Blue Flag Beaches

Beach life in Torquay is always close at hand. A string of nine beautiful beaches and coves stretch out along the coast, many with British and European awards for water quality

Torre Abbey

Visit Torre Abbey, originally founded in 1197 by Lord William de Brewer, in gratitude to the French monks of the order of Premontré, who prayed for the soul of King Richard Coeur de Lion and his father, King Henry 2nd.

Although the Abbey itself is now a ruin, the surviving mansion, which was re-built by the Carey family in 1662, now houses a fine art-gallery and is a commanding presence along the stretch of Torre Abbey Sands beach.

Agatha Christie Country

Torquay is the capital of Agatha Christie Country. The world's most famous mystery writer was born in the town in 1890 and used many places in South Devon in her best selling mysteries.

Today on the "Agatha Christie Mile" you can see the scene of Miss Marple's detective work, stay at Agatha's honeymoon hotel, visit unique exhibitions of her life at Torquay Museum and Torre Abbey and solve a mystery of your own.

And, if that's not enough, there are three fabulous trails around the coast and countryside of south Devon, completely devoted to the life and work of Agatha Christie.