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One of Earth's extraordinary places

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Welcome to the English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark

One of Earth's extraordinary places

One extraordinary bay, 400 million years in the making — where internationally important geology meets living heritage, culture and wildlife, and the story of the Earth still shapes how we live, learn and play today.

EXPLORE THE GEOPARK

400M

Years of Geological History

32

Internationally Important Geosites

22

Miles of StunningCoastline

2007

Designated a Global Geopark

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A topographical map of a winding river and surrounding terrain in black and light green, with contour lines indicating elevation.
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One Bay,
Many Worlds

The whole of Torbay — the towns of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham, plus 41.5 km² of sea — was designated a Geopark in 2007 for its unique and often spectacular geology. While geology is at the heart of the designation, the Geopark celebrates every part of our heritage: history, culture, archaeology and biodiversity.

About the
GEOPARK

What a UNESCO Global Geopark is, and why Torbay is one of Earth’s most extraordinary destinations.

Our Amazing
GEOSTORY

Travel the timeline from tropical Devonian seas to ice age cave bears and the first humans in Britain.

Black and white abstract line drawing resembling mountain ranges and valleys.
Black and white abstract line drawing resembling mountain ranges and valleys.

Discover and
LEARN

Outdoor field work, school visits and classroom resources across every key stage.

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Are you ready to

EXPLORE 400 MILLION YEARS?

Start with the interactive map of our 32 internationally important geosites - from upside-down cliffs to caves that housed Britain’s earliest humans.

Open the Map Now
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A stylized, abstract map of part of the coastline showing land, water, and rivers or estuaries.
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Get Involved…

Being a UNESCO Global Geopark starts from the ground up, with individuals and organisations working together to showcase where we live and why it’s so special.

Get Involved →