The English Riviera Town of Brixham

Exploring all corners of The English Riviera from The Muntham Luxury Holiday Apartments and Twon House is superbly easy with or without a car. Being geographically quite compact as well as having a very efficient system of public transport such as buses, boats, trains and steam trains means that a visit to Brixham at the far end of Tor Bay is easy and stress free and The Muntham Self Catering Apartments and Town House are an ideal base from which to do it.

The Rich History Of Brixham

Brixham lies at the far end of Tor Bay and is still principally a fishing port. The harbour is the focal point for life and the narrow streets of fisherman's cottages surrounding the harbour give the town a unique feel.

Brixham's historical and seafaring past is very much in evidence. Most notably in the harbour there is a replica of sir Francis Drake's ship The Golden Hind. This was the ship that Drake used to go around the world and modern visitors get a real sense of the hardships Elizabethan sailors had to endure.

Also on the harbour is a statue to William of Orange who led an invasion force of Dutchmen in 1688 to liberate the English from the tyranny of James II in what became know as The Glorious Revolution.

Berry Head nature Reserve on The English Riviera

Berry Head Country Park And Nature Reserve

A short walk from Brixham harbour is the Berry Head country park and nature reserve from which spectacular views across Torbay, Lyme bay and southwards out to sea can be found. It is said that 800 square miles of coast and sea are visible.

There is a working lighthouse here too. It is quite squat as its postion on top of the cliffs make it highly visible. Originally the turning mechanism was powered by a weight falling down a 150ft shaft although obviously nowadays an electrical motor powers it as it flashes a white light twice every fifteen seconds.

A very striking feature of the headland are the remains of Naploeaonic fortifications as well as later World War 2 defences. Within the the giant walls is a real gem; set in the old guardhouse is the multi award winning Guardhouse Cafe.

Brixham Today - A Vibrant Town Of Events And Festivals

Modern Brixham is a vibrant and lively town particularly in summer and there are a series of festivals and events sure to engage and thrill visitors.

In May each year is Brixfest a wonderful arts festival which draws together the rich community of artists, artisans and performers who call the area their home.

There is also Fishstock which takes place each September. This is a seafood and music festival which underlines the very particular place that fishing has in the life of Brixham. The event is dedicated amongst other things to raising money for The Fisherman's Mission that supports families of people involved in the perilous fishing industry.

And of course there is the Pirate Festival at the end of April in which hoardes of people dress as pirates and have the most raucous fun times with lots of music, noise and laughter...

Getting to Brixham from Torquay

For visitors staying in Torquay by far the best way to get to Brixham most of the year is by boat. Inexpensive services operate from spring through to very late autumn. One bonus in the summer months is that there is always the possibility that passengers will get to see the dolphins that regularly visit the bay.

On odd days when the boat services don't run or in the winter months buses regularly run to Brixham.

It is also possible to drive from Torquay to Brixham and this will generally take about twenty five minutes - longer in summer. In the off peak periods there is generally plenty of parking available but it is at a premium in the summer.

Click here for Western Lady Ferry Services