Paul Heinrich / Alamy
ABOVE: Visiting
yachts are
encouraged to use
the eco-friendly
mooring buoy at
Fishcombe Cove
to try and protect
the seagrass bedsBELOW: Brixham
has a warren of
charming streets
to exploreCentury for Lord Churston when bathing in seawater
became fashionable. This bay also has links to Agatha
Christie, who used to come here from the nearby
Greenway Estate. She also wrote about it in one of her
novels. The cove is close to the designated waterski
area and we had to wind our way in to avoid the many
buoys that mark the course. Finding it at a less busy
time and in calm weather, it was worth navigating the
obstacles for a peaceful, pretty place to lie at anchor.
From either of these coves, you can land on the
beach and join the coastal path, as long as you don’t
mind leaving the tender or getting your feet wet.
A short walk from here through the woods and fi elds
takes you to Broadsands. Living
up to its name, it’s an expanse
of sand at low tide, with row
upon row of coloured beach
huts. On our way there, the
Dartmouth steam train climbed
the far hill over the bay, steam
pouring from its chimney
and whistling as it crossed the
viaduct on its way to Kingswear.It’s easy to fi ll a few days in Brixham and there
is plenty to see. Even as we left Tor Bay, we were
followed out by the Nao Victoria. A 20m-long
carrack, this is a replica of Magellan’s ship, the fi rst
vessel to circumnavigate the globe in 1522. It was
lovely to watch her against a backdrop of Berry Head
as we continued to our next destination, Dartmouth.In the early season you will have Fishcombe Cove much
to yourself, aside from a few seals that pop their heads out
Colin Cadie Photography / Alamy
James Dale / Alamy
A LONG WEEKEND
When sailors see the white
lighthouse at the end of
Brixham’s breakwater, they
know to slow to 5 knotsBrixham’s breakwater should
be given a wide berth on
approach as fishing boats
can emerge from behind it