Goodrington Park & Lakes in 360º

Enjoy a 360 virtual tour of Goodrington Park & Lakes also known as Youngs Park it’s a perfect spot to chill out in the sun with a picnic or enjoy a cold one and listen to live music.

Location/Facts History Things To Do Where To Eat & Drink Getting There Helpful Tips Weather Nearby Destinations

Update: 2nd June 2020

Added a couple more images

There’s a fair bit packed into a small area with the wooden walkway over the marshland or the beach just a stone’s throw away and Cantina, one of my favourite bars in the bay often have live music to entertain you and they do a great pizza.

A natural habitat for swans, geese and wild birds. If you like to see swans then this is the place, you can almost guarantee you’ll see them anytime of the year here in or around the lake. Just remember not to get to close and keep your dogs on a lead, they’re more than capable of causing fatal injuries to a small dog. The South West Coastal Path runs right past the beach head North toward the Promenade and Paignton Harbour or head south toward Oyster Cove and Brixham.

Tip: if it rains you can dive for cover under the old spanish barn (known to locals as the long bench) or the bandstand.

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Location/Facts

Goodrington Park is located near Goodrington Beach, in Torbay, Paignton, Devon, UK.

There is a long grave which bemuses curios visitors. ‘The Mayor’s Grave’ has a granite headstone with a simple inscription. Goodrington Park was consecrated ground. 300 French sailors are reputedly buried beneath the park. A convent of Roman Catholic nuns cared for French prisoners of war. The Major was supposed killed in action but because he was English and a Major, he had the privilege of a head-stone and a marked grave.
The location is home to the largest known Davey Elm in the UK.

History

Goodrington Park was once a watery wilderness, a marshland of little use with a large lagoon, or lake, locally called May’s Pool occupied the area close to the sea. A myth was perpetuated about its depth. Parents warned their children of dire consequences if they fell in the ‘bottomless pool’. In 1667, a man called Richard Thorne drowned in May’s Pool after falling from his horse, fuelling the myth further. Hundreds of years later when Goodrington Park was being reclaimed, it was found that the ‘bottomless pool’ was all of two feet deep. Now it is the boating pool.

Things To Do

Beach
Crazy golf
Swan motorised bumper boats
Play area
Promenade
Splashdown

Where To Eat & Drink

Cantina Kitchen & Bar
Inn on the Quay
North Sands kiosk
Picnic

Getting There

Car, You can usually find free on street parking around Youngs Park, Roundham Ave, Alta Vista Rd, Cliff Rd or failing that parking is available in the Young Park car park, 130 spaces, TQ4 6LP or the multi storey off Cliff Rd TQ4 6DH with 100 spaces (Height restrictions: 1.98m. There are no disabled spaces.)

Helpful Tips

Dogs are allowed all year round and even welcome on the motorized boats. However they are not allowed in the play area.
Beware of the swans, you’ll see them anytime of the year here in or around the lake. Just remember not to get to close and keep your dogs on a lead, they’re more than capable of causing fatal injuries to a small dog.
Toilets are next to Cantina bar behind the north sands kiosk.
You can catch a ferry from the Promenade to and from Paignton harbour for only £1.
Easy walk and wheelchair friendly.
If it rains you can dive for cover under the old spanish barn (known to locals as the long bench) or the bandstand.
Be aware of the seagulls if your outside with food.