HIDDEN GEMS

1 FISHCOMBE bay

There is more room than might appear at an initial glance but it is best to sound in carefully and find a depth of about 2m. There is an eco-friendly mooring buoy there, aimed at protecting the seagrass beds below. It can accommodate a yacht up to 12m and was free of charge last time we were there. The steep wooded shore produces good shelter from southerly and westerly winds. It is possible to land the dinghy on the shingle beach and walk to Brixham, passing the yacht club along the way. In the other direction there is a steep climb through the woods past Churston Cove and towards Elberry Cove.

2 Elberry cove

This cove in the south-west corner of Tor Bay is a shingle beach surrounded by trees and was a favourite place for Agatha Christie to swim. It is a designated waterskiing spot and can be busy. In quieter times, however, it is peaceful and a perfect place to anchor for lunch or overnight with good shelter from the south and south-west. Take care to avoid the many buoys that mark the waterskiing course and swimming areas. The cove is situated on the South West Coast Path and is a two-mile walk to Brixham. Fishcombe and Elberry are unpleasant in northerlies and swell picks up when the wind shifts east.

3 broadsands

Nestled between Paignton and Brixham is Broadsands, with its crescent-shaped expanse of sand and row of colourful beach huts. It is less than a mile from Elberry Cove, where you can land your dinghy and join the coastal footpath.

4 berry HEAD

It is well worth putting on your walking boots and climbing up to Berry Head, with its iconic lighthouse and ruined Napoleonic fort. The views out over Tor Bay and beyond are stunning, and there is a chance of close encounters with the local seabird population.