The “English Riviera”

With the weather holding we grabbed the chance for another long weekend this time in sunny Paignton, Devon.

With its miles of red sand stretching to Torquay it’s an ideal place for lounging about and dipping in the sea – seriously safe with an extremely gentle slope into the water. Holiday season was in full swing with the esplanade crammed with fairground attractions and eateries and watering holes stretching along the Prom.

 

The coastal walk to the West gave wonderful views over sandy bays and sheltered harbours.

 

A short drive to the east and you’re on the seafront in Torquay sitting under the ‘Eye’ and looking over the harbour.

  

We had a trip to Fast Rabbit Farm not far but along some challenging Devon ‘roads’. Fast Rabbit, gaining its name from owner Peter’s collie chasing a hare, started as a 12 acre garden on the upper reaches of the River Black above Blackpool Sands. It is very secluded with a mild relatively salt free environment.

There are a labyrinth of paths on this 40+ acre site circumnavigating a series of artificial lakes, ponds and mini waterfalls. The gardens are a wildlife haven and the lake is stocked with orfe, koi and carp and is also home to dragonflies and the occasional kingfishers and cormorants.

This year an extensive wild-flower meadow is being planted with native species. A new large pond and a tranquil streamside walk has been created and planted with hydrangeas. A Mediterranean garden is also being developed on a four acre sunny hillside complete with almost a mile of new walkways. Well worth a visit if your down that way.

An afternoon was spent in the picturesque Dartmouth and a trip on a century old paddle steamer still ploughing its tourist trade on the Dart estuary.

 

The nearby estate of the late Agatha Christie Mallowan was described by Christie as “the loveliest place in the world” – and she was not far wrong. We were amongst the first there and decided to save the house for last. We followed the path down to the Boathouse (known as the place where Marlene Tucker was strangled in “Dead Man’s Folly”). We were lucky to catch the two stewards of the Boathouse just opening up and got a personalised free guided tour. They were also stewarding a family of Robins that nested nearby. The house echoes Chrities penchant for collecting and also houses a collection of her first editions. The grounds are varied and extensive and well worth a visit if you are in the area. Parking has to be pre booked or you can arrive by steam train and ferry.

M in Agatha's favourite Boathouse chair

Boathouse guardian feeding an adopted family of robins

One of the first 'mobile' phones - weighs a ton!

First Editions

The final stop, on the way back, was at Kia-ora Farm a 15 acre extensively planted garden with lakeside walks, set in countryside situated in the heart of Devon, complete with homemade tea n cakes.

Ending with

& an ice cream :)

croquet on the lawn