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holiday@torbay.gov.uk
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Culture

This quaint, harbour town at the southern end of the English Riviera is in fact one of Britain's busiest fishing ports.

Every year over ten thousand tonnes of fresh fish and crustaceans land on Brixham's quays and are sent around the country. It is here you must come to sample sea food specialties in the numerous restaurants, cafes and seafood stalls offering Catch of the Day, and revel in the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the sea.

Brixham represents all things maritime, from pirates and smugglers to trawlers and tall ships. A replica of Sir Francis Drake's Golden Hind rests in the harbour, complete with sails, masts and rigging above deck and period scenes below, to give you a feel for life at sea as it used to be in the 16th century.

There are many independent shops and businesses that surround the harbour and align the busy high street, as well as a little museum that gives an insight into the fascinating history of Brixham's connections with the sea. Every Thursday throughout the year don't miss Pirate Day, a chance for everyone in the town to decorate their windows with skulls and crossbones.

The old fish market was used until the 1970's before modern quays were built and fishermen still use the old sheltered area for working on their nets. On a summer evening, you may be fortunate to hear the Brixham Town Band or the Brixham Orpheus Male Voice Choir.

Explore any of the network of narrow alleys and steep steps around the harbour area and it's possible to transport yourself back in time to when the colourful cottages belonged to fishermen. Imagine yourself back on trawler race day (which still takes place every June) when each cottage would hang up the burgee (flag) of the family trawler they would be cheering for.

The statue to William of Orange can be found close to the Tourist Information centre on the edge of the old fishing harbour. It was erected in 1888 to commemorate William landing in the town back in 1688 and his unopposed march from Brixham to London to overthrow the unpopular James II. It's part of the colourful history that you'll be able to uncover when you visit the nearby Brixham Heritage Museum.

Fans of culture of a more sinister nature won't want to miss the Ghost Walks which take place during the summer months. The sleepy fishing town is apparently one of the most haunted places in Great Britain, and actors guide you through a history crammed with ghostly tales, spooky stories and paranormal activity.

Battery Gardens make an attractive park and viewpoint, where you will be able to discover buildings and structures from the 1935-1945 War. This was formally the site of Brixham's Emergency Coastal Defense Battery, where the local Guardsmen joined forces with the Royal Artillery and is the best-preserved site of its kind in the UK. It is now a scheduled monument and has it's own on-site museum.

Brixham is bordered by the imposing National Nature Reserve of Berry Head, where on cliffs that drop dramatically to the sea an ecologically important colony of guillemots has nested. Atop the headland amidst rare flora and fauna stands a Napoleonic fort, a strategic point in the wars of the late 18th Century. The views from the headland are stunning, looking one way across Tor Bay and the other along the coast towards Dartmouth.

Brixham remains a hugely popular holiday destination, for those seeking a relaxed break in an unspoilt traditional fishing town. Whether you want to walk, fish, shop or indulge in some Great British history, Brixham has it all.