Torbay

Torbay is an east facing bay at the western most end of Lyme Bay in the south west of England, situated roughly midway between the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. Historically part of the county of Devon, situated in the south, Torbay was made a unitary authority on April 1, 1998.

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There are three main towns around the bay: Torquay in the North, Paignton in the centre, and Brixham in the south, which have mostly grown together over the last fifty years, swallowing up villages and towns such as St Marychurch, Cockington, Marldon and Galmpton.

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Torbay as an administrative area was created in 1968 as a County Borough from the amalgamation of the Boroughs of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Although today this seems a logical choice, at the time nearby Teignmouth nearly joined in place of Paignton. In 1974 The town was swallowed back into Devon.

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The northern limit of the bay is Hopes Nose and the south is Berry Head, although the town stretches further north and into Babbacombe Bay, where the popular beaches at Oddicombe and Babbacombe can be found. These are noted for their interesting Breccia cliffs.

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Despite (or rather in spite of) the climate conditions "palm trees" are commonly planted along the coast of Torbay. The Torbay Palm is actually a Yucca Tree. This has led to the area being known as the English Riviera. In fact, it is one of the most well known tourist resorts in Britain. The area is also host to a large number of European students learning every summer.

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Famous former residents of Torbay include authors Agatha Christie (who set many of her novels in a thinly disguised version of the town), Charles Kingsley and Rudyard Kipling, the great industrialist and architect of the nearby Atmospheric Railway, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and (allegedly) Barry Manilow. Prog band Wishbone Ash also hail from the town.

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Torbay lacks motorway links and is served by the A380 road from Exeter and a branch rail line from the Great Western Railway at Newton Abbot.

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Torbay is bordered to the south and west by the South Hams and to the north by Teignbridge. Nearby towns include Totnes, Newton Abbot, Teignmouth and Exeter.

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Lyme Bay: Lyme Bay is an area of the English Channel situated in the southwest of England between Torbay in the west and Portland in the east. The counties of Devon and Dorset are on the bay....

England: :For an explanation of often confusing terms like England, (Great) Britain and United Kingdom see British Isles (terminology)....

Exeter: The city of Exeter is the county town of Devon, in England, UK. It is located at . In the 2001 census its population was recorded at 111,066. The city's motto, Semper fidelis, was suggested by Elizabeth I....

Torbay related Images and Photos (experimental)

The Spanish Armada Drake Tows the Captured "Capitana" into Torbay