3 bed flat for sale

Higher Warberry Road, Torquay TQ1

A landmark ground floor apartment of exceptional scale and presence, forming the principal residence within the prestigious Sunnyhill, an impressive gated period conversion positioned high on the Warberries hillside, one of Torquay’s most established and desirable residential addresses.

The property combines grand Victorian architecture, generous single-level accommodation, excellent storage, private outside space and a superb southerly aspect across the landscaped communal gardens, with a view towards Tor Bay beyond. Originally constructed by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Thomas Matthew Charles Symonds, the building carries real local significance and has been sympathetically converted to create an elegant private residence while retaining much of its original architectural character.

The approach is suitably impressive, with secure gated access opening into the residents’ grounds and parking area. The apartment enjoys its own private entrance, leading into a vestibule with a large cloakroom storage cupboard, adding valuable practicality from the moment you enter. From here, the accommodation opens into a striking reception hall, a central space with high ceilings, ornate plasterwork and excellent proportions, setting the tone for the principal rooms beyond.

The main living spaces are arranged to make full use of the south-facing outlook. The drawing room is a particularly impressive formal reception space, featuring detailed ceiling cornice, a decorative ceiling rose, elegant bay window, a fine period fireplace with carved figurehead detailing and French doors opening directly to the private balcony and terrace. It is a superb room for both day-to-day living and entertaining, with natural light, outlook and scale working beautifully together.

Adjoining the drawing room, the kitchen/dining room is equally impressive, providing a generous and highly sociable space with the dining area positioned to enjoy the outlook over the gardens. The kitchen is fitted with solid wood cabinetry, granite work surfaces and a central island, together with an integrated dishwasher, Range Master cooker and fridge/freezer, all of which are to remain. Connecting doors between the kitchen/dining room and drawing room allow the two rooms to be opened together, creating an excellent layout for entertaining.

The principal bedroom is a substantial and elegant room with a tall bay window and ornate cornicing. It also benefits from an abundance of built-in wardrobes and storage, with the sellers including the matching bedside tables and dressing table as part of the sale. The adjoining en-suite is fitted in a period style, with a double shower, storage and natural light.

There are two further generous double bedrooms, each offering strong proportions and period detail. One of the rooms is currently arranged as a study/library, but has previously been used as a bedroom and offers excellent flexibility. It includes a large storage cupboard and a railed mezzanine area, providing a highly useful additional storage space for luggage, seasonal items or household belongings, with French doors leading onto a charming large private terrace. The adjoining ensuite fitted in keeping with period style of the home includes a freestanding roll-top bath with shower attachment and a double mirrored cabinet. Another bedroom features a large window, detailed ceiling cornice and access to a Jack and Jill style bathroom, fitted in keeping with the period feel of the home, including a freestanding bath and separate shower.

A separate utility room adds further practicality, with a washer/dryer included within the sale, along with a sink, storage and airing cupboard housing the hot water cylinder. The apartment also benefits from a Viessmann heating system, installed only a few years ago.

The private outside space is one of the apartment’s defining features. The south-facing sun terrace provides a superb setting for outdoor dining, seating and potted planting, with a further balcony area directly accessible from the main reception rooms. Both areas overlook the beautifully maintained communal lawned gardens, mature trees and established planting, with a pleasant outlook towards Tor Bay.

The wider grounds provide a peaceful and elegant setting around the building, while an allocated parking space is positioned behind the secure gated entrance.

Sunnyhill is a rare opportunity to acquire one of the area’s most impressive ground floor apartments, combining scale, history, privacy, outside space and a prime Warberries address.

EPC Rating: D

Location

Sunnyhill, Higher Warberry Road occupies a highly regarded position within the Warberries, one of Torquay’s best-known hillside districts and part of a designated conservation area. The area is characterised by elegant period homes, leafy roads and elevated positions above the town, with the Warberries sitting close to Torquay Harbour, the Lincombes and Wellswood. Torbay Council’s conservation area appraisal describes the Warberries as one of Torquay’s interlinked conservation areas, adjoining Torquay Harbour to the south.

From the property, Torquay Harbour and Marina are easily accessible, offering waterside restaurants, cafés, bars, yacht moorings and a promenade leading around towards Torre Abbey Sands, Abbey Park and the seafront. The harbour area is one of Torquay’s key lifestyle locations, with a good choice of places to eat and drink, including restaurants around the marina, the Strand and nearby harbourside streets.

Wellswood is also within easy reach and provides a more village-style setting, with a range of independent shops, cafés, restaurants, pharmacy, convenience stores and everyday amenities. Popular local spots include the Wellswood village area, Kents Cavern, Ilsham Green, Anstey’s Cove and Meadfoot Beach, giving the property excellent access to both practical amenities and some of Torquay’s most attractive coastal locations.

For walking, the location is particularly strong. From Wellswood and Ilsham, there are scenic routes through Ilsham Valley towards Meadfoot Beach, as well as access to Daddyhole Plain, Anstey’s Cove and the South West Coast Path. These routes offer some of the best coastal walking in Torquay, with sea views, wooded paths, clifftop scenery and routes continuing towards Babbacombe, Oddicombe and the wider English Riviera coastline.

Nearby beaches include Meadfoot Beach, Anstey’s Cove, Torre Abbey Sands and Beacon Cove, with Babbacombe and Oddicombe also accessible across the northern side of Torquay. Meadfoot is particularly popular for swimming, paddleboarding, coastal walks and its beach café, while Torre Abbey Sands offers a more traditional seafront setting close to the promenade and town centre.

Public transport links are available in the surrounding area. The local Torbay Buses Route 64 serves the Warberries area, with Torbay Council listing the route as operating between Torquay Town Centre, Higher Lincombe Road, Middle Warberry Road and Lower Warberry Road. Bus stop data for Lower Warberry Road also shows Route 64 serving Torquay. Torquay railway station provides rail connections towards Newton Abbot, Exeter and the wider national network.

For road links, Torquay town centre, the harbour, Wellswood and Babbacombe are all readily accessible, while the A380 connects towards Newton Abbot, Exeter and the M5. The location is also convenient for Torbay Hospital, local employment hubs, grammar schools, primary schools and the wider amenities of Torquay, Paignton and Brixham.

The area will suit buyers wanting a prestigious residential setting with quick access to the harbour, coast, shops, restaurants, beaches and local walks, while still retaining a peaceful and established hillside environment.

Garden

The outside space is one of the apartment’s standout features and adds significantly to the overall appeal of the home. The apartment enjoys its own private south-facing sun terrace, a beautifully arranged space for outdoor dining, seating and container planting, with direct access from the principal bedroom/study. There is also a further private balcony area accessed from the main reception rooms, creating an additional place to sit out and enjoy the outlook across the grounds.

Both private terraces take full advantage of the southerly aspect, overlooking the beautifully landscaped communal gardens and offering a pleasant view towards Tor Bay beyond. The communal grounds are a particularly attractive feature of Sunnyhill, with an expansive lawn, mature trees, established shrubs and well-kept planting that create a refined and peaceful setting around the building. These gardens provide residents with an impressive shared outdoor environment, while the apartment itself retains the benefit of its own defined private outside space for everyday use and entertaining.

Parking - Secure Gated