Take a gentle paddle from Meadfoot Beach to Torre Abbey Sands, appreciating a section of the English Riviera’s spectacular UNESCO Global Geopark with its amazing rock formations created over millions of years.
Distance: 2.5km
Time: 1-2 hours
Sat Nav: TQ1 2LH
What3Words: ///feared.during.hatch
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Torre Abbey Sands, in Torquay, in the English Riviera, is a location for the SUP World Cup and SUPER Festival, in June.
We explored a coastal trail to see what was on offer for visitors.
The English Riviera was designated a Geopark, in 2007, by UNESCO due to its unique and spectacular geology and natural environment.
You get to fully appreciate the amazing rock formations while paddling during this trail.
We set off from Meadfoot Beach where there’s public toilets and a cafe.
If you are planning to go ‘there and back’ to Torre Abbey Sands you can park at Meadfoot Beach Car Park (Daddyhole Rd, TQ1 2LH).
If you’re going one way, like we did, you can drop off your equipment at parking bays in Meadfoot Sea Road (///feared.during.hatch).
One of your party can then drive the car to Torquay ready for when you finish.
We left the car parked in Torbay Road (///sorters.bowls.waddle).
Back in Meadfoot, there are steps down to the beach so be careful as you carry your board or boat.
There’s a slipway nearby if you have mobility difficulties.
From the beach, we paddled out to sea before heading south along the coast.
You will see Thatcher Rock, a small island, to your left.
We paddled past Daddyhole Cove, another Geopark feature, which was formed when a chunk of limestone fell into the sea.
Daddy is an old Devon name for the Devil.
Although the sea was calm, we wore helmets on our trip as a precaution due to the rocky shore and outcrops.
Torbay was formed 7,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. The resulting rock formations are truly a wonder.
If you’re lucky with the tides you can paddle through London Bridge – a natural arch in the sea.
From there we paddled past Triangle Point. Its flat surface is apparently covered with fossils that are 400 million-years-old.
We passed Saddle Rock, with Peaked Tor Cove just beyond – a beach you can rest or have a picnic at if the tide is out.
You can also stop at Beacon Cove further along the coast.
As you continue you will see the former Living Coasts zoo on Torquay’s Beacon Terrace.
The site, which once housed penguins, closed during Covid and now is the home of Arc Marine – a marine restoration centre.
Follow Haldon Pier’s wall and then be careful in passing the entrance to the harbour, before arriving at the beach in Torre Abbey Sands.
This is a truly beautiful and awe inspiring paddle taking in the wonder of the English Riviera’s Geopark.
