Looking for underground stuff in Torquay area..

[Dep]

Hi People,
at the end of July/start August I will be on holiday in Torquay for a week with the family. Usually when we go away for a week I wangle a whole day to myself to go out and about and take my caving kit with me just in case.
I am looking for anything (caves or mines) that is accessible or worth a visit in the Torquay area or within an hour's drive or so.
Also: can anyone tell me if the Buckfastleigh caves are suitable for 'tourists' - ie is it somewhere that I could take the wife and kids?
Kids love going underground but wife only likes it if totally touristified with refreshments at the end and strictly no heights!
Failing anything underground I am also keenly interested in geology/fossil hunting - are there any good places along that coastline?
Any help or sugestions welcomed.
Thanks.

 

[Les W]

I am looking for anything (caves or mines) that is accessible or worth a visit in the Torquay area or within an hour's drive or so.

An Hours drive from Torquay puts you pretty much anywhere in east / south Devon, Tony Oldhams "Concise Caves of Devon will give you a good start.

Also: can anyone tell me if the Buckfastleigh caves are suitable for 'tourists' - ie is it somewhere that I could take the wife and kids?

Pridhamsleigh Cavern is easy access, ideal for kids etc. but needs lights and old clothes.
Bakers Pit is also well worth a trip but has a deep shaft (fixed ladders) for access. Once in, there is lots to see (>3km) but it is quite mazey.
Afton Red Rift is a superb trip but quite strenuous and involves exposed traverse, awkward climbs, squeeze and a round trip.
Both Afton and Bakers are gated, keys are available from DCUC, or from the DSS

Kids love going underground but wife only likes it if totally touristified with refreshments at the end and strictly no heights!

Kents Cavern
http://www.kents-cavern.co.uk/

Failing anything underground I am also keenly interested in geology/fossil hunting - are there any good places along that coastline?
Any help or sugestions welcomed.
Thanks.

Charmouth ,Lyme Regis, etc. along the Jurassic coast. a short drive east of exeter to a fossil hunters paradise. So good it's been made a World Heritage Site!!
http://www.jurassiccoast.com/index.jsp

Hope this helps, there is plenty more info if you need it. Just ask.

 

[AndyF]

This has to be paradise, think about the name....

http://www.beerquarrycaves.fsnet.co.uk/BEERQU~1/Beer_Quarry_Cx.html

 

[Dep]

Many thanks for those excellent suggestions.

I shall get in touch with the DCUC/DSS and see if I can persuade someone to go into Bakers Pit with me.

I intend to visit Pridhamsleigh, probably with my son as the mud will put off my wife and daughter.

Kent's Cavern is a must-see of my wife's so that's cool - needs no effort to persuade her.

So if I am crafty 8) I can get all three of these trips in as my day out, my 'father-and son' day out and a whole-family day out.

I shall be happy to sit on the beach or in a bar for the rest of the time.

And as a bonus I have persuaded her that we shoulkd travel homewards via the south coast - which wil take in Beer Caves and an afternoon in Lyme Regis.

We had a holiday at Budlegh Salterton many years ago and could not do Beer Quarry as my wife was about 7 months gone with our son.

So - should be an entertaining week.

Sorry to pester - but are there any quiet tourist free beaches in the area, I am asuming that Torquay itself will be absolutely humming with people and best avoided?

 

[Les W]

Sorry to pester - but are there any quiet tourist free beaches in the area, I am asuming that Torquay itself will be absolutely humming with people and best avoided?

You want a quiet, tourist free beach, on the Riviera, in August. You've got to be kidding.

 

[gus horsley]

Sorry to pester - but are there any quiet tourist free beaches in the area, I am asuming that Torquay itself will be absolutely humming with people and best avoided?

You want a quiet, tourist free beach, on the Riviera, in August. You've got to be kidding.

Yep, I think the nearest one's Sally's Cove near Porthtowan (Cornwall). Take a 100ft abseil rope and jumars if you're intending to visit. You should get in about half an hour either side of low tide before it disappears.

 

[Dep]

You want a quiet, tourist free beach, on the Riviera, in August. You've got to be kidding

Yes, that's what I was afraid off!

Take a 100ft abseil rope and jumars if you're intending to visit

Sounds great to me, my sort of place, can't see my wife being up for it though! :shock:

Thanks anyway.