On the English Riviera: Weekend in Paignton
The 22–mile stretch of coastline along Torbay connecting Torquay, Paignton, and Brixham forms the English Riviera. A perfect place for a classic bucket and spade holiday.
For May bank holiday weekend, we visited the seaside town of Paignton on the English Riviera in South Devon. My friend and neighbour kindly offered his seafront coastal retreat called 39RM for us to stay and it was a lovely getaway!
39RM: A Coastal Retreat with Amazing Sea Views
This gorgeous maritime-themed four bedroom double-fronted house overlooks Paignton Harbour. There are so many luxurious touches throughout the house including fluffy Egyptian cotton towels, dog treats, and Jo Malone lotions. My friend who is an avid cook and host extraordinaire has every utensil in his spacious kitchen.
Of the four bedrooms, we only used two – the master for us and the ‘kids’ room where my daughter and her BFF stayed. Yes, we hosted my five year old daughter’s BFF whilst her parents were in Italy for a wedding. It was great to have a playmate on this trip as the girls entertained themselves. We were able to relax in the garden or escape upstairs to enjoy the sea views from the master bedroom.
39RM is truly a ‘home away from home.’ I highly recommend this beautiful coastal retreat if you are looking for a place to stay on the English Riviera. Plus it is dog-friendly! My friend who grew up in Paignton gave us a list of family-friendly things to do and here it is!
Beautiful Beaches: Paignton Sands, Fairy Cove, and Goodrington Sands
There are three local beaches just under 10 minutes walk from 39RM, all offering different atmospheres. Blue Flag Goodrington Sands is a dog and family friendly beach with gentle lapping waves. I highly recommend taking the scenic route from Paignton Harbour to Roundham Head and down via Goodrington Promenade for outstanding views.
Locals call magical Fairy Cove the ‘secret beach’ as it is nestled at the foot of red sandstone cliffs and Paignton Harbour. Fairy Cove is amazing at low tide where shingle beach is separated by flat rocks, perfect for rock pooling.
For your classic ‘bucket and spade’ with amusement park fun, then Paignton Sands is your answer for a family day out. If you need a break from the beach, across the street is GeoPlay Playground and Vue Cinema in case it rains.
Paignton Pier: Classic Fun
This 240m long Victorian pleasure pier has a large indoor arcade, crazy golf, and miniature rides. It is fun to simply people-watch and gaze out at the English Channel over to Brixham and Torquay. Paignton Pier is a must on your family-friendly itinerary.
Scenic Views: South West Coastal Path
Along the English Riviera, there are some 22 miles of coastal path to enjoy. I would have been keen on the 5 mile walk to Brixham Harbour and take the ferry back. With two five year olds, there is no chance of going for long walks. However, I did go on several sunrise runs along the coastal path from Paignton Harbour to Anna’s Beach; and then from Paignton Harbour to Hollicombe Beach.
Torquay: Agatha Christie’s Birthplace
Agatha Christie, the prolific crime writer best known Murder on the Nile, The Mousetrap and Three Blind Mice, was born in Torquay. In her honour, Torquay hosts the Agatha Christie Festival every September and has the ‘Agatha Christie Mile’ with Blue Plaques on special buildings to celebrate the ‘Queen of Crime.’
Torquay is a lively town with its own sandy beach, lovely promenade, English Riviera wheel, and picturesque marina. We had an outstanding fish at Rockfish, a small coastal seafood chain, founded by local chef Mitch Tonk.
And that’s a wrap from South Devon
My only regret was not making it to Brixham to complete the trio of towns making up the English Riviera. Whilst we had sunny weather for the long bank holiday weekend, it was very breezy, making it a very unpleasant boat journey to Brixham. Well that just means we’ll have to plan another trip to this beautiful corner of Devon.
Special thanks to our friends for having us at your ‘happy place’ in the English Riviera!
