Brixham is a pretty traditional fishing harbour with multi coloured houses on the surrounding hillsides. We take a day out to explore.

Brixham has a long tradition of fishing: its fishermen perfected the art of trawling and once ranged as far as Newfoundland. Gaily painted houses surround the harbour. There is an eclectic mix of seaside pastiche, craft shops mingle with cafes and takeaways, and seafront dining lends a bustling atmosphere.

William of Orange landed here from Holland, Sir Francis Drake sailed from here – it is possible to explore the full sized Golden Hind replica which is moored in the middle of the harbour – and the Americans who took part in the D – Day Landings at Utah Beach sailed from the slipway by the breakwater.

Berry Head is a large limestone promontory above Brixham where wild flowers and birds flourish. The cliffs are 195 m high with a sheer drop and offer superb views over the town.

The scattered ruins cover a multitude of wars: there are two Napoleonic forts, a WW2 observation post and a nuclear bunker from the Cold War era.

The little lighthouse manages to be both the smallest in England and the highest.

We finished the day at Breakwater beach, a little shingled crescent with sparkling clean water. Some of the braver locals were swimming with a stiff breeze. We got coffees from the nearby kiosk and watched the lifeboat head out to sea before leaving this enchanting little town.