Buckfast Abbey is home to an active community of Roman Catholic Benedictine monks, in Dartmoor National Park, Devon, UK. and is a registered Charity. It can be accessed by taking the Gold bus to Plymouth and changing midway to the 88 to Buckfastleigh, and a few minutes walk from the bus stop. In addition to the Abbey itself, you will find a wonderful gift shop, selling produce from Buckfast Abbey including the famous Buckfast Wine and monasteries and convents around Europe. Wonderful jams, honeys, soaps and much more. A wide selection of books is to be found in a separate shop, and a wonderful restaurant to take refreshments. Beautiful gardens and grounds surround the Abbey. History The Abbey was originally founded in 1018 in the reign of King Cnut, and absorbed into the Cistercian order in 1147. After the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry V111 in 1539 it was stripped and later demolished. It became a quarry and then home to a Gothic mansion house. In 1882 a group of French Benedictine monks exiled and resident in Ireland read in "The Tablet" that the property was for sale for £4,700. They bought it and moved to Buckfast where it's first Abbot, Boniface Natter was blessed in 1903. Sadly h e was to lose his life in a shipwreck only three years later. Dom Anscar Vonier - who had survived the shipwreck, was blessed as the next Abbot, and it was he who set about rebuilding the Abbey, dedicated to St Mary, mostly in the footprint of the original. A team of six monks took on the task, of whom only one had stone work experience, and by 1932 it was able to be consecrated. However, the work was not yet completed - the tower had to be extended to house the bells. It was completed in 1938 - just three weeks before Abbot Vonier died, having lived just long enough to see his dream come to fruiition . The Abbey continues to operate as a Benedictine foundation today, and is a registered charity under English law. **************************** Having spent some time enjoying the tranquility of the Abbey, it's time to make your way back to The Clifton at Paignton, to enjoy a relaxing three course evening meal, lovingly produced by Steve.

This is a suggestion of how to fill your time whilst staying here at The Clifton at Paignton . You may have already read of the walks you can take from the front door, and there are enough of those for your first week - well, here are some more to fill even more days, travelling a little further (but not far - max 4 miles!!)

Torre Abbey is en route from Paignton to Torquay, so to walk there the directions are as that walk (click here) Once you've passed The Palace Hotel on the LHS and reached a junction to The King's Drive a little further on you'll come to a footpath through Torre Abbey Meadows, which you lead you to the back of the Abbey. You'll have to pass the wonderful cafe - actually, you'll probably be in need of refreshment - go under an arch - with The Spanish Barn on your LHS - to reach the entrance of The Abbey. Once inside the Abbey, George Cary will tell you the history of The Spanish Barn.

The walk to Brixham is along part of the 627 miles South West Coast Path. It's undulating, but most of it is paved, just a few short stretches when its not. Just over the cliff top from your base at The Clifton at Paignton, you'll come to the expanse of beach which is Goodrington Sands - a spot for refreshment - at first The North Sands Beach Hut and then at the other end The South Sands Cafe. The former is a take away only, but the latter has tables and chairs outside. You'll pass lots of beautiful, inviting coves along the way, the first being Saltern Cove - which is accessed over the Railway Bridge (crossing the Dartmouth Steam Railway track), over a field and down a high flight of metal steps. Next you'll reach Broadsands Beach - another long stretch, with the opportunity of refreshment, then over the cliff top from there you'll descend the steps to Elbury Cove - the only one that calls to me "come and swim" (Not that I've ever done it, as I'm not a confident swimmer, but it's so appealing) It's a beach of large pebbles, rather than sand, and there's one part that banks off, unlike the sandy inviting beaches which slope so gently are so very very safe. No facilities or refreshments here though. After this cove, you'll pass two more, Churston Cove and Fishcombe Cove (refreshments here) before reaching Brixham. Here you can enjoy the town or the harbour - or walk on further - past Shoalstone Outdoor Freshwater Pool and on to Berry Head an SSSI and a tranquil place of two Napoleonic Forts and a breeding colony of guillimots. The wonderful Guardhouse Cafe can be found here with wonderful refreshments and cake to die for! You could take as long as two hours to reach Brixham and then a further half an hour to reach Berry Head. Your choice then is to walk back or take advantage of the frequent bus service from Brixham back to Paignton.

The walk to Torquay starts along the coastal path. Turn left at the sea front and head north in the direction of Torquay. Along the promenade until reaching the Redcliffe Hotel, where you may choose between skirting on the footpath side or the beach side, depending on where the tide is. The promenade continues on the other side of the Hotel, and will end at the red cliffs, where a paved footpath/cycle track will lead up and along the bank leading towards Hollicombe Beach. Before that, there'll be a turning left over the mainline rail line and then right into Hollicombe Park and out the other side onto Torquay Road. From here it's pavement walking all the way into Torquay - always with the sea on your right hand side, so it's still a beautiful walk. You'll pass Torre Abbey - and there'll be a Blog on that to be found on here soon. I'll just say in passing that it's such a fabulous place to visit, both the Abbey and the gardens - so please earmark that for another day, or, of course, visit now if you prefer. Eventually you'll arrive in Torquay with numerous shops and eateries for your refreshment. Torquay has a beautiful harbour, sometimes with rather splendid yachts. Now the choice is yours - lots of retail therapy, or walk the "Agatha Christie Mile" - some of which you've already done, as you've passed The Palace Hotel and Torre Abbey Gardens. You have the choice of returning to Paignton on foot, or catching the frequent bus service - every 10 minutes during the week, and 20 minutes at weekends -back.

The walk to Cockington starts along the coastal path. Turn left at the sea front and head north in the direction of Torquay. Along the promenade until reaching the Redcliffe Hotel, where you may choose between skirting on the footpath side or the beach side, depending on where the tide is. The prome nade continues on the other side of the Hotel, and will end at the red cliffs, where a paved footpath/cycle track will lead up and along the bank leading towards Hollicombe Beach. Before that, there'll be a turning left over the mainline rail line and then right into Hollicombe Park. Out the other side onto Torquay Road. This starts the pavement walking, but the compensation is the sea on the right hand side. Soon the Livermead Cliff Hotel will be reached on the RHS, and just past there a triple road junction with one of the roads signed Cockington (this is just before the Livermead Hotel on the LHS of Torquay Road Not far up that road, Cockington Lane will be seen. Don't take the road though - there's a latch gate into the field on the RHS of the lane leading into the water meadows, which makes a delightful approach to the village. The path joins the lane shortly before the village square and all the thatched cottages. Here you'll find Rose Cottage, a cafe with a stream running though the grounds, and where there is often someone playing the grand piano. The road on the LHS leads up into Cockington Country Park at the entrance to which there's a beautiful thatched cottage before the sweeping driving leading to Cockington Court and Cockington Church to its left. There's a wonderful cricket pitch on the RHS - I'll leave you to assess this one! Refreshments and crafts galore can be found in and around Cockington Court - pottery, glass, jewellery, wrought iron, chocolate and many others. The church is dating back to the 11th Century - and there's a pulpit which was recovered from one of the Spanish Galleons which floundered offshore during the time of the Spanish Armada. The country park is extensive affording some further walking or a horse and trap ride around it, and beautiful thatched the Drum Inn is awaiting your visit when you've finished.

After reaching the North Sands Cafe at Goodrington, turn inland and walk to the Dartmouth Road. Use the pedestrian crossing to reach the other side, and walk through the Leisure Centre Car Park, through the gate at the left, past the outdoor Velodrome and then the lakes are on your left.

The entrance hall of Oldway Mansion with it's magnificent marble staircase