Amazing Anstey's

Giovanna was down for the weekend and naturally I wanted to show her Devon's beauty. Where else to go but Anstey's Cove in Torquay? There is something so ethereal about the first glimpse of the pointed pinnacle rising above the vibrant sea. You see it framed by the green, ivy covered woods as you walk down to the shore; if feels like a scene from Sleeping Beauty. And all this after having driven through miles of suburb. Once we were actually in the sea it was a different colour from when seen from the shore; sparkling jade, exhilarating to swim through.

Soaraway Soar

For sheer drama you cannot beat Soar Mill Cove. It is surrounded by craggy, jagged cliffs and at low tide you can explore among the rocks and caves, one of which goes back for ages and opens out into an eerie cavern. There are two massive rocks on the beach called the Priest and Clerk which are fun to climb on, and to swim around at high tide. Just off the beach is the Ham Stone - in the distance in the picture. We had wanted to swim to it but the sea was too rough. Still, it was total joy to be in the water, diving under the breaking waves and swimming through the swell. We also found some little pools which were fun to wallow in.

Reaching the pinnacle

It was a return trip to Anstey's Cove in Torquay - Fawlty Towers and Agatha Christie country - where I'd swum on my own before Christmas. At the time I'd really wanted to swim out to a fairy tale pinnacle which beckoned me like a siren, but I feared doing it on my own. Today I was back there with friends and we made it our mission to swim out there. It was low tide and so we were able to climb round to Redgate Beach (closed to the public because the walkway has been washed away) and swim off there, along the spectacular cliff, to Long Quarry Point, home of the Pinnacle. It was beautiful. Watch the video!

Historic bathing

Despite the cold, I felt in strong need of immersion, so set off for Anstey's Cove in Torquay, where the water is usually flat calm and where, it is said, Agatha Christie used to swim. The afternoon sun glowed over the fairytale pinnacles at Long Quarry Point; this promontary is home to Devonian limestone which is around 400 million years old. I slipped off the rocks into the water and was immediately drawn out of the humdrum and into the seascape.