Escape from the noise and the car fumes in the pedestrian only shopping precinct

I love window gazing and browsing in the pedestrian only precinct in Newton Abbot. With its trees, hanging baskets and cafe tables and chairs, shopping is a leisurely affair.

Despite trying to watch my weight I am partial to a pastry and can't resist stopping off in one of the many coffee shops for a treat. There's also the indoor market and being a major market town there's the famous livestock market.

.If I am looking for gifts or something out of the ordinary, I get in the car and it's just a short drive to the House of Marbles, which has fantastic quirky things on sale.

These sessile oaks are evergreens and are a great joy in the bleak midwinter days.

With all the parks in Newton Abbot many of us are lucky enough to live opposite these open spaces.

There are beautiful sessile oaks near my home which are said to have been planted during Queen Anne's reign and have a preservation order on them.

A Caring Council
Newton Abbot houses the District Council offices in the historic Forde House. Thankfully it takes a great interest in its many parks within the town centre.

The well cared for gardens attract office workers and others to have their lunch sitting out in the fresh air and sunshine.

Newton Abbot's trees in their Autumn splendour

They can sit on the lawns or there are plenty benches with trees offering shade when necessary. However, I personally love the Autumn when Newton Abbot's trees put on their golden mantle and become quite beautiful.

Architecturally there is a fine row of Alms Houses and a local wool merchants house open to the public during the summer months. For lovers of the outdoors, there’s the football ground and a BMX bike track.

The entire area almost bristles with adventure parks and animal sanctuaries. I say 'bristles' as my favourites are the little bundles of spines at Prickly Ball Farm, the hedgehog hospital at Denbury Road.

At Decoy Park you will find many nature trails and a sailing club. Ornithologists will find the park a treat as it is a haven for over-wintering Brent Geese as well as other foreign birds.

If you want to play tennis there are courts at Forde Park and just on the outskirts of the town there’s an 18 hole golf course.

I may have travelled a great deal in my life but Newton Abbot is home and I feel that, situated between the moors sand the sea, the market town of Newton Abbot has something to offer everyone.

If you would like to extol the virtues of your Home Town drop us a line and tell us why.
E-mail us at devon.online@bbc.co.uk

There are even more pictures of Bovey Tracey in ourSouth Devon gallery

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