A hidden gem in the heart of Torbay

The manor of Cockington grew up during the Saxon era, and the magnificent Cockington Court you see today at the end of the wide lawn was built the 17 th century and is set in 460 acres of parkland, woodland and farmland, where cricket is played on the lawn during the summer and horse drawn carriages take visitors around the park and collect many a happy couple after their wedding ceremony.

You could easily spend a day wandering round the grounds and house, with its craft workshops both inside and in the courtyard, or sit in the historic Rose Garden and learn about the different plants in the Organic Kitchen Garden. See a potter at work, watch wood turning, glass blowing, and a traditional blacksmith. Try exploring Conqueror Wood and discover the green burial site, the hidden lakes and the old gamekeeper’s cottage. Stop for an ice-cream or tea in the thatched village of Cockington, perhaps Britain’s first purpose-built village, created by the Reverend Roger Mallock in the 18 th century. Enjoy a glass of wine or a pint while the children play on the lawn outside the Drum Inn, which is open even on Christmas Day.

For the tenth year running, Cockington has won the Green Flag Award, and is one of five parks in the UK to receive this. A bid is also being put forward with other geological sites in the Bay for European Geopark Status.

A recent addition is the Ark Play Area just behind the manor house, which has a see-saw type water pump, a collapsing bridge, and hammock type swings and slides. Stop for morning coffee, lunch, a cream tea or pre-theatre supper at Creations café. All food is locally sourced such as organic bread, from the Occombe bakery.

Occombe Farm, just a mile away from Cockington, near the A380 ring road, is a fully working organic 150-acre farm with all profits being used to support conservation work in Torbay. The farm comprises a mixture of pasture, wet meadows and woodland and has been designated a site of Special Scientific Interest housing protected species. The farm shop is open seven days a week and sells a wide range of organic food, from fresh fruit and vegetables, bread from the Occombe bakery to local meat – some from the farm itself – and home-made pasties, quiches and sausages rolls. Weekend events at the farm are free, and one to watch out for is the Occombe Beer Festival on 8-9 June.

The fortnightly farmers market on the first and third Wednesdays of every month, from 10.30am to 2.30pm, sees local farmers and producers selling a wide range of produce such as free range meat, sausages and burgers, pasties and pies, pâtés, bread, cheese, chutneys and jams.

Children can learn about the popular Devon pastime of letterboxing, first started on Dartmoor in Victorian times, when people would leave clues in special letterboxes for others to find. The Occombe clues are wildlife stamps hidden in wooden boxes which you collect on a special card costing 50p from the farm shop.

TCCT’s other farm is at Maidencombe, just north of Torquay, home of the rare Cirl Bunting, which you might spot on one of the organised walks. You can park at Maidencombe hamlet and explore the network of footpaths, marvelling at the dramatic coastline with its sheer drop cliffs, all just a few miles from the more tranquil Torquay harbour. A walks leaflet is available.

Besides Occombe and Maidencombe, TCCT organises a host of other events throughout the Bay, many free of charge. The Seashore Centre at Paignton is especially popular with children, as are the evening adventure walks such as bat spotting. On some of the voluntary days you could learn how to repair stone pillars with traditional lime mortar, dry stone walling or how to mulch your garden ready for the winter. Indoors you can make jam, cosmetics and even a didjerido.

Log onto the website www.countryside-trust.org.uk to find out more about TCCT. You’ll be surprised how much there is to do.

There is a leaflet in each property giving you the chance to donate to the TCCT for its valuable coastal work.