Torre Abbey

Torre Abbey is the oldest building in Torquay. It has a story spanning 800 years and was once the most important Abbey of its kind in England, the brothers who lived here then were known as the White Canons. Following a massive three-year restoration project, visitors can now explore the most ancient and hallowed parts of the building where some stunning finds have been unearthed. there have been various reports and alleged sightings of three ghosts inside Torre Abbey – a headless monk, an 18th century lady and a Spanish lady searching for her long-lost love

The Abbey also boasts another of the English Rivera’s most famous buildings, The Spanish Barn – a mediaeval Tithe Barn originally built to store taxes paid to the Abbey in the form of grain, hay and other farm produce. A total of 397 prisoners were captured by Sir Francis Drake and were held in the barn for a fortnight…leading to the tale of the the Abbey's most famous ghost! The story goes that, assured of an easy victory, many of the sailors in the Spanish Armada took their wives and girlfriends along for the voyage. A young Lieutenant and his fiancée were amongst those on board the Rosario when the vessel was captured. She quickly disguised herself as a sailor and was imprisoned in the Tithe Barn. But she died there, and "The Spanish Lady" is now said to roam the barn and the surrounding parkland…sobbing for her lost love.

During medieval times, the canons used part of the gardens as a cemetery and the remainder to grow herbs, vegetables and medicinal plants. The Palm House is a slice of the tropics – and boasts over 50 impressive species of palm – some donated recently by Kew Gardens.

Dartmoor... Where Spirits Roam

Dartmoor abounds with myths, and legends. It is reputedly the haunt of pixies, a headless horseman, a mysterious pack of 'spectral hounds', and a large black dog. During the Great Thunderstorm of 1638, Dartmoor was even said to have been visited by the Devil.

Many landmarks have ancient legends, and ghost stories associated with them, such as Jay's Grave, the ancient burial site at Childe's Tomb, and a rock pile called Bowerman's Nose.

The moor is littered with the reminders of lost civilizations; stone circles, burial mounds and Bronze Age settlements are commonplace. Standing stones appear through the mist, defiant and seemingly timeless.

There are at least 35 unexplained hauntings on Dartmoor (and these are only the recorded ones…). These include: hidden treasure and guardian monsters, ghostly galloping horsemen, packs of devil dogs, phantom monks, calling stones, dismembered voices predicting the future, the eerie sounds of battles fought centuries ago, fairy’s, lost souls…and more recently, a black beast caught on film and a grave which always has fresh flowers laid on it.

We’ll be taking a tour into the depths of the moor with a local guide.

Details of how to book these optional extras are included on the booking form, available by calling 01626 770246 or by emailing: enquiries@majestictours.co.uk