Babbacombe Downs is the highest cliff top promenade in England 300 feet above sea level. The downs is a wide parterre laid out with lawns and flower beds with seats and shelters that look out over the blue reaches of Babbacombe Bay.

• Awarded the Green flag award which recognises and rewards well managed parks and green spaces
• Ridgeway House once worth £1.5m was owned by Mr Lyle of Tate & Lyle Sugar, built with panoramic views of the coastline as a retirement refuge in the 30’s. In February 2010 it was purchased by retired police officer Sue Diamond, who made a telephone bid at auction of £154,500, without viewing it or having a survey done. Just eight days after the auction her garden and swimming pool fell off the top of the 300 foot cliff onto Oddicombe beach below, following a massive landslide. Miss Diamond tried fighting a legal battle with the builder who sold it to her, but the judge ruled in the sellers favour and she had to pay what was owed. If it seems to good to be true, it usually is. Always get that survey guys! 😲

Getting around is easy as it’s all level paths. If you want to head down to the beach then the old funicular cliff railway will take you up and down for a small charge.

• Car, Plenty of free parking around the downs itself and surrounding streets, sat-nav, TQ1 3LP.
• Bus, No. 22 from the strand Torquay harbourside.

• There are toilet facilities available.
• Last bus back to the strand is usually around 23:30 in the main road just down from the Dog & Duck.