BRIXHAM

Those of a religious disposition will be familiar with a well-known hymn called Abide With Me. What you may not know is that the hymn was written by a Brixham curate called Henry Francis Lyte, who had moved there due to ill health. The hymn was written shortly before his death after he had watched the sun set over Torbay from his house Berry Head House (now a hotel). Berry Head, just outside Brixham, forms the southern end of Torbay. The headland can be reached on foot from the town, and is well worth the walk for the wonderful views.  There is a cafe with a small display on the area's birdlife attached and the remains of a Napoleonic fort, previously an Iron Age hill fort.

Brixham used to be a town of two parts: Cowtown where the farmers lived and Fishtown where the fishermen lived. Today, Brixham is part fishing town with an attractive harbour area, part holiday resort. The main part of the town centre is at the bottom of a valley, with the residential areas rising steeply above, while the harborside is a lively mix of pubs, cafes and restaurants.  On the way out towards Berry Head is the entrance to Shoalstone Pool, a seawater lido. Brixham is a lively place to visit in summer when the Cowtown carnival takes place, as well as a host of other events, such as the Hap’nin, Brixfest and the Brixham Trawler Race. Visitors to the harbour cannot fail to notice the full-size replica of the Golden Hind, Sir Francis Drake’s flagship, which contains fascinating exhibits on life at sea in Tudor times. If you run out of things to do in Brixham, you can take the ferry across the bay to its better-known neighbour, Torquay.  In the summer there are other boat trips available, including a lovely trip around Berry Head and into the Dart estuary with a visit to Dartmouth.

For a list of events in Brixham follow this link.

Webcam view of the harbour.

Map of the area.