A Day at the Seaside

Our day started with a couple of mundane tasks...a walk through Paignton to find a bank followed by a drive to nearby Preston to take care of our laundry. That done, we could get on with enjoying our day...which by now, was bright and sunny. We kept on driving along the coast...north a few miles to Torquay. Here we found somewhere to park and went for a walk around the harbour.
 

Torquay Harbour

Looking across to Paignton from Torquay

Looking east from the Harbour wall

After our stroll, we escaped the hustle and bustle of Torquay itself and stopped a mile or so away at a much quieter Meadfoot beach for walk along the beach side promenade. It had been noticeable in Torquay that it was more upmarket than next door Paignton...and this side of Torquay was even more so.

Meadfoot Beach

Back in the car again, we drove on another mile or so until we came to Hope's Nose, a promontory that juts out into the sea to the east of Torquay. It looked rather interesting so we went for a walk down a rather step and uneven track to the end...and it was well worth the effort...the views up and down the coast were fantastic.

Down on Hope's Nose

Once we had struggled back to the car...it was quite warm by now and the sun has a surprising strength for this far from the Equator...we set off in search of afternoon tea. A short drive later we were parked in Babbacombe and the first place we came too was Angels Tea Rooms...a really amazing place that served absolutely wonderful cream teas. Needing to walk afterward, we strolled along the cliff-top promenade until we came to the historic Babbacombe Cliff Railway...a funicular railway built in the 1920's to provide easy access to the beach below.

Angels Tea Rooms

Afternoon Tea in style...

Going down to the beach on the Babbacombe Cliff Railway

Down on the beach

 By the time we got back to our car it was now rather late and so after a rather full day, it was time to head back for dinner in Paignton...a mere 5 miles away.