A Day in Brixham: What to Do, Where to Eat, and Why the Harbour Is the Place to Start

Brixham sits at the southern tip of Torbay, and it has a different character to Torquay and Paignton — quieter, more working, more honest about what it is. A fishing town that has been catching fish and selling it for centuries, and that wears its heritage without too much effort.
If you’re visiting South Devon and haven’t spent a proper day in Brixham, it’s worth making the detour.

The Harbour First

Start at the harbour. Brixham’s inner harbour is one of the best in Devon — practical and commercial rather than prettified, with fishing vessels coming and going throughout the day and a fish market that’s been running for over a century.
The replica of the Golden Hind is moored here — Francis Drake’s ship, in the vessel that circumnavigated the globe. It’s smaller than most people expect, which makes the voyage even more remarkable. Worth a visit, particularly if you’re with children.

Walk the Berry Head

Berry Head National Nature Reserve sits at the eastern point of Brixham and offers some of the most dramatic coastal walking in Devon. The headland has the highest cliffs on the English Riviera, a Napoleonic fort, and a lighthouse that is reputedly the smallest in England.
The guillemot colony on the cliffs below is one of the largest in southern England. In spring and summer, the cacophony of nesting seabirds is quite something — and the views across Torbay on a clear day are exceptional.

Fish and Chips When Hunger Strikes

You’ve walked the headland. You’ve had a pint in one of the harbourside pubs. Now you want food, and you want the thing that Brixham does best.
Fishionados is on Summercourt Way — a short drive from the harbour, or a reasonable walk — and we’re open Wednesday through Sunday from late afternoon. Fresh fish, proper batter, decent chips, and a menu that has something for everyone in the group who doesn’t want fish.
It’s Brixham. The fish is good here. Come and try it.