Teignmouth

The quintessential Devon resort town, Teignmouth will lay claim to your affections the minute you arrive. Most of its history is wrapped up with its harbour, with fishing, and with clay from up the valley at Bovey Tracey. Since Georgian and Regency times Teignmouth has been attracting visitors to its wide beaches and amenable climate, and this has shaped the greater part of what Teignmouth is today. The seafront is much as your great grandparents would have enjoyed it, save for the recent addition of a popular £400,000 children's play area, new adventure golf course and multi use games area. The town near the seafront is predominantly Regency and Victorian in style. The story of Teignmouth and Shaldon's life and times are on view in an excellent local museum on French Street.

As well as playing host to many visitors each year, Teignmouth retains its commercial port resources, and thereby keeps an interest in other sectors of the economy, which adds a vitality to its everyday life, to the great benefit of locals and visitors alike.

The shopping area, which is almost all between the A379 and the seafront, is comprehensive and interesting - many national stores are there as well as some diverting local speciality shops. Plenty of places to eat and drink too, particularly on Back Beach - facing the Estuary, which you can cross by ferry to Shaldon. For longer boat trips try Riviera Cruises.

Local visits should include: Shaldon Wildlife Trust, Bitton House Orangery, the 'Jolly Sailor' pub in Northumberland Place (sole surviving building in this part of town from a French raid in 1690), the Grand Pier (completed in 1867), or the Lido.

The Riviera (restored in 2006) or the Carlton Theatre are on hand for film and theatre entertainment, and Broadmeadow Sports Centre, Shaldon Approach Golf Centre or walking the Templer Way will keep you fit.

The Tourist Information Centres have a wealth of additional information.