Contact Details

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

Brixham Gardens

Berry Head

Access by Berry Head Road or Gillard Road

This is Torbay's most important wildlife site and one of England's 200 National Nature Reserves. The area defines the southern part of Tor Bay eith the 65 metre limestone headline dropping sheer into the sea, acting as a shelter for the Bay from the south-westerly winds.

There are several species of rare and threatened plants growing at Berry Head, including Early Gentian, White Rock-Rose, Honewort, Small Hare's Ear, Restharrow and Goldilock's Aster, which are dependent upon the thin soils, mild climate and exposed conditions of the headland. From April through to September you can find 8 different species of Orchid.

Berry Head has long been known for its important flora and around 500 different species have been identified on the cliffs, grasslands and scrub areas. Many of these are nationally rare.

The thin soil and exposure to the elements means that many of these rare plants are extremely small. To find out their location it is best to contact a Ranger at the visitor centre. Berry Head is also home to a number of birds (including a Guillemot colony), bats (a colony of the endangered Greater Horseshoe Bats reside in the caves below) and insects (including moths, dragonflies and butterflies).

Berry Head is also has two Napoleonic war era fortifications, constructed between 1795 and 1806, which are amongst the best-preserved in the country and are protected as an Ancient Monument.

Admission FREE (pay and display car park). Open daily and all year round, disabled access, accessable by public transport. There is Visitor Centre and Cafe (both open from April to October).
Tel: 01803 606035 www.countryside-trust.org.uk

Battery Gardens

Fishcombe Road/North Furzeham Road

Not only does Battery Gardens boast one of the most panoramic views in the Bay, it is also a Scheduled Monument.

As far back as the 1780s - 1790s the area was used for militia training and the first record of guns goes back further to 1586. Most significantly it was World War II Coastal Defence Battery, with up to 250 soldiers based there. Around the British coastline 116 of these batteries excisted during the war and now only 7 remain, of which this is arguably the most important. Many of the structures and emplacements from this period are still in existence, as are a number of other features dating back to previous centuries.

Battery Gardens is not a cultivated park but more a natural landscape of trees, shrubs and grass. Many Firs and Scotch Pines were planted in 1938 and more trees were planted in the main body of the park just after the war in memory of loved ones. At the top of area of the grounds wild orchids and bluebells flourish.

The Gardens command some fantastic views across Torbay and are known as the "Grandstand of Torbay" due to it being a favourable location to watch nautical events such as Brixham's annual Heritage Trawler Race.

Positioned in the lower part of the Gardens you will find a museum which is currently open every Monday from 1.00pm - 5.00pm.

Admission FREE. Open daily, all year round, accessible by public transport, disabled access (limited) however a motorised wheelchair is available by arrangement with the museum.

Tel: 01803 855516. www.geocities.com/brixhambattery