Cockington Country Park
This is a circular walk around the historic Cockington Country Park and Cockington Village in Torquay, Devon. Cockington has 460 acres of beautiful country park to explore including ornamental lakes, woodlands and formal gardens. The 17th century Cockington Court has a number of studios open to the public with a variety of arts and crafts at the Court's Craft Centre. Also of interest is the Agatha Christie Literary Trail and the Murder Mystery Trail.
The walk also passes close to the delightful Cockington Village with its thatched roofed cottages, cider orchards and quaint shops and tearooms.
To extend your walking in the area you could try the Torquay to Babbacombe Walk along a lovely section of the South West Coast Path.
Postcode
TQ2 6XA - Please note: Postcode may be approximate for some rural locationsPlease click here for more information
Cockington Country Park Ordnance Survey Map 
- view and print off detailed OS map
Cockington Country Park Open Street Map 
- view and print off detailed map
Cockington Country Park OS Map 
- Mobile GPS OS Map with Location tracking
Cockington Country Park Open Street Map 
- Mobile GPS Map with Location tracking
Pubs/Cafes
In the village there's a fine country pub in the shape of The Drum Inn. The attractive thatched pub serves good quality food and includes a lovely large garden area for warmer days. You can find them at postcode TQ2 6XA for your sat navs. Nearby there's also the delightful Rose Cottage Tea Room where you can enjoy a cream tea in the beautiful gardens.
Dog Walking
The park is very dog friendly and a fine place for a walk with your four legged friend. The Drum Inn mentioned above is also dog friendly.
Further Information and Other Local Ideas
Head south along the coast path and you could visit Brixham on the Torquay to Brixham Walk. There's another fine country park here in the shape of Berry Head Country Park.
In Torquay itself there's the popular Torquay Rock Walk. These elevated, Mediterranean style gardens command wonderful views across the town and the bay.
On the northern side of the town you could visit the peaceful Brunel Woods. The site is named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel who loved the area and intended to set up home at Watcombe Park before he died.
Just a few miles to the west there's Berry Pomeroy Castle to visit. 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. The site can be reached by following the John Musgrave Heritage Trail west from the park.
For more walking ideas in the area see the Devon Walks page.
Cycle Routes and Walking Routes Nearby
Photos
Cockington Court, a 17th Century manor house set in a 460 acre country park.
The end of the boardwalk shown is on the left, and the walk emerges into the bowl of the valley in front of the Church of St George and St Mary and Cockington Court, both on the right.
Church of St George and St Mary, Cockington, taken 1964. Cockington Church is dedicated to St George and St Mary and whilst a chapel has existed here since Saxon times, the present structure dates from 1210. The church was damaged in 1943 by two German bombs (a crater can still be seen to the south of the church). There is no graveyard but three dogs belonging to the gamekeeper (about 1910) were buried under the large beech tree. This view was taken in spring when there was a lovelly display of daffodils.
Cockington Court Cricket Pitch. From the village the house can be reached by several routes. This one over the wooden walkway crosses the cricket pitch that is surely unique in that it sits in a veritable "bowl". The pavilion is high on the hillside to the right and I think all of the boundaries are higher than the batsmen. I can't imagine any Test Matches will ever be played here!
The Drum. This old thatched pub is a fine place for some post walk refreshment in the village.
The rose garden behind Cockington Court. Taken in the interior of the garden, with seats on either side of the central sundial. "Tall walls enclose three sides of garden ... the north-east side wall is local stone rubble with Roman tile coping". The stable yard buildings behind the wall host craft workshops.
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The old forge. The Old Forge stands in the centre of village and dates from the 14th century. It is no longer a working forge and is now a shop selling souvenirs to visitors.
The tea garden at Rose Cottage. These gardens outside the tea rooms are a lovely place to relax with a cream tea.