Torquay’s biggest
Manor Gardens
Park or garden
18 ha (45 acres)3.2 km of path
45 minto walk all 3.2 km of path
26 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.4 mi south-eastfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Photo: Derek Harper · CC BY-SA 2.0B+Outdoors Grade
Outdoors in Torquay · parks, paths & countryside
Torquay is on the coast, on the South West Coast Path
The sea makes up 48% of the area within 5 km. The South Devon National Landscape begins 3.5 mi from the town’s edge. Parks and playing fields in Torquay add up to 1.8 ha for every 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1. Torquay grades B+ for the outdoors: #18 of 47 in Devon. A character grade: it isn’t part of the overall grade.
Green space
1.8 ha
per 1,000 residents
Typical UK town 2.1
Near a park
87%
of residents within 400 m
Typical UK town 83%
Footpaths
118 km
2.9 km per km², town + 1 km
Typical UK town 3.0 per km²
Protected landscape
0%
of the land within 5 km
South Devon starts 3.5 mi out, past the 5 km
The sea
48%
of the area within 5 km
A coastal town
Character
What kind of outdoors town is Torquay?
Read from the data: what stands out first, good and bad.
On the coast48% of the area within 5 km is sea; 58 beaches mapped.Hills with a view24 mapped viewpoints, about 13× as many per resident as the typical town its size.Countryside close byThe South Devon National Landscape starts 3.5 mi south.Less park per person1.8 ha of parks and playing fields per 1,000 residents; the typical UK town has 2.1.
Torquay’s strongest suit is the sea, followed by its views. Where it falls short is park space per person.
Outdoors grade
Torquay grades B+ for the outdoors
Each chart is every UK town of 1,000 or more on one measure: the green bar is Torquay, the dashed line the typical town. The number is the share of towns it beats; the five are averaged and the average ranked again.
B+
Better than 68% of UK towns#18 of 47 in Devon · 23rd of 60 UK towns its size
Public green space1.8 haper 1,000 residents: parks, gardens, playing fields, play spaces
37out of
100
100
A park within a walk87%of residents within 400 m (a 5-minute walk)
61out of
100
100
National Park or National Landscape0%of the land within 5 km · South Devon begins just past 5 km
31out of
100
100
Footpaths2.9 kmper km², the town and 1 km around it
57out of
100
100
The sea48%of the area within 5 km
99out of
100
100
Graded, never part of the overall grade (like History and Civic life). It measures what is mapped: OS Open Greenspace leaves out woodland and open-access land that isn’t a park, and OpenStreetMap’s rural paths are more complete in some places than others.
Towns its size
Torquay is 23rd of 60 UK towns its size for the outdoors
The 60 UK towns and cities of 45,100 to 60,000 people with an Outdoors Grade. Hover a dot for its figures; tap one for its page.
Outdoors score: the share of UK towns each one beats
Footpath, km per km²
Torquay2.9
Towns its size3.5
Devon towns1.8
All UK towns3.0
Green space, ha per 1,000 residents
Torquay1.8
Towns its size2.4
Devon towns1.9
All UK towns2.1
Residents within 400 m of a park
Torquay87%
Towns its size84%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%
Torquay falls furthest behind on park space per resident, where 49 of the 59 others do better.
Show as a table
| Town | Outdoors | Green space | Near a park | Path per km² | Protected | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Folkestone Kent | A+ | 2.3 | 95% | 4.9 | 45% |
| 2 | Havant Hampshire | A+ | 3.6 | 84% | 5.8 | 30% |
| 3 | Lancaster Lancashire | A+ | 2.4 | 96% | 3.5 | 22% |
| 4 | Scarborough North Yorkshire | A | 2.4 | 86% | 3.1 | 17% |
| 5 | Andover Hampshire | A | 2.7 | 91% | 4.4 | 21% |
| 6 | Gravesend Kent | A | 1.4 | 84% | 6.4 | 14% |
| 7 | Salisbury Wiltshire | A | 2.7 | 94% | 3.9 | 22% |
| 8 | Barry South Glamorgan | A | 2.9 | 94% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 9 | Weymouth Dorset | A | 2.6 | 55% | 3.5 | 35% |
| 10 | Wallsend Tyne and Wear | A | 6 | 93% | 5.7 | 0% |
| 11 | Sittingbourne Kent | A | 1.9 | 93% | 2.8 | 17% |
| 12 | Banbury Oxfordshire | A | 2.6 | 96% | 4.1 | 0% |
| 13 | Eastleigh Hampshire | A− | 3 | 76% | 4.9 | 17% |
| 14 | Christchurch Dorset | A− | 2.1 | 70% | 3.3 | 14% |
| 15 | Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent | A− | 2.2 | 93% | 2.7 | 73% |
| 16 | Crosby Merseyside | A− | 4.6 | 89% | 2.3 | 0% |
| 17 | Washington Tyne and Wear | A− | 4.5 | 90% | 4 | 0% |
| 18 | Ashton-under-Lyne Greater Manchester | A− | 3.1 | 85% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 19 | Carlton Nottinghamshire | B+ | 4.9 | 82% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 20 | Bootle Merseyside | B+ | 2.1 | 93% | 2.7 | 0% |
| 21 | Canterbury Kent | B+ | 1.6 | 77% | 5.7 | 19% |
| 22 | West Molesey Surrey | B+ | 4.4 | 80% | 4.4 | 0% |
| 23 | Torquay Devon | B+ | 1.8 | 87% | 2.9 | 0% |
| 24 | Thundersley and South Benfleet Essex | B+ | 3.2 | 69% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 25 | Bridgwater Somerset | B+ | 1.9 | 86% | 3.7 | 2% |
| 26 | Yeovil Somerset | B+ | 2 | 90% | 3.2 | 2% |
| 27 | Bebington Merseyside | B+ | 3 | 86% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 28 | Royal Leamington Spa Warwickshire | B+ | 2.7 | 91% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 29 | Huyton with Roby Merseyside | B+ | 3.7 | 89% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 30 | Cwmbrân Gwent | B+ | 2.1 | 84% | 3.7 | 1% |
| 31 | Middleton Greater Manchester | B+ | 3.5 | 80% | 4.2 | 0% |
| 32 | Wokingham Berkshire | B | 4 | 84% | 3.5 | 0% |
| 33 | Horsham West Sussex | B | 1.5 | 83% | 3.9 | 19% |
| 34 | Widnes Cheshire | B | 3 | 86% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 35 | Leigh Greater Manchester | B | 5.3 | 77% | 3.8 | 0% |
| 36 | Beeston Nottinghamshire | B | 2.7 | 77% | 6 | 0% |
| 37 | Barrow-in-Furness Cumbria | B | 2 | 91% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 38 | Macclesfield Cheshire | B | 1.8 | 80% | 3.3 | 18% |
| 39 | Winchester Hampshire | B | 1.2 | 79% | 3.8 | 35% |
| 40 | Altrincham Greater Manchester | B | 2.2 | 91% | 3.6 | 0% |
| 41 | Welwyn Garden City Hertfordshire | B | 2.2 | 80% | 4.9 | 0% |
| 42 | Castleford West Yorkshire | B | 2.3 | 92% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 43 | Brentwood Essex | B− | 3.9 | 69% | 3.7 | 0% |
| 44 | Bloxwich West Midlands | B− | 3.6 | 74% | 3.4 | 0% |
| 45 | Oldbury West Midlands | B− | 3 | 68% | 4.3 | 0% |
| 46 | Tipton West Midlands | B− | 1.9 | 79% | 4.5 | 0% |
| 47 | Smethwick West Midlands | C+ | 2 | 88% | 3.1 | 0% |
| 48 | Hinckley Leicestershire | C+ | 1.8 | 87% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 49 | Wellingborough Northamptonshire | C+ | 2.7 | 95% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 50 | Willenhall West Midlands | C+ | 3.4 | 66% | 3 | 0% |
| 51 | Kingswinford West Midlands | C+ | 2.6 | 71% | 3.2 | 0% |
| 52 | King's Lynn Norfolk | C+ | 1.3 | 80% | 2.2 | 23% |
| 53 | Clacton-on-Sea Essex | C | 1.7 | 73% | 1.9 | 0% |
| 54 | Kirkby Merseyside | C | 2.2 | 87% | 2.2 | 0% |
| 55 | Durham County Durham | C | 1.1 | 68% | 6 | 0% |
| 56 | Stourbridge West Midlands | C | 1.9 | 72% | 3 | 0% |
| 57 | Keighley West Yorkshire | C | 1.6 | 73% | 3.3 | 0% |
| 58 | Boston Lincolnshire | C− | 2.1 | 78% | 2.1 | 0% |
| 59 | Kidderminster Worcestershire | D | 1.2 | 72% | 2.6 | 0% |
| 60 | Bridgend Mid Glamorgan | D | 0.9 | 78% | 2 | 0% |
The map
Parks, footpaths & countryside
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it. The dashed line is Torquay’s built-up area.
Green space: parks, gardens, playing fields and play spaces, named or not.© OpenStreetMap contributors · Contains OS data © Crown copyright · Natural England / NRW
Places to walk
Parks to walk in, in and around Torquay
The biggest is Manor Gardens, 18 ha (45 acres). Directions go to the park’s nearest public entrance where Ordnance Survey maps one.
All 28 named parks by size: 61 ha (152 acres) and 13 km of path
Parks & gardens 47 haPlaying fields 14 ha
The biggest is Manor Gardens, 18 ha (45 acres); no single park dominates. 18 of the 28 are under 2 ha: small gardens, play spaces and pitches.
Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds
Park or garden
3.6 ha (9 acres)1.4 km of path
20 minto walk all 1.4 km of path
5 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.8 mi westfrom the centre
St Michael's Chapel, Chapel Hill monument +1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Princess Gardens
Park or garden
2.2 ha (5 acres)1.3 km of path
15 minto walk all 1.3 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.2 mi southfrom the centre
3 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Abbey Park
Park or garden
3.1 ha (8 acres)0.6 km of path
10 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1 mi southfrom the centre
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Torre Abbey Meadows
Park or garden
2.8 ha (7 acres)0.4 km of path
4 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
1.1 mi south-westfrom the centre
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Cary Park
Park or garden
2.3 ha (6 acres)0.6 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Torquay
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Cary Park
Park or garden
2.3 ha (6 acres)0.6 km of path
5 minto walk all 0.6 km of path
3 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
Centralin the middle of Torquay
Directionsto the nearest entrance
Barton Downs
Playing field
4.6 ha (11 acres)0.2 km of path
6 pitchesfootball pitches would fit
0.6 mi north-westfrom the centre
1 listed
Directionsto the nearest entrance
All 28 named parks and green spaces
Manor GardensPark or garden · 18 ha · 3.2 km of path
DirectionsChapel Hill Pleasure GroundsPark or garden · 3.6 ha · 1.4 km of path
DirectionsPrincess GardensPark or garden · 2.2 ha · 1.3 km of path
DirectionsAbbey ParkPark or garden · 3.1 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsTorre Abbey MeadowsPark or garden · 2.8 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsCary ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsCary ParkPark or garden · 2.3 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsBarton DownsPlaying field · 4.6 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsKing George V Playing FieldPlaying field · 5.0 ha
DirectionsLindisfarnePark or garden · 1.9 ha · 0.4 km of path
DirectionsTorwood GardensPark or garden · 1.2 ha · 0.7 km of path
DirectionsThe King's GardensPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.9 km of path
DirectionsRoyal Terrace GardensPark or garden · 1.4 ha · 0.5 km of path
DirectionsThe DownsPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.6 km of path
DirectionsDaddyhole PlainPark or garden · 1.7 ha · 0.2 km of path
DirectionsSherwell ParkPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.4 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsTessier GardensPark or garden · 1.0 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsStoodley Knowle Playing FieldPlaying field · 1.8 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTorre Valley North Playing FieldPlaying field · 2.4 ha
DirectionsLower Ellacombe ParkPark or garden · 0.8 ha · 0.3 km of path
DirectionsTwo ParksPark or garden · 0.4 ha · 0.2 km of path · just outside town
DirectionsEllacombe GreenPlaying field · 0.6 ha
DirectionsCary GreenPark or garden · 0.2 ha · 0.1 km of path
DirectionsAshfield GardensPark or garden · 0.3 ha · just outside town
DirectionsBelmont ParkPark or garden · 0.2 ha
DirectionsCastle GardensPark or garden · 0.1 ha
DirectionsThe Rose GardenPark or garden · 0.1 ha
DirectionsWellswood ParkPark or garden · 0.1 ha
DirectionsClose to home
9 in 10 Torquay residents live within a 5-minute walk of a park
Each square is 1 in 100 residents: green lives within 400 m of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace).
Within 400 m (87%)Further (13%)
Torquay87%
Towns its size84%
Devon towns84%
All UK towns83%
About 7,000 people live further than that. Playing fields count, so a park within reach isn’t always one with paths or trees; 45 playgrounds are mapped in and around the town, about one for every 1,156 residents.
National Parks & National Landscapes
The South Devon National Landscape is 3.5 mi away
Protected landscapes within 30 km, by direction and distance from the edge of the built-up area; circle size shows each one’s area. National Landscapes were called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty until 2023.
National ParkNational LandscapeThe 5 km the grade counts
Protected landscape begins just outside the 5 km ring the Outdoors Grade measures, so Torquay scores 0% on it even though the South Devon National Landscape is 3.5 mi away. Dartmoor National Park covers 956 km² and has been a National Park since 1951.
Footpaths & waymarked walks
Torquay is on the South West Coast Path
118 km of footpaths, bridleways and rights of way are mapped in Torquay and the kilometre around it, 2.9 km for every square kilometre (the typical UK town has 3.0). Bars show each route’s kilometres within 2 km of the town.
NationalRegionalLocal
John Musgrave Heritage Trail18.6 km
South West Coast Path (Section 42: Brixham to Babbacombe)12.3 km
South West Coast Path (Section 43: Babbacombe to Exmouth)7.4 km
Torbay Totnes Trail (3T)3.6 km
Torquay Harbour Trail2.3 km
The South West Coast Path, a national route, passes Torquay. The regional route here is the John Musgrave Heritage Trail.
Waymarked walks are OpenStreetMap walking routes. Public rights of way are only as complete as the map in each area.
History along the way
3 historic parks, and what stands in them
Historic England’s register of parks and gardens, and the listed buildings and scheduled monuments that stand inside Torquay’s named parks.
Registered park · Grade II
Royal Terrace Gardens
1.4 ha. Part of Princess Gardens and Royal Terrace Gardens, a registered historic park (Grade II). 1 listed structure stands inside it or at its edge.
IIThe Old Toll House at Sx 9132 6371
Registered · Grade IICastle Tor0.5 ha
Registered · Grade IIWatcombe Park and Brunel Manor12 ha
Listed buildings insideChapel Hill Pleasure GroundsSt Michael's Chapel, Chapel Hill and Chapel of St Michael
Listed buildings insidePrincess GardensFountain in Princess Gardens, Torquay Pavilion and War Memorial in Princess Gardens
Listed buildings insideCastle GardensGarden Walls and Gate Piers to Nos 12 to 30 and 15, Castle Road
Heritage walks
John Musgrave Heritage Trail 18.6 km
A listed building or monument counts when it sits inside the park’s OS Open Greenspace outline (to about 15 m), so a few at the boundary are included. Historic England, National Heritage List for England.
When to get out
The best walking months in Torquay: May to September
The town’s 1991–2020 averages (Met Office HadUK-Grid) and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have 12½+ hours of daylight, highs of 15 °C or more and little rain for the town.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.5 | 10.0 | 11.7 | 13.7 | 15.4 | 16.4 | 16.0 | 14.5 | 12.5 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| High (°C) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Rain (mm) | 114 | 84 | 75 | 62 | 55 | 60 | 51 | 66 | 65 | 113 | 117 | 119 |
July is the driest month (51 mm) and the warmest (highs of 21 °C). Winter days are short, about 8 hours of daylight in December, and 119 mm of rain falls in December, the wettest month. Frost comes on about 12 nights a year. The climate in Torquay →
The coast
The coast and beaches near Torquay
48% of the area within 5 km of Torquay is sea. 58 beaches are mapped within 5 km, 27 with a name.
Beacon Cove0.0 mi from town
DirectionsBabbacombe Beach0.0 mi from town
DirectionsTorre Abbey Sands0.0 mi from town
DirectionsMeadfoot Beach0.0 mi from town
DirectionsMaidencombe Beach0.0 mi from town
DirectionsCorbyn Beach0.1 mi from town
DirectionsRedgate Beach0.1 mi from town
DirectionsOddicombe Beach0.1 mi from town
DirectionsPetit Tor Beach0.2 mi from town
DirectionsWhitsand Beach0.2 mi from town
DirectionsWatcombe Beach0.2 mi from town
DirectionsLivermead Beach0.3 mi from town
DirectionsThe South West Coast Path passes the town.
Sea: the area outside the ONS coastline (mean high water). Bathing water quality is published by the Environment Agency (England) and Natural Resources Wales; check it before swimming.
Things to do
24 viewpoints and 45 playgrounds
Mapped within 2 km of the town in OpenStreetMap, against the typical UK town its size per resident. Named places are listed with directions; unnamed ones are only counted.
24Viewpoints12.8× towns its size12Hills and peaks6.3× towns its size1Waterfalls2Nature reserves2Picnic sites45Playgroundsabout the same as towns its size1Campsites4Slipways
Every named place, with directions
Viewpoints 24
Land's End0.0 mi from town
DirectionsHopes Nose Fishing0.3 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 22 viewpoints without a name on the map.
Hills and peaks 12
Mincent Hillin town
DirectionsTor Hillin town
DirectionsVane Hillin town
DirectionsPetit Tor0.0 mi from town
DirectionsGreat Hill180 m (591 ft) · 0.0 mi from town
DirectionsRound Hill0.8 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 6 hills and peaks without a name on the map.
Waterfalls 1
Plus 1 waterfall without a name on the map.
Nature reserves 2
Hopes Nose14 ha · 0.2 mi from town
DirectionsRSPB Labrador Bay0.6 mi from town
DirectionsPicnic sites 2
Plus 2 picnic sites without a name on the map.
Playgrounds 45
Rocket Park Playground0.2 mi from town
DirectionsPlus 44 playgrounds without a name on the map.
Campsites 1
Torbay Scouts Campsite0.2 mi from town
DirectionsSlipways 4
Plus 4 slipways without a name on the map.
Next door
The outdoors in nearby towns
The nearest towns of 1,000+ within 12 miles. Tap a town for its outdoors page.
KingskerswellPaigntonMarldonShaldonAbbotskerswellIpplepenTorquay
ABCDOutdoors Grade
| Town | Outdoors | Green space, ha per 1,000 | Near a park | Protected within 5 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Torquay | B+ | 1.8 | 87% | 0% |
| Kingskerswell 2.8 mi | C+ | 3.5 | 76% | 0% |
| Paignton 3.1 mi | A | 1.8 | 84% | 20% |
| Marldon 3.3 mi | A− | 4.1 | 70% | 3% |
| Shaldon 4.3 mi | B− | 1.7 | 85% | 0% |
| Abbotskerswell 4.3 mi | C− | 4.2 | 49% | 0% |
| Ipplepen 5.0 mi | D− | 0.8 | 42% | 0% |
Paignton, 3.1 miles away, grades A, the best next door: 84% of its residents live within 400 m of a park. Marldon and Abbotskerswell have at least twice Torquay’s green space per resident.
Questions about the outdoors in Torquay
What is the biggest park in Torquay?
Manor Gardens, 18 ha (45 acres), with 3.2 km of path. Chapel Hill Pleasure Grounds (3.6 ha) is second. 28 named parks, gardens and playing fields are in the town or within 400 m of it.
Is Torquay near a National Park?
Yes. Dartmoor National Park begins 6.3 mi north-west of the town’s edge. It covers 956 km² and has been a National Park since 1951. The nearest protected landscape of any kind is the South Devon National Landscape, 3.5 mi away.
What are the best walks near Torquay?
5 waymarked walking routes pass within 2 km of the town, including the John Musgrave Heritage Trail, South West Coast Path (Section 42: Brixham to Babbacombe) and South West Coast Path (Section 43: Babbacombe to Exmouth). Manor Gardens alone has 3.2 km of path.
How many people in Torquay live near a park?
87% of residents live within 400 m, about a 5-minute walk, of a public park, garden or playing field (Census 2021 output areas against OS Open Greenspace). The typical UK town is 83%.
When is the best time of year for walking in Torquay?
May to September: the longest days, the warmest afternoons and the least rain of the year, from the Met Office 1991–2020 averages.
Which parks in Torquay are historic?
Castle Tor (Grade II), Princess Gardens and Royal Terrace Gardens (Grade II) and Watcombe Park and Brunel Manor (Grade II) are on Historic England’s register of parks and gardens.
Is Torquay good for walking?
About average for paths: 2.9 km of footpath and right of way per square kilometre, more than 57% of UK towns. For park space per person it beats 37% (1.8 ha per 1,000 residents).
How is the Outdoors Grade worked out?
From five measures, each placed among UK towns of 1,000 or more: public green space per resident, the share living near a park, National Park or National Landscape within 5 km, footpaths per square kilometre, and the sea within 5 km. It is a character grade and isn’t part of Torquay’s overall grade.
Sources
Where Torquay’s outdoors figures come from
- Parks and green space: Ordnance Survey OS Open Greenspace (parks and gardens, playing fields, play spaces, and their access points). Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- National Parks and National Landscapes: Natural England and Natural Resources Wales boundaries, areas and designation dates, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Footpaths, walking routes, beaches and things to do: © OpenStreetMap contributors, Open Database License (ODbL), via Geofabrik, 16 October 2026.
- Historic parks, listed buildings and monuments: Historic England, National Heritage List for England, Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Rain and temperature: Met Office HadUK-Grid 1991–2020 averages for the town; daylight calculated from its latitude.
- The sea: ONS Countries (December 2024) boundaries clipped to mean high water. Residents near a park: ONS Census 2021 output areas.
- Grade: TownRatings’ Outdoors Grade, ranked against UK towns only.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026 (ONS boundaries). Northern Ireland: Source: NISRA; contains Land & Property Services data and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland information, © Crown copyright, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Scotland: contains National Records of Scotland data, Registers of Scotland data and SEPA data, © Crown copyright / © SEPA 2025, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.