Agatha Christie Festival 11-18 Sept 2011

There is no best way to get to Torquay. Unless you are touring, can't see the point of a car. Agatha Christie's place is very remote, if you had a car you might not be able to drive to the venue unless being an attendee gives you parking rights. Its quite a long way down single track roads with hedges either side where if you meet someone you should be confident in reversing and manoevering your vehicle very tightly. Public transport options are National Express coach from London Victoria, (cheap) and by train - faster but more expensive. Torquay and Paignton and Brixham are major seaside destinations for the British. They are geared to budget holidays for British families and retired people.
I suspect the key may be how you are going to get to Greenways each day, are the organisers laying on a bus? The nicest place to stay by far would be Dartmouth, getting the ferry each day up the river to the landing stage of Greenways.

Train hands down. There's a nearly hourly service from Paddington, usually with a change at Newton Abbott. There's an early one that goes straight through. Cheap fares available 90 days out... Its an easy walk into Torquay from there. More hotels there than you can shake a stick at. Finding a good one may be another question, but when you blow the dust off you can see a few glinting stones buried. I'm 1 ok, 1 decent, 1 very nice but remote. Completely agree with Bob that unless you are practiced and competent with English narrow lane driving you will not be happy with driving on Devon lanes. Last summer (I am, by the way) I was about 4 miles from Greenways on a lane where both my wife and I were able to touch the hedges out the windows when a massive Steam Traction Engine met us coming the opposite way. I had fun as I and the 4 cars behind me had to reverse up the hill until we all had found refuge in passing places. I had fun, but others might not have done. I love Steam Traction Engines and it was fun to look at the decorations which adorned it for the local Fete. If you do want to drive you have to book a slot which you must not exceed in the very small car park. If I remember correctly it holds about 10 cars. With the Festival I bet it will be booked up. There is an Agatha Christie themed vintage 1930's bus which runs several times a day from the port in Torquay which looks good fun. The train from Torquay connects in Paignton ( few minutes away) with a steam train to Dartmouth from where the passenger ferry goes up the Dart to Greenways. There is a boat from Torquay via Paignton to Dartmouth, connecting with the ferry. Or you can mix and match. Or, I really like Bob's idea of seeing if there is still room to stay in Dartmouth. I'd probably do that one.

Thanks so much Bob and Nigel. The detailed info you have given me will be very helpful in making plans. I really like the ferry idea. You both seem very knowledgeable about the area. Any ideas about taking the ferry from either Poole or Portsmouth to Normandy to visit the D-Day beaches? Are either/both accessible by train?

... continued... The train ride from London Paddington is very nice, through West Country countryside. After you pass through Exeter sit on the left side. You go along the edge of the sea, along beaches, through sandstone arches and tunnels along the coast around Dawlish. Beautiful don't describe it. I have assumed that a number of the events will take place at Greenways, but a glance at the (somewhat sketchy) websites show that events will likely be around the Torbay (regional) area. It sounds like a fun holiday. By the way, I wasn't kidding about the driving on the lanes. I've lived in LA, and there is nothing comparable.

Don't know about the ferries to France, don't use them - drive via the Channel Tunnel - but I've been to the Brittany Ferries port guides and it seems that Poole is 25 minutes walk from the station, Portsmouth 30 minutes or a bus. Good Luck...

Regards the Normandy Beaches, there is a wide range of routes to the Normandy area. When I did it, I went Portsmouth to Caen but I don't think it really matters which of the roro ferries you use, I think they're all very similar. You really need a car in my opinion or to go on a tour. By car might as well hire in France as they drive on the wrong side of road like you guys. If you're only used to automatic geared cars then say you want an automatic otherwise you'll probably get a manual gearbox which most Europeans prefer. If you fancy a tour there are many companies offering such tours. The one below is a specialist operator that offers good value. Though tour guide might look at the whole thing from a British perspective. Leger Tours are a specialist battefield tour operator This Walking the D-Day Beaches tour looks quite good to me.
http://www.leger.co.uk/Tours/fwn/Walking_the_D-Day_Beaches_of_Normandy

Thanks again to both of you for the great info.