Brunel Woods
This walk visits Brunel Woods in the Watcombe area of Torquay.
The woods have some nice peaceful trails which provide a pleasant shelter on windier days. The site is named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the famous English civil engineer who built dockyards, Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Great Western Railway (GWR). Brunel loved the area, purchasing the land for Watcombe Park which was to be his retirement home. Sadly he died in 1859 before its completion.
The John Musgrave Heritage Trail runs through the woods. You can follow it to the wood carvings and clearing where there are some fine coastal views to enjoy. On the northern side of the woods there's also Brunel Manor. The manor and its gardens were designed by William Burn to be the retirement home of Brunel. The house is now used as a Christian retreat.
Postcode
TQ2 8NR - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsBrunel Woods Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Brunel Woods Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Brunel Woods OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Brunel Woods Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
On the southern side of the town you can visit the Torquay Rock Walk. There's great views over the town from the elevated Mediterranean style terrace gardens.
To the west there's more interesting history at Berry Pomeroy Castle. Here you'll find the ruins of a 15th century castle surrounded by pleasant woodland trails. The site is run by English Heritage so there's good facilities with a car park, gift shop and cafe.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Main entrance Brunel Woods, Torquay, was part of Watcombe Park, the intended home of Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Unfortunately IKB died in 1859, before the house had been completed. The southern section of the estate was sold to Torquay Borough Council in 1923, and in later years passed to be managed by Torbay Coast and Country Trust.
Brunel's Dance. A set of sculptures dating from 1993 by Keith Barrett. "The central column which represents Brunel's engineering achievements is carved from Sequoia. Brunel and Fire figures carved from Douglas fir, water figure carved from Cedar. The fire and water carvings represent steam power used by Isambard Kingdom Brunel."
Brunel Manor. The view from below the terrace shows the stone balustrade. Health and safety concerns mean that there is a wire fence to keep guests away from the stonework.
The Italian Garden at Brunel Manor. The area known as the Italian Garden is being restored; the side bed has been cleared and some plants are in pots waiting to be planted.