is also now becoming well-known as the home of quality craftsmanship with the rebirth of Cockington Court, the old manor house, as a Craft Centre. Here resident craftspeople produce high-quality craftwork from their studios. The Trust owns the freehold to the world-famous Cockington Village, including its thatched Forge and the Lutyens-designed Drum Inn.

From Scadson Woods, or from the seafront at Livermead, or even from the Ring Road, you can walk into Cockington and explore its 10 km/6 m long network of country footpaths and horse-riding routes.

It’s a landscape full of surprises and views over Torbay, with wildlife and history to match. The Visitor Centre and Cockington Court have details of all the different activities to choose fromsuch as guided walks and gardening courses. Much of the Cockington parkland is easily accessible in a wheelchair.

20 Torquay Beaches and Coves

scottiey — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:54:00 +0000

Along the 22 miles of the English Riviera coastline there are 20 beaches from wide sandy stretches to hidden rocky coves. So whether you’re after a place to lay out your towel, build sandcastles, have a gentle paddle, ramble through a rockpool or just a quiet place to sit and watch the surf, you’re sure to find a beach to suit. Although our beaches are regarded as safe, care should always be taken when swimming. Warning flags are sometimes in operation.

Our Beaches from North to South

1. Maidencombe Beach (Torquay)
A sand and shingle beach with ample parking, swimming safe with care, toilet, café, deckchair and sunbed hire. Dogs are allowed.

2. Watcombe Beach (Torquay)
A sandy beach with limited parking, dogs allowed, swimming safe with care, toilets, cafe, beach shop and deckchair/sunbed hire.

3. Oddicombe Beach (Torquay)
Sand and shingle beach just below the north end of Babbacombe Downs. Parking is half a mile from the beach. Steep access but try the cliff railway (great fun). No dogs, swimming safe with care, toilets, café, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire.

4. Babbacombe Beach (Torquay)
A sand and shingle beach popular for sailing and fishing off the breakwater. Steep access from Beach Road, swimming safe with care, limited parking, dogs allowed, toilets, café, deckchair/sunbed hire.

5. Redgate Beach (Torquay)
is currently closed due to unstable cliffs above.

6. Anstey’s Cove (Torquay)
Shingle and rocky beach with parking quarter of a mile from the beach. Dogs allowed, café, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire.

7. Meadfoot Beach (Torquay)
A long pebble and sand beach with ample parking. Dogs allowed only at the Kilmorie end, swimming safe with care, toilets, café, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire.

8. Torre Abbey Sands / Corbyn Sands (Torquay)
A sandy beach right in the heart of Torquay’s so lots of parking nearby. Very high tides will cover the sand. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, toilets, café, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and chalet hire. Just across the road from Torre Abbey Meadows parkland.

9. Corbyn Sands (Torquay)
Just south of Torre Abbey sands, this sand and shingle beach has all the same facilities.

10. Hollicombe Beach (Torquay)
A quiet sandy beach with parking 1 mile from the beach. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care and toilets.

11. Preston Sands (Paignton)
Long sandy beach with easy access but limited parking. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, café, beach shop, deckchair/sunbed hire and beach hut hire.

12. Paignton Beach (Paignton)
Long sandy beach with easy access, large grassy green adjacent and ample parking nearby. Lots of kiosks and cafes by the beach and amusements on the pier. Dogs are banned, swimming safe with care, toilets, deckchair/sunbed hire, pedaloes and family bikes.

13. Goodrington Sands (Paignton)
Long sandy beach with Seashore Centre, Quaywest Waterpark, Youngs Park and Inn on the Quay all right behind the beach. Plenty of kiosks, toilets and amusements, swimming safe with care, deckchair and sunbed hire. Dogs allowed on North Sands only. Excellent low tide rockpooling.

14. Broadsands (Paignton)
Long sandy beach with good access and parking and a large green behind the promenade. Dogs banned, swimming safe with care, café, beach shop, (no amusements) deckchair/sunbed hire and beach huts for hire. Pedaloes and boats for hire.

15 Elberry Cove (Paignton)
A pretty shingle beach with access by footpath from Broadsands car park. Dogs are allowed and this beach is used a lot by waterskiers (restricted lane). Nearest toilets and café at Broadsands. Lovely woodland walks around.
16 Churston Cove (Brixham)
Sand and shingle beach with steep footpath access from Churston or Fishcombe. Dogs allowed, swimming safe with care. A popular picnic stop for yachts.

17 Fishcombe Cove (Brixham)
Sand and shingle beach with limited parking, dogs allowed, swimming safe with care, toilets, café and deckchair/sunbed hire.

18 Breakwater Beach (Brixham)
Shingle beach right next to the breakwater with ample parking. Swimming safe with care, toilets, café and beach shop. This is a popular beach for divers.

19 Shoalstone Beach (Brixham)
A shingle and rock beach right next to Brixham’s outdoor seawater pool. Limited parking, swimming safe with care, dogs allowed, toilets, café and deckchair/sunbed hire.

20. St Mary’s Bay (Brixham)
A quiet sand and shingle beach with footpath access from the car park. No toilets or café. A great detour from a walk along the coast path. Beautiful viewpoint from Sharkham Point above the beach All along the South Devon coast there is an incredible range of beautiful beaches so your choice is virtually endless.

English Riviera’s Star Attractions

scottiey — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 15:53:00 +0000

There are a wealth of attractions here on the Riviera and as a year round resort many are open 364 days a year so even when the sun doesn’t shine there is always something the keep everyone entertained.

Click on each attraction for more details.

Living Coasts – Torquay

Living Coasts features a range of fascinating coastal creatures from loud and loveable penguins to playful fur seals, colourful puffins to waders and sea ducks. There are reconstructed sandy beaches,……

Abbey Park – Torquay

The park opened in 1924, the pond and water rock garden, both original features, have undergone a significant makeover in recent years. There has been a total replant of the rock garden and surrounding……

Devon’s Top Attractions –

All year round Devon’s Top Attractions can offer you an interesting and exciting variety of activities for the whole family to enjoy: from cliff-top railways to mysterious castles and animal adventures……

Babbacombe Model Village – TORQUAY

Take time out from the hustle and bustle of every day life and see it recreated in miniature. Thousands of miniature buildings, people and vehicles set in 4 acres capture the essence of England’s past,……

The Golden Hind – BRIXHAM

Re-live Drakes incredible world voyage of 1577 aboard this full sized replica, moored in Brixham harbour. The ship gives a fascinating, hands on and exciting experience to life on board in 16th Centuary,……

The Seashore Centre – Paignton

Torbay’s Marine World is a hidden jewel with 16 marine sites of national importance, including Saltern Cove, designated an underwater Local Nature Reserve and the only local underwater Site of Special……

Tessier Gardens – Torquay

Hidden away between Babbacombe and St. Marychurch, Tessier Gardens is a small and delightful park that was given to the town in 1933 by Mrs H.A Tessier ‘for the use of adults only’. In the same year……

Riviera International Centre – TORQUAY

‘Waves Leisure Pool’ – Torbay’s Indoor Beach with sloping floor, wave machine,fun sessions and flume. ‘Lifestyle Health & Fitness Suite’ – 57 station gym, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, sunbeds,aerobics,……

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park – PAIGNTON

As featured in BBC1 The Zoo Keepers – see the zoo keepers and all their animals at this famous Zoo, with hundreds of animals, many endangered, in the natural setting of the world’s threatened habitats. Open……

The Breakwater Art Gallery – Brixham

‘The Breakwater Art Gallery’, nestled on the beach at Brixham Marina, has a warm Mediterranean style atmosphere. It also houses exhibitions of some of Torquay’s finest award winning artists – ‘The Shoal……

Strand Art Gallery – BRIXHAM

Artists have been painting on Brixham harbourside well over a century. Many of our current artists have been painting here over 35 years. The artists paint outside in fine weather & are often photographed……

Oldway Mansion and Gardens – PAIGNTON

The magnificent legacy of Paignton’s most colourful family – the Singers of sewing machine fame. Inspired by French and Italian architecture, the grand marble staircase and the gallery modelled on the……

Princess Gardens – Torquay

The gardens were opened in 1894. The opening was a significant milestone in the history of the resort in that the Town Council had decided to put a strong emphasis on making Torquay a place of beauty……

Babbacombe Cliff Railway – Torquay

Babbacombe Cliff Railway has been operating since 1926. Following refurbishment after the war the cliff railway was re-opened in the early 1950’s. Now more than 250,000 passengers are carried safely each……

Cinderella Carriages of Cockington – Torquay

Enjoy a horse drawn tour in an original Victoria carriage. Taking you to the beautiful thatched villiage of Cockington, up to Cockington Court, church and craft center. You can then enjoy a ride back……

Royal Terrace Gardens (Rock walk) – Torquay

A network of hidden paths festoned with exotic plants. Around the the time of the construction of Princes Pier, Gardens and the widening of Torbay Road, a raised walk was laid out which ran along the……

Kents Cavern – TORQUAY

Torquay’s Historic Archeological Site. Discovery tours take you through these prehistoric caves to reveal half a million years of history. Victorian excavations uncovered a wealth of archeological remains……

Skiwest – Paignton

Skiwest Watersports- we offer waterskiing and wakeboarding for the complete beginner onwards with all safety equipment and wetsuits supplied. We also run ringo rides, speedboat trips and boat charter. ……

Torquay Museum – TORQUAY

You can take a journey into the town’s fascinating past – find out more about local wildlife, famous people and Torquay through the ages. Don’t miss the Agatha Christie Exhibition, including photographic……

Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway – PAIGNTON

Steam trains from Paignton, running along the spectacular Torbay coast with superb views across the Bay, inland to Churston and then down to the beautiful Dart estuary to Kingswear for the ferry to……

Occombe Farm – Paignton

Discover the real food and farming of South Devon. Explore the working organic farm, get close to the local wildlife, sample authentic Devon food in our Cafe, and discover new experiences on our many……

Berry Head Country Park – BRIXHAM

This is Torbay’s most important wildlife site and one of England’s 200 National Nature Reserves. The are defines the southern part of Torbay with the 65 metre limestone headland dropping sheer into……

Bygones Lifesize Victorian Street – TORQUAY

Shopping as our grandparents used to shop. Memories of journeys on the romantic steam trains our parents knew. Escape into the magic lands of fantasy where every generation loves to go. Wander……

Quaywest – PAIGNTON

Enjoy the WETTEST and WILDEST fun at the English Riviera’s outdoor Waterpark. Choose from 8 different slides and flumes, to adults swimming pool and children’s play area. Other attractions include Go-Karts,……

Battery Gardens – Brixham

Not only does Battery Gardens boast one of the most panoramic views in the bay, it is also a Scheduled Monument. As far back as the 1780’s the area was used for militia training, most significantly it……

OurGlass – TORQUAY

We’re now glass making every day so the studio is nice and warm again! We’re open and glassblowing 7 days a week. We look forward to seeing you. Remember, if you can’t make it to the studio, we’re……

Cockington Court & Country Park – TORQUAY

A visit to Torbay is not complete until you have seen the world famous village of Cockington and the stately Manor house – Cockington Court. Nestling deep in a hidden valley right in the heart of Torbay,……