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Brixham has a fascinating maritime history stretching back a thousand years and more.
The ancient Britons may have launched their coracles from the sheltered beaches and the Romans are thought to have had a watch-tower on Berry Head overlooking the sea route from Lyme Bay to the Southwest.
There are many thrilling stories of smuggling in Brixham with evidence as early as 1645 when the Customs House Officer reported a find of tobacco.
In the 1850s Brixham's enterprising smugglers took advantage of a cholera epidemic to smuggle out a booty of tobacco and brandy in coffins!
Fishing since Medieval times! It is fishing, however, that has been the lifeblood of the community since medieval times and Brixham fishermen were known to be supplying the London markets in the 18th century.
In 1688, Brixham was the cradle of the Bloodless Revolution. Prince William of Orange landed at the port and went on to claim the throne as King William III. See if you can spot the statue near the Tourist Information Centre which commemorates the site in both English and Dutch.
Roman artefacts found at Berry Head suggest a long history of sea defence on the headland, but the first evidence of a battery and camp on the site dates from the 1780s. In 1803 work on three substantial forts began, which held a total of 40 canons - interestingly, these were never fired in anger. Many of the remains of these Napoleonic fortifications can be seen today and the guardhouse is now a busy café.
In the World War years many Brixham trawlers were requisitioned for the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from France and in 1944 the harbour was one of many along the south coast to be used by the US Army for embarking prior to the invasion of Normandy. The town's Battery Gardens were an important part of the area's coastal defences and housed guns manned first by troops but subsequently taken over by the Home Guard.
Of the 116 of these emergency sites set up during the war years, only 7 remain today and Brixham is the most important and well preserved of these. In March 2002 this Battery the site became a scheduled monument Class 1. A volunteer group preserve the Battery and run an interesting war-time visitor centre at Fishcombe Road.
Famous for its long, sandy beaches, paddler-friendly waters and a colourful, bustling pier, Paignton remains a popular, traditional seaside resort.
The lively seafront of Paignton, Devon, and that of nearby Goodrington, offer a host of attractions from the waterslides of Quaywest to crazy golf on Paignton Green.
Paignton hotels offer easy access to the beach with facilities to suit all tastes.
During the summer months you will find the area hosts many festivals and fairs, in addition to the many yearly exhibitions and events which are held on the green.
If you crave peace and relaxation, you can pick a spot on one of the secluded beaches, inlets and coves that stretch along the coast towards Brixham.
Away from the shores, there's no shortage of things to do and visitors are spoilt for choice.
Take the steam train along the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway to Kingswear, visit the endangered species at Paignton Zoo, or indulge in some history at the 500 year old Kirkham House or at Oldway Mansion, once home of Isaac Singer of Singer sewing machine fame.