Torbay

Torbay sits apart from the rest of Devon in an obvious way: while the county around it is all deep lanes, moorland and villages tucked well inland, Torbay is the coast, unapologetically. This is the English Riviera stretch, where Torquay, Paignton and Brixham run together into one long curve of seafront, harbours and palm-lined promenades that feel more resort town than rural Devon. It has a different rhythm, too, one built around bays, beaches and boats rather than farm shops and hedgerows.

Most visitors base themselves in an apartment rather than a cottage in the traditional Devon sense, and that suits the area's built-up, seafront character. Among our self-catering options are apartments like Apartment 3, Apartment 5, Apartment 6, Apartment 7 and Apartment 8, many close to the water and geared towards easy, low-fuss stays. For something with more character, Apple Barn Cottage and Arthurs Den offer an alternative to flat living, spread across the wider bay area rather than clustered on the seafront strip.

Days here tend to be shaped by the coastline itself, whether that is a walk along the harbour at Brixham, time on the beaches at Paignton, or simply watching the boats from Torquay's marina. For something indoors, Vue Torbay gives visitors a straightforward cinema option when the weather turns, which it inevitably does at some point on a Devon coast trip.

What makes Torbay worth choosing over the rest of the county is exactly this contrast: it delivers the coastal, holiday-town experience in concentrated form, with beaches, harbours and seafront living all within easy reach of one another, while the rest of Devon carries on at its own quieter, greener pace just a few miles inland.