Young's Park — Attraction in England

A WONDERFUL Saturday!

The weather was perfect: sunny and blue skies but not too hot.

On my recommendation, having given my mum some options based on my various recconiscence missions in the area, she, my sister, and I drove to Goodrington, parked up, then walked through the green park on the cliff top there as far as the terraced gardens. The views from there are stunning, but the various sloping paths down to the beach (Goodrington Sands) were too much for mum's dodgy knees, so we retraced our steps on the flat and drove to the opposite end of the beach, parked up again, and spent some time in Goodrington/Young's Park.

There's plenty to do there, without it ever becoming too 'touristy' and 'theme park'-like. It's a bit more genteel and less mobbed than it's neighbouring Paignton sea front. There's bumper boats (£5 pp), swan pedalos (£6 each), a quad-bike track (£5 pp), and mini-golf (£5 pp), as well as a bouncy castle, gardens, walks, and the beach.

We had a drink and did a few puzzles from the local paper in The Cantina, had a bit of a peddle in a swan boat, watched the dogs having fun, saw the steamtrain puff past, then returned to the car and drove to Preston and the London Fryer - a very nicely decorated, cozy little fish and chip shop that I've only recently discovered myself. The menu there is excellent, with far more than your normal run-of-the-mill battered cod and chips; a quality fish restaurant but at reasonable prices. We all shared muscles as a starter, then had a taste of each other's mains: Nan had rock; Lorna, a monk fish curry; and I had spicy fishcakes.

All that, a pot of tea for two which was more than enough for three, came to around £40, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.

We then took a short walk to Preston Sands, just at the end of that road, and walked along the beach collecting scallop shells for mum's garden, til it started getting cold.

It was a perfectly...

The Park has an active group of "friends" who dedicate time and effort to trying to maintain wooden animals and some of the green areas. Sadly the Park has suffered from cut backs to levels of Council care of flower beds and the wildlife area has been abandoned and kicked off as the wooden walkways have become rotten and unsafe. Access to the large shelter is currently not possible as it is barricaded with fencing. It has missing roof tiles following storm damage many months ago. Once there was a continuous long bench running the length of the long shelter but rather than repair it the Council has ripped it out. Nonetheless some homeless folk have erected a tent inside and have occupied part of the shelter throughout the winter.

There is a large boating lake where bumper boats and paddle swans can be rented and a "crazy golf" area.

The Park is used by significant numbers of people. A large number of dog owners visit everyday (not all pick up poo so be careful where you tread or lay on the grass and pathways)

There are a couple of picnic benches, and other benches, a bandstand and one grave of a Major Hill who died in the 19th Century a reminder that part of the park was once a cemetery (where the military hospital once stood is now a Brewers Fayre and Hotel). There is a public toilet (35p?), a damaged public telephone box, a cafe and ice cream and snack kiosk and a...

On the top beach in Goodrington dogs are allowed all year round. Lovely sandy beach top & bottom. There is a beautiful cliff walk from Goodrington to Paignton & back again. A really good restaurant, seating inside or outside. The food is beautifully prep'd & tastes great. If you prefer, there is a Havester situated between top & bottom beaches. Gun for kids, pitch & putt, swan boats & play area, small shop, water park, hire of wetsuits etc, small museum on the area & fish etc. Huge car park which is opened during the summer, a flat car park at the bottom os the slope but there is only 2 disabled spaces! Last but by no means least, there is also a station for the steam railway, it starts in Paignton & travels on to Kingsweir where you can catch the ferry boat over to Dartmouth, included in the price you pay. You can get the return ferry & train back, also included in the fare. A lovely trip, great nostalgia well...