Thread: Berry Head

Hi everyone, haven't posted much, but took a trip to Berry Head in Brixham, Devon over the weekend. Once I've got them sorted I wondered if anyone wanted to see pictures of the two derelict forts and the ROC post that's up there?

Thought I'd ask before I went to the trouble of explaining the history of the site and putting the photos up here. Just in case people had already done it and I couldn't see it on the forum, or it isn't the sort of thing to post here...

Bekki

Sounds great, post it up :)

Originally Posted by sg1psychopath

I wondered if anyone wanted to see pictures of the two derelict forts and the ROC post that's up there?

Hi Bekki
Yes please! Just googled Berry Head and the forts sound really interesting (lovely place, too). Look forward to your pics and report. :D

Cheers
Foxy :)

Again YES:)

Thank you all for your positive replies! As well as Berry Head I went to the Battery Grounds which are also in Brixham, but haven't included them here because I only took 2 pictures (yes, I'm silly). Sorry this is going to be a very long post! Also sorry about picture quality, I'm not exactly a photographer! I didn't get as many pictures as I want unfortunately, so it's a good excuse to go back there yet again.

The history of Berry Head is quite extensive, so if you want to know more, try http://www.torbytes.co.uk/op/tm7/lv2/item1400.htm although this is by no means the only thing out there. I'm hoping to create a section of my own website about Berry Head as I find it all very interesting, and have visited Brixham all my life. I'll keep you up to date if I ever get this done! Also, sorry there aren't any pictures of the forts overall, or the entrances. I was being a bit silly when I was taking the photos. I'll see if I can find any old pictures I took when I used to go there but I'm not promising. If not I'm afraid it'll have to wait till I go back again.

I'll start in the South Fort. Unfortunately the sign posts saying what each of these buildings are weren't there, so I'll put what I was told when I was a child. This may be wrong though, so sorry about that.

This is (I think) the ammo store.


And this is a building in front of it, and I'm not sure what it is. Not much left of it either!


The ammo store with the fort wall behind it.


The two surviving end walls of the kitchen, with the fort wall behind and a lookout post to the left.


The two kitchen walls a bit closer.


A fireplace in the kitchen wall.


The main fort wall and view looking back towards St Mary's Bay.


Finally, more of the view, the outer wall, and one of the walls of the kitchen.


Now we're moving on to the North Fort.

First, the outside of the ROC post with the coastguard station in the background.


The aircraft lookout. No door in this one, and it looked like it had been reinforced as it was falling down.


An old building, not sure what it was.


A lookout, some view, and the edge of what is now the costguard station.


The edge of another wall that I don't know what it belonged to.


The coastguard station, lookout, a bit of the lighthouse, and a bit of a building that's been renovated to be used for information (unfortunately closed).


The coastguard station.


The lighthouse.


A view of the North Fort from the exit of the South Fort.


A lookout down in the quarry.


A view of the North Fort from the quarry. (Can't get inside the main part of the quarry though). Notice how close the edge of the fort is to the quarry.


A view of the North Fort and the quarry.


More of the North Fort and the quarry.


Derelict buildings too dangerously close to the edge to reach.


I hope this was ok, and wasn't too long. Never posted a report before! I'll let everyone know if/when I get the Berry Head section of my site up and running.

Thanks, Bekki

Oops I forgot to mention, there's a couple of cannons up there too, in the North Fort but didn't get pictures of them, sorry about that. Think I've got one of me sat on one when I was a kid, but don't know where it is, and don't really want to post that!

Bekki

That was great, Bekki, thanks for that.
That place looks superb; loads to see, even a quarry! :D I was reading that on Berry Head there are 8 different kinds of wild orchid.
Is it reachable by foot from Brixham, do you know? Torbay's not too difficult for me to get to by bus and I'd rather like to visit.
Look forward to seeing your website very much.

Cheers
Foxy :)

Thanks I'm glad you like!

Yep you can get there on foot pretty easily as long as you don't mind cars. (I don't have a car, so...). There's a couple of ways, but I personally prefer the scenic route. If you want exact routes, email me or pm me or something as I'd be happy to help. I know my way round pretty well as I used to visit a lot. If you want a bit of peace up there I suggest you go when the weather's not perfect as the tourists love the place. Hardly anyone there when we went and it was misty rain, and a bit of wind.

I've seen some of the wild orchids (my mum loves flowers) and they are really amazing. The flowers are over now unfortunately. The quarry is also home to rare bats and common ones, and if you get up the top of the quarry at dusk (bring a torch, there aren't any lights!!!!) they fly right over you, quite an amazing experience.

Berry Head (and Brixham) is an amazing place and I really wish I lived nearer. I hadn't been for around 5 years and going again made me fall in love with it all over again.

I've definitely got to visit now. In fact I might even push the boat out and stay overnight so I can see the bats. I'll pm you for directions, etc, (soon as I'm ready to visit...and got some dosh! :D)

Thanks again.
Foxy :)

I know a good place to stay too, and it isn't too expensive, but there's loads of places round there, I'm sure you can find one lol.

Well, if you are visiting because of what I said, I really hope you don't get there and get let down! Anyway, I'll await your pm!

Bekki