Hospital Radio celebrates Valentine’s with a musical tour of Torbay’s love spots

At Torbay Hospital Radio we will be all over the language of love during the next week, what with Valentine’s Day and all that.

If you’re looking for romance in Devon, you don’t need Paris, Venice, or even a functioning Satnav. You just need a coastline that can’t help showing off, a few well‑chosen songs, and someone willing to share a bag of chips who knows you don’t like vinegar.

How about Burgh Island at sunset, it’s as if the whole place has been wrapped in a warm glow. The tide slips in and that thin band of sand vanishes, and suddenly you’re on your own little island. Not stranded of course, because there is always the Sea Tractor, just romantically secluded, like a scene from a movie. This is where a Beatles song drifts into your head, something like “Something,” because there really is something about the place.

Up the coast, Hope Cove appears almost shy, tiny and hiding away like it’s avoiding the tourists, but secretly knowing it has irresistible charm. Stroll along the sand with “Your Song” by Elton John playing in your head and the romantic in you foolishly thinks that the seagulls are joining in. They’re not, of course. They’re just eyeing your pasty.

If you’re looking for romance in Torbay, you don’t need roses, violins, or a dramatic announcement on a cliff top (though Hope’s Nose does lend itself to that sort of thing). All you really need is a half-decent sunset and a great soundtrack. Start at Torre Abbey Meadows, where couples stroll hand-in-hand pretending they’re in a video. Imagine Eric Clapton’s  “Wonderful Tonight”  because nothing says romance like trying to look cool and in love while dodging all those people coming in the other direction.

Then a wander to Torquay Harbour, where the lights shimmer on the water like twinkling fairy lights. This is where “At Last” by Etta James fits perfectly. Not because you’ve finally found true love, but because you’ve finally found a bench that isn’t already occupied by teenagers practising their future on-screen kisses. This song is constantly voted the most romantic of all time. 

Across the bay at Paignton, the Pier, the place where romance meets bright neon and the amusement hall. The moment you step onto those boards, imagine “Can’t Help Falling in Love” starts playing in your head, partly because it’s timeless, partly because you’re trying not to fall through the gaps while carrying a fresh doughnut. Nothing tests a relationship like sharing a doughnut bag in a crosswind.

If you’re after something quieter, head to Goodrington . On a nice day, not during a Portuguese named storm, the waves roll in with that lazy, contented rhythm that goes beautifully with “Fields of Gold.” It’s the kind of place where you can sit together, watch the paddleboarders drift by, and pretend you’re both far more outdoorsy than you actually are.

And then, of course, there’s Brixham Breakwater the long, steady walk that feels like an acknowledgement that this is it. This is where “Make You Feel My Love” belongs. Not because you’re about to propose, but because you’re halfway along and realising you that flip flops are the wrong shoes. Romance is many things, but it’s rarely sensible.

To finish our romantic tour across the bay. It’s Berry Head at sunset. The cliffs glow like the sky’s been brushed with warm  light, the sea is still, and even the gulls seem to agree to a temporary ceasefire. That’s when “Halo” drifts into your mind Radiant, uplifting, and full of devotion, and just slushy enough to make you believe Torbay might be flirting with you.

Because that’s the thing about the Bay It’s not trying to be romantic. In its own slightly chaotic, seagull-supervised way it just is. And if you happen to fall in love here, well…Torbay will happily take some of the credit.