The heart of Brixham, now as previously, lies in it´s tiny harbour, which to this day is still one of Britain´s busiest fishing ports. If you only came to Brixham to see the harbour alone you would not be disappointed, as Brixham Harbour is easily one of Britain´s most picturesque, and always a hive of activity. Indeed, it is easy to loose complete track of time whilst watching the coming and goings of the Brixham fishermen, as they go about their work, at all hours throughout the day. Never too busy though, to pass the time of day, with locals and visitors alike. A focal point of Brixham's harbour is the full sized replica of Sir Francis Drake's famous ship, The Golden hind, where visitors can relive the great adventurer's seafaring exploits without even getting their feet wet.
Being
a harbour town, life in Brixham typically revolves around boats and the sea;
from the fishermen working on their trawlers, through the many and varied
pleasure boats in the Marina,
to the regular ferries to Torquay and the various angling trips that are also
run from the Harbour everyday.
If you were to imagine the typical British fishing town, you wouldn´t be far from imagining Brixham. Its tiny criss-cross streets, wind their way up from the harbour between colourful cottages of various shapes and sizes, stretching far up into the hillside, helping to make Brixham an artists' and photographer's paradise. Many excellent examples of local artists' work can be seen at The Strand, a working art gallery set in the very heart of Brixham.
Such a pretty setting makes it hard to imagine Brixham's rather shady past and it´s notorious smuggling heritage of times gone by. However, the abundance of quaint and atmospheric Brixham ale houses, many offering good food and some offering live entertainment, perhaps does give us a slight clue to some of the revelries and bawdy "goings-on" of generations past. Rather more demur, but equally as enthusiastic hospitality, is still to be found in the 21st century Brixham of today, where the weary and hungry traveller will still find many a warm welcome, in places such as the inviting Poop-deck restaurant, and the charismatic Berry Head Hotel, with it´s excellent facilities and glorious views across the bay.
Brixham always remains a vibrant community, and it´s unique blend of sea-faring heritage, plus modern facilities and safe family attractions such as the nearby and novel Cayman Golf course, ensure that it always offers the warmest of welcomes to its many visitors, beneath the comforting backdrop of it's jagged cliff-face, standing guard over the town.
So, for a friendly holiday that caters for 21st century living in an atmosphere that's steeped with the mysteries of the past, why not 'drop anchor' in Brixham for a while.
