Notes from the host
Harbour Breeze
For a real taste of life by the water, head to Harbour Breeze. This light and airy modern two-bedroom apartment is in the heart of Torquay Harbour, offering stunning sea views from its balcony and hot tub. Once you’ve sampled the hustle and bustle of Torquay’s best bars, clubs and restaurants, return to your calm sanctuary to relax. We require guests to fill the hot tub on arrival and self manage thereafter with the appropriate spa chemicals provided. No stag or hen parties please.
If you are searching for adventure by day, excitement by night and a calming haven to return to, Harbour Breeze ticks all the boxes. It’s the perfect pad for a couple or family to use as a base to explore the area, with all the home-from-home comforts you’d expect packaged up in a chic little apartment.
Torquay Harbour is on the fringe of the town centre, so it’s just a hop, skip and a jump away from an array of continental-style cafes, restaurants and cocktail bars. In summer, Haldon Pier comes alive with an eclectic mix of summer events as well as sailing, fishing and wildlife safari boat trips and river cruises. Lose yourself in a plethora of excellent shops and art galleries around the harbour area. Torquay is also a gateway for walks in the Devon countryside and the South West Coast Path.
This beautiful contemporary apartment is all cool muted greys and neutrals for a stylish and chic Devon stay. Plenty of pretty rugs and throws in sea colours add texture and comfort and you’ll want nothing more than to relax on one of sumptuous armchairs with a glass of something cold after a long day exploring. The open-plan kitchen-dining area is the epitome of modern living – after tasting some of the delicious local delicacies, relax in front of the smart TV or with the papers. Enjoy your morning coffee while gazing out over Torquay Harbour’s yachts from the pretty balcony, or submerged in the relaxation of your own private hot tub. Two comfy double bedrooms, each with gorgeous en suite bathrooms with walk-in shower, basin and WC, have all your home comforts with a high-end hotel feel. Harbour Breeze really is the perfect place to recharge your batteries while exploring the English Riviera.
As this property is not situated on ground floor and is accessed by a number of steps, the Harbour Breeze is sadly not suitable for those with additional mobility needs.
Harbour Breeze is professionally managed by Fresh Escapes. A Devon based privately owned Vacation Rental and Management company who are here to ensure your stay runs as smoothly as possible.
Step out of Harbour Breeze into the perfect holiday scene. Listen to the clink of yachts, the call of seagulls and breathe in that fresh sea air. You’re in Torquay Harbour, a lovely marina in the heart of Torquay and packed with boats and boutiques. Here you’ll find designer labels rubbing shoulders with seafaring brands. Head to Princess Pier for views across Torre Abbey Sands, Corbyn’s Head, Livermead Head, Paignton and beyond. Restaurants to suit all pockets surround the harbour, from locally sourced fish and chips to Michelin-starred dining.
Head into Torquay proper to experience a sophisticated and stylish resort with a real continental atmosphere that knows how to cater for everyone’s tastes. For watersports, fishing and sailing, Torquay has a fabulous choice of beaches, while the evenings provide fine dining, theatre, cinema and star-studded shows for all the family.
Torquay restaurants bring out the West Country flavour in a diverse range of cuisine, from award-winning fish and chips to internationally inspired gastronomy. On Harbour Breeze’s doorstep, overlooking the inner harbour, is Rockfish on 20 Victoria Parade, serving contemporary seafood as well as traditional fish and chips. For that Michelin star, head to The Elephant on Beacon Hill. You can find high-quality fillet steaks at the Orange Tree, just a few steps from the harbour. Hit Ephesus, a fabulous Turkish/Greek restaurant in town, for great food and a party atmosphere.
It wouldn’t be a true seaside escape if you didn’t venture out on the water. The harbour offers passenger ferries to Paignton, Brixham and Dartmouth, plus fishing and wildlife safari boat trips. Enjoy long leisurely strolls along the historic pier and promenade and take in the relaxed atmosphere. Walkers will love the beautiful South West Coast Path, which will take you right around the bay to Paignton and Brixham. Try the pleasant circular amble from Kents Cavern in Torquay through woodland to Meadfoot Beach, where you can enjoy some superb coastal views. After another stretch of woods you join the coastal path to spectacular Anstey's Cove, before a short walk back to Torquay.
Torquay has some of Devon’s best attractions including the 800-year-old Torre Abbey with its Agatha Christie-inspired Potent Plants Garden and Babbacombe Model Village. The quirky Real Crime Museum is just next door to Harbour Breeze on Victoria Parade – head here for a fascinating mix of gangster and heist exhibits. Go back in time along Cockington’s narrow lanes, a charming village lined with thatched houses that date back to the 16th century. You can also walk the Agatha Christie mile and discover some of the murder scenes described in her novels. Take the picturesque steam train to Kingswear and jump aboard a riverboat up the Dart to visit her magnificent riverside residence at Greenway, run by the National Trust.
There is on-road parking, which is free in certain places, as well as a variety of local car parks just a short walk away. Torquay benefits from a comprehensive bus network that will take you to many of the destinations and attractions in the area. Stagecoach South West and Torbay Buses offer great services covering the English Riviera. The coastal Riviera Line is a fabulous and easy way to visit seaside beauty spots Dawlish, Teignmouth and Paignton, and see the Exe Estuary and some amazing coastal views by train. There are taxi ranks located immediately outside the coach and railway stations throughout the English Riviera. Torbay Taxis offer a service 365 days a year with six-, seven- and eight-seater vehicles.
There is one other apartment below Harbour Breeze called The Moorings that is very similar in design that also accommodates up to four guests also with its own private terrace and Harbour views.
