Newton Abbott - places to visit?

The Cruisers

The Cruisers

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I know there are lots of things to do here. We are staying at Dornafield caravan site. Hiring a car for three days as I’m not able to walk far.
We have lots of brochures to look through - too many places to see in so few days.
What are your favourite places to visit near here - Newton Abbot. We can’t walk far so we have hired a car, we love views, quaint tea rooms, boat trips, NT places and little coastal harbours. I know there’s lots out there - I’m asking you guys as I’m beginning to lose the will to live with all the brochures spread out over the table. Any recommendations will be gratefully received - thank you. X
 
River Dart boat trip, Dartmouth steam railway, couple to go on with (y)
 
Cockington village. Large car park in the centre of the village. I can recommend the cream tea at the Weavers Cottage tea rooms. https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Resta...pe-Torquay_English_Riviera_Devon_England.html
If you want to visit the craft centre follow the signs for that to park as it’s a fair walk from the village centre. There’s a bigger tea room/ cafe with large garden and outside pianist ( might be weekends only) in the village centre plus a couple of gift shops.
National Trust Greenway was Agatha Christie’s home. You have to book parking online but there’s transport from the car park to the house.
Steam Railway from Paignton to Kingswear. You can buy a “ round robin” ticket, steam train both ways plus ferry across the Dart to Dartmouth or steam train- ferry- open top bus back to Paignton. Car park fairly close to steam train station.
Newton Abbot itself is a bit of a nonentity. Very small, unattractive town centre, not much else.
Boat from Torquay harbour to Brixham is very cheap, costs more to park your car. There are also various boat trips different times of day and evenings. Various trips up the Dart, too.
 
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You can get a cruise down the river from Totnes to Dartmouth and back. Agatha Whodunit's place, Greenway is NT. I've not been but probably worth a poke around. Blackpool Sands are private but entrance isn't much and it is one of the best beaches in the area. If you go on to Torcross you can see the Sherman tank dredged out of the sea and now a memorial to the US forces killed rehearsing for D Day there. Becky Falls on Dartmoor is attractive but walking required to reach it. Otherwise just drive through Dartmoor and stop at any of the villages. There's a zoo at Paignton.
Lunch at the Crabshell Inn in Kingsbridge overlooking the creek is highly recommend on a sunny day but go mid-week as it can get very busy. If you want beads and magic stones then Totnes is worth exploring, the entrance to the town should read "Totnes, twinned with Narnia". :)
 
DBK said:
You can get a cruise down the river from Totnes to Dartmouth and back. Agatha Whodunit's place, Greenway is NT. I've not been but probably worth a poke around. Blackpool Sands are private but entrance isn't much and it is one of the best beaches in the area. If you go on to Torcross you can see the Sherman tank dredged out of the sea and now a memorial to the US forces killed rehearsing for D Day there. Becky Falls on Dartmoor is attractive but walking required to reach it. Otherwise just drive through Dartmoor and stop at any of the villages. There's a zoo at Paignton.
Lunch at the Crabshell Inn in Kingsbridge overlooking the creek is highly recommend on a sunny day but go mid-week as it can get very busy. If you want beads and magic stones then Totnes is worth exploring, the entrance to the town should read "Totnes, twinned with Narnia". :)
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But the problem with Totnes/Narnia might be the hill if walking is a problem. I always forget you can get the boat in Totnes !

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And if it’s raining which it is now, Not too far from Dornafield is House of Marbles at Bovey Tracey should be quiet and they have a nice cafe and shiny things to look at. In Newton there are a few nice coffee shops and gentle retail therapy at Austin’s department store! Not far to walk and flat
 
We live near the Crabshell in Kingsbridge, its our local, had a drink there last week, 2 glasses of red wine, 2 pints of Thatchers £26.00, there's also a nice cruise from the quay on the River maid to Salcombe, check the times and tides.....got our granddaughter staying at the mo, just come back from the beach at Bigbury.
 
And, for retail therapy could I suggest Trago Mills, just off the \newton Abbot/Bovey Tracey Road and beside the A38.

Huge place. Sells everything from a needle to a haystack (and all things in between) and currently has Shell Diesel at £1.269
 
"
had a drink there last week, 2 glasses of red wine, 2 pints of Thatchers £26.00, "

HOW MUCH!!!:eek:

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Emmit said:
And, for retail therapy could I suggest Trago Mills, just off the \newton Abbot/Bovey Tracey Road and beside the A38.

Huge place. Sells everything from a needle to a haystack (and all things in between) and currently has Shell Diesel at £1.269
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Just been to Trago - now resting in a darkened room
 
Ah, Newton Abbot. I remember it well, happy times with lovely folk, many many moons ago...halcyon days.
 
Was going to be a big railway terminus by mr Brunel ? For the west . Newton by itself is grim
 
Hollyberry said:
It’s like falling into a parallel universe. It really is a very strange place.
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I had a Rep that called on me, he always said Trago was the place Moon Trogs went to shop ?
 
Forgot to add if you like steam trains there are two heritage lines in the area. The South Devon one runs from Totnes to Buckfastleigh but if you caught it at Buckfastleigh then you could visit Buckfast Abbey as well. The other runs between Dartmouth and Paignton.
 
DBK said:
Forgot to add if you like steam trains there are two heritage lines in the area. The South Devon one runs from Totnes to Buckfastleigh but if you caught it at Buckfastleigh then you could visit Buckfast Abbey as well. The other runs between Dartmouth and Paignton.
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Oh yes Buckie, the scourge of Scotland ;)I have tried it, kind of like Sanatogen for hipsters & alcoholics.
 
Teignmouth has a long, level promenade and a pier. Fish and chips from Finn McCool is highly recommended
 
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We've had the fair on the Kingsbridge quay car park last week, we went away, as we overlook the car park and it's really noisy, had the waltzer virtually outside our window.

I don't mind Trago at Christmas, I drag Barky Bill along, it's not too much for him to suffer, once a year? and I treat him to a full English brekkie, good value actually.

Hope the weather perks up as we want to take our granddaughter Millie to the beach at Salcombe on Thursday, she loves a beach picnic?

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Trago Mills and, Buckfast Abbey both worth a visit.
 
Echo the many good places to visit posted above. When the three day car hire ends if you are still staying at Dornafield and find walking difficult a tour around Dartmoor in the van by road is good proving you stay on the larger roads. Local to Haytor are many free carparks with excellent views over Dartmoor that we enjoy visiting and parking up for a few hours. Include a drive past Dartmoor prison in your travels to give you the creaps.
 
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pawwavingpuppy said:
We live near the Crabshell in Kingsbridge, its our local, had a drink there last week, 2 glasses of red wine, 2 pints of Thatchers £26.00, there's also a nice cruise from the quay on the River maid to Salcombe, check the times and tides.....got our granddaughter staying at the mo, just come back from the beach at Bigbury.
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I remember their wine prices when it was our local! We lived in Ebrington Street at Rooftops.
 
Thanks all for your replies. Will definitely try to visit as many of the places you’ve recommended.
Enterprise are bringing the car tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9 and they are collecting it from the site at 9 Friday morning. Cost £120 which includes all insurances etc. Not too bad for three days I thought?

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The Cruisers said:
Thanks all for your replies. Will definitely try to visit as many of the places you’ve recommended.
Enterprise are bringing the car tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9 and they are collecting it from the site at 9 Friday morning. Cost £120 which includes all insurances etc. Not too bad for three days I thought?
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Makes you wonder if this new fangled Uber thing is worth doing for circumstances like this. Depends upon the usage you get from your car, but might be worth further investigation.
 
Really interested in doing this, hope you do not mind me asking, did you book Enterprise through the CMS deaI or independently?I am struggling to lift the old chaps mobility scooter on & off the bike rack at the moment.Thought hiring a car might give my shoulder chance to heal.
 
suavecarve said:
Makes you wonder if this new fangled Uber thing is worth doing for circumstances like this. Depends upon the usage you get from your car, but might be worth further investigation.
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Don’t think Uber will have reached Devon yet, it’s a 21st century thing. :) There are “ Uber-like” apps that use local taxis though.
 

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