Pastel coloured hotels and houses rise upwards from the bay into the hills. An old harbour lies at one side of the bay that attracts visitors to its shops and bars, the beach of Abbey Sands is to its west, backed by the green of a park where there is a gigantic balloon that takes visitors 400 feet up into the air for aerial views. There is tennis, crazy golf and facilities for family entertainment in the park.

Going in an easterly direction around the coast there are the beaches of Meadfoot, Redgate and Babbacombe. – plenty of sand for all holidaymakers. Boat trips to Paignton and Brixham run from the harbour. Places to visit in Torquay include the Agatha Christie gallery, The Torquay Museum and Living Coasts visitor attraction.

Torquay is an excellent self catering holiday destination for all ages, especially the young and active because it is a large town which necessitates a lot of walking and is busy. Older people may just prefer to book a holiday cottage in a smaller seaside town in Devon or a country cottage in one of Devon’s peaceful lanes.