2021-10-17 – Torquay to Brixham (Shoalstone Point)
15.2km along the coastal path, 4.5km inland plus 7km by boat
The remainder of section 55 in the SWCPA handbook and the start of section 54
Looking at the map there is no good inland route between Brixham, where we were staying, and Torquay, so completely avoiding public transport would have meant retracing our steps. However, we discovered that there is a ferry that runs between Brixham and Torquay harbour – the internet was unclear saying that it ran until October – however we had learnt last night that it was still running and the first boat from Brixton left at 10:30.
Having bought tickets from a little kiosk on the quay we walked to the end of the harbour where after a while a number of other people arrived also wondering whether the ferry was running, however it arrived from Torquay only a few minutes after 10:30 and we had a pleasant trip across Torbay. In the middle of the bay there was a collection of Oppies (Optimist dinghies) that were no doubt waiting to start racing.
The orange boat took us into Torquay harbour and we walked back towards the Grand Hotel where we had finished last night. As it was now low tide and another sunny day the red-sand beach was quite busy.
I had expected a rather urban walk around Torbay and to start we followed a fairly busy road then went through a park and down to Paignton Sea front where we stopped for a coffee. Not much further we came to Paignton Pier, well maintained but really just filled with “family amusements” i.e. gambling machines. They obviously attract the customers as it was busy.
Paignton beach is large and sandy and again was quite busy. Going further South, we came to Goodrington Sands beach where we stopped for a sandwich and also saw the steam train which runs from Torquay to Kingswear.
The coastal path now follows the railway for a little, but although when we had driven from Torquay to Brixham yesterday it had been built-up all the way, along the coast it is much more rural and although the path does follow the railway it is much more up and down with some steep steps in places.
After going under a railway viaduct, the path came to Braodsands, another pleasant low-key beach and then a grassy hill before getting to a small shingle beach called Elberry Cove. Despite being the middle of October there were a few people swimming in the clear blue water.
After a fairly steep ascent the path goes through woods for most of the way to Brixton where it descents to Fishcombe point and then we followed to promenade to the harbour where we stopped for a beer and then continued a short distance to the Lido at Shoalstone Point before returning to the campsite.
