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Home Brixham Exeter Newton Abbot Paignton Torquay Contact Us AROUND & ABOUT BRIXHAM     Fishing has been carried out from Brixham for almost 1,000 years but there was also a large merchant schooner fleet which traded with France, Spain and Newfoundland. To-day's fleet consists of about 100 vessels, mainly beam trawlers and crabbers and visitors can watch the fish market in operation and the fishermen repairing nets on the quay. The colourful specialist shops, pubs and restaurants around the harbour give way to narrow streets that climb through lanes of bright pastel coloured cottages and All Saints Church which is famed as the parish of Reverend Lyte who wrote the words to "Abide with me". The working boats are now having to share their harbour with yachts and dinghies as marinas expand to satisfy the leisure industry. Above Brixham, at the southern end of Tor Bay, stands Berry Head. The area has been fortified since the iron age and the existing ruins show the layout of the Napoleinic Fort which was built between 1793 - 1805. Berry Head is designated a National Nature Reserve and Torbay's most important wildlife site. Several species of rare and threatened flora can be found on the headland and the cliffs shelters one of the largest colonies of guillemots in England. Live pictures of the nesting birds are relayed to the visitor centre were the birds can be seen feeding their young.   Brixham has become the centre of a unique collection of historic vessels - between 1880-1920 over 300 of these graceful vessels were built in the shipyards of Brixham and Galmpton - and seven restored ships, including "Vigilance", "Pilgrim", "Regard", "Leader", "Golden Vanity" and "Provident" and "Keywaydin", now make up Brixham's Heritage Fleet. "Vigilance", built in Brixham in 1926 at the Upham Yard, now offers visitors the opportunity to enjoy a day, half-day, or evening trip around Tor Bay aboard this beautiful piece of living Brixham history. During regattas, the "Heritage Fleet" compete in their own unique races which offer specators the opportunity to see these majestic vessels under full sail. Brixham's history has been shaped by the sea and the town maintains a deep pride and interest in the RNLI lifeboat, with intense competition being evident whenever a crew vacancy arises. A lifeboat has been based in Brixham since 1866 - the year of the great storm. Situated alongside the harbour is the HM Coastguard Centre which co-ordinates "search & rescue" Celebrations in the town include Harvest of the Sea Festivals, Trawler Races, and Regattas. There are excellent walks along the SW Coastal Path allowing the visitor to spend a half-day walking to Paignton, or enjoying an outstanding walk to Kingswear (Dartmouth). Battery Gardens - Gun emplacements were evident on this site during the American War of Indendence and the French wars. Now a "Scheduled Monument", the WWII battery (one of only seven sites remaining in Britain) offers an insight into Torbay's defences.   Home Accommodation Towns & City Villages Pubs Activities Attractions Beaches Events Contact Us