Torquay South Devon The English Riviera

A motley crew of movie lovers, seafarers and maritime fans have the chance to climb about the historic HMS Bounty this weekend for their own swashbuckling adventure.

The ship, known to millions around the world as the Black Pearl from the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy, called into Torquay at the last minute while on her way to Hull as part of a UK tour.

Movie fans have the chance to take to the ship's helm, a space previously occupied by John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston and Johnny Depp.

Speaking on board HMS Bounty, Captain Robin Wallbridge said:

"That wheel has been used in just about every nautical film between 1935 and 1962. It was put in a sound stage many years ago. People are amazed that so many great actors have put their hands on it."

Today's HMS Bounty was built as an ocean-faring vessel in 1960 for the movie, Mutiny on the Bounty; and the historic old wheel was moved on board.

The ship is made up of 4000,000ft of lumber, 112 tons of screw bolts, 14 tons of bar iron, 1,200 pounds of putty, 10 miles of line for rigging and over 10,000 square feet of hand-sewn canvas for the sails.

Capt. Wallbridge said: "It's great to be in Torquay. We've had such a warm welcome. People come because of the movie links, but then a lot of people get really hooked on the mutiny side."

It's likely to be the last time the 180ft vessel comes to British waters as she departs the UK next month on a re-run of her 1962 world tour, via South Africa and New Zealand to Pitcairn and Tahiti.

Torquay

Torquay is the biggest of the Torbay towns and caters for a wide range of tastes, activities and ages. This is a sprawling seaside town including beaches, harbour, marina and shopping centres. Accommodation ranges from Bed and Breakfasts to 5 star hotels and caters for any budget.

The picturesque harbour in Torquay is surrounded by Bars and café's from the traditional fish and chip shop to specialist high class restaurants. Continental style bars and café's to the English pub. A firm favourite of mine is Cafe Mambo where you can sit on the terrace overlooking the harbour and have a quiet drink or an excellent meal including its oriental style menu.

Heading away from Torquay harbour walk up Fleet street and you pass by the fleet street shopping centre including its designer shops and cafes, this street has a large variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and Bars. If you continue and cross to Union street which has no traffic you are now in the main shopping area of Torquay includes the Union steet shopping centre.

Torquay's main attractions apart from the beach are Living Coasts - this is a fairly new attraction and features a host of coastal creatures including penguins, seals, puffins and wading birds. Kents Cavern prehistoric caves a great adventure for all ages. The Torquay museum which is Devon's oldest museum. Cockington visitor centre with its traditional crafts, cockington court and thatched cottages.

Family activities are a firm favourite in Torquay and include Tenpin bowling, crown green bowling, various pitch and putts, leisure centres and various water sports.

There are various boat trips available including the ferry to Brixham, day trip to Dartmouth, trips up and down the coast and varied fishing trips, these are all bookable around Torquay harbour.

Watch this first!

Torquay Tourism Video (spoof!)

Torbay

Torbay is part of the English Riviera and an excellent base from which to explore the Devon coastline and only a short distance from Dartmoor. In the Torbay area accommodation is plentiful and varied in both price and standard from the humble Bed and Breakfast to the five star Hotel.

The coastline itself rises very steeply in places which makes for very dramatic scenery, including scenic ports, secluded beaches and coastal walks.

Torbay has 3 main Areas which are all easy to reach and interconnected by road rail and even sea as a daily ferry service is available from Brixham to Torquay.

In the west is Brixham, which is a small harbour town that has retained its fishing fleet and quaint appearance, with its mile long harbour wall built by American engineers during WW II to load troops onto waiting ships to take them to the Normandy beaches for the D-Day landings. It has a growing marina and a full size replica of the Golden Hind the famed flagship of Sir Francis Drake.

In the centre of the bay is Paignton, this has the look of the typical English seaside resort complete with pier, long sandy beach, a plentiful supply of small brightly coloured beach huts, gaming machine arcades and gift shops.

To the east is my home town of Torquay, which has a small sandy beach with a few brightly coloured beach huts to the west end, behind the beach is a beautiful park, cafes and bars, further along you will come across the Victorian pier which surrounds the west edge of the Marina and harbour. In the centre of Torquay is the main inner harbour and marina which has everything from the multimillion pound craft to the humble rowing boat. Surrounding the inner harbour is a vast variety of cafes, bars and shops. As you move away from the harbour the town rises steeply inland and you will arrive at the main shopping, residential and holiday accommodation.

There is always something going on in Torbay, on and off the water.

Paignton

Paignton is a typical looking English seaside town including a long, wide sprawling sandy beach and Victorian pier. The centre of the town has good shopping facilities and there are various family attractions within a short distance.

Paignton beach is a very long, wide sandy beach with a central Victorian pier complete with shops and amusement arcade. To the eastern end is a very large amount of brightly coloured beach huts making this beach a picture postcard scene. Adjacent to this beach is a large grassy green surrounded by cafes, restaurants pubs and a multi-screen cinema.

The town itself has a very busy shopping area with all the main shop names and a variety of gift shops which is the norm with a seaside resort. Also in the town centre is the railway station and line which unusually runs right through the centre of Paignton.

On the outskirts of town heading towards Brixham is Paignton Zoo which is one of the largest zoos in the country and covers a massive 80 acres, it was also voted the best attraction at the south west tourism excellence in England Awards 2005. Quaywest water park for wet and wild water fun is at Goodrington Sands nearby.

Brixham

Brixham is chiefly and best known for its fishing industry, but this small harbourside town with its maritime heritage, narrow streets and typical coastal architecture has helped it grow into a popular resort and destination for day trippers.

Brixham is steeped in history from the landing of William Prince of Orange in 1688 to modern day and includes two Napoleonic forts at berry head and the mile long slipway which saw the loading of troops and equipment for the D-Day landings. You can also see the annual Heritage trawler race with its graceful wooden sailing trawlers.

The habour is the main stage for entertainment at Brixham and around the queyside are many pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops. In the main seafood is one of the highly recommended things to try on a visit and most cafes and restaurants offer a good menu to cater for all budgets. Also in the harbour is a life size replica of the Golden Hind which was Sir Francis Drakes flagship.

The cottages which surround the harbour are all brightly coloured making this a very picturesque scene and well worth a visit.

Agatha Christie was born Agatha Mary Clarissa Miller in Torquay, Devon, to an American father and a British mother. She never claimed or held U.S. citizenship.

Agatha Mary Clarissa, Lady Mallowan, DBE (15 September 1890 - 12 January 1976), also known as Dame Agatha Christie, was an English crime fiction writer. She also wrote romances under the name Mary Westmacott, but is remembered for her 80 mystery novels, particularly featuring detectives Hercule Poirot or Miss Marple, which have given her the title the 'Queen of Crime' and made her one of the most important and innovative writers in the development of the mystery novel.

Her stage play The Mousetrap holds the record for the longest run ever in London, opening at the Ambassadors Theatre on November 25, 1952, and as of 2006 is still running after more than 20,000 performances. In 1955, Christie was the first recipient of the Mystery Writers of America's highest honor, the Grand Master Award, and in the same year, Witness for the Prosecution was given an Edgar Award by the MWA, for Best Play. Most of her books and short stories have been filmed, some many times over (Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, 4.50 From Paddington), and most have also been adapted for television and radio.

With thanks to Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agatha_Christie

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