Contact Details

holiday@torbay.gov.uk
Tel: 01803 211 211

Gardens and Parks

For centuries the English Riviera has been famed for its glorious landscape, mild climate and its fascinating horticultural heritage.

The English Riviera boasts everything from the magnificent gardens of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham to the swathes of summer bedding on its seafront and carpets of bluebells and orchids in the spring woodlands.

English Nature, the Government's official nature conservation watchdog, rates Torbay as one of the top six sites in the country for rare plants.

South West Coast Path

In its entirety, the South West Coast Path National Trail is 630 miles long. Torbay's stretch of this breathtaking footpath is 22 miles long and will lead you through a huge diversity of ornamental and natural sites.
www.swcp.org.uk

Agatha Christie Connection

Dame Agatha Christie, the world's most famous mystery and crime writer, was born in Torquay in 1890 and lived for many years in the area. As a result of this many of Agatha's books make reference to areas or hotels in Torbay, to pay homage to the great lady, Torre Abbey has created the Potent Plants Garden. Click here for further information.

Torbay Palm

One plant in particular takes centre stage in Torbay and is very much the symbol of the English Riviera. The Torbay Palm was introduced to Torquay around 1820, brought over from New Zealand by plant collectors and became a prominent feature of large gardens of that era.

Predominantly green in colour, a few bronze palms also existed, however with the advent of micropropagation in the late 70's, these coloured palms were cloned by a Torbay nursery resulting in an attractive red palm (Torbay Red), a striking green/red variety (Sundance) and the appropriately named variegated palm (Torbay Dazzler). The most recent is the Pink Torbay Palm, Cordyline Pacific Dawn.
The scientific name Cordyline australis. Cordyline is from the Latin word "kordyle" which means club because of the shape of the root. It is also known in its native country of New Zealand as the Majestic Cabbage Tree!

English Riviera Gardens Tour

5.8 Mb

Gardens Guide

1.8 Mb

The complete guide to the English Riviera's gardens

Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader