10 December 2023 , 07:19
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The English Riviera has been known as a family-friendly holiday resort since Victorian times - with its picturesque towns, pretty streets and stunning coastline, it is especially popular during the summer months.
The 22-mile stretch along the South Devon coastline, which includes the Torbay area and was in the past compared to the French Riviera by visitor, boasts seaside resorts, great views and plenty of activities for the whole family. And while visiting the English Riviera, you cannot miss the village of Cockington.
With its narrow lanes and thatched houses, walking through this village is like going back in time. Cockington also houses a water mill and a forge - and is an ideal destination for a romantic break as well as a family holiday.
The arts and craft centre in the Stable Yard at Cockington Court (Alamy Stock Photo)The village has Saxon origins and attracts thousands of visitors each year. Cockington Country Park is a popular attraction thanks to its garden landscapes and fascinating woodland. Tucked inside the 450-acre park, there are also ornamental lakes, a historic Manor House with a craft centre, studios and a church.
The Cockington Estate was owned by three families from 1066 until 1932 when it passed into public ownership. The park was subsequently created in 1991 and for the past 26 years, it has been awarded the Keep Britain Tidy Green Flag - becoming one of the only five parks to have received the award since it started.
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Torquay is part of the English Riviera (Alamy Stock Photo)The village also has a connection with novelist Agatha Christie, who often visited Cockington Court - which was in the hands of the Mallocks, friends of her family. As a young girl, she even took part in some theatrical events at the manor house, according to Agatha Christie Torquay.
Cockington features two tea rooms, including the Drum Inn pub, dating back to 1936, which serves meals daily. Its website says architect Sir Edwin Lutyen designed the pub as the focal point of the village and after a recent restoration project, the pub now retains its "traditional charm".
Kirk Petrakis at The Drum Inn in Cockington, Devon, with his miniature Shetland pony Patrick (SWNS)The website adds: "Our menus are full of hearty favourites and country pub classics, as well as our seasonal spring dishes, and we'll be ready with a well-stocked bar, including cask ales, fine wines and British gin to suit very taste - which will taste all the better when enjoyed either in our beautiful gardens or by our crackling log fires." Last year, a lovely pony often spotted at the Drum Inn was made the unofficial "Mayor" of Cockington after hundreds of people signed a petition.
Miniature Shetland Patrick was frequently spotted at his local pub, where he enjoys his favourite tipple, an Irish stout. Supporters started a tongue-in-cheek online petition to make the little Shetland pony the ceremonial "Mayor" of Cockington, and his owners Kirk and Hannah Petrakis made him a special chain of office. The bespoke chain comes complete with lights and Purple Poppy emblem.
The miniature Shetland was presented his Mayor chain by local councillor Andrew Barrand. Local MP Kevin Foster also came to support the day along with local residents. Kirk said: "We think Patrick The Pony has made history by becoming the first pony Mayor in the UK."