Can Colin Firth put the faded seaside town of Teignmouth back on the map?
Released in the UK on February 9, The Mercy starring Colin Firth and Rachel Weisz is expected to put the South Devon seaside town of Teignmouth back on the map.
The film documents the compelling and intriguing mystery of businessman Donald Crowhurst and his failed attempt to sail solo nonstop around the world in the 1969 Golden Globe race. Crowhurst began his voyage on October 31 from Teignmouth, which was transformed into the 1960s version of its former self for filming.
Between Exmouth and Torquay, this small coastal town sits on the banks of the River Teign and the shores of the English Channel. A holiday favourite from as far back as Georgian times, its appeal lies in its quintessential seaside charm. The town’s port is still active and has been in existence since the 13th century when it was connected to the Newfoundland cod industry. Teignmouth became a popular holiday destination in 1846 when the South Devon Railway Company opened a station that linked it directly to Exeter.
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While recent years have seen the town bypassed by those heading to the seaside resort of Torquay, crowds are expected to make a beeline to Teignmouth to check out the sights after seeing them on the silver screen this half-term.
If you have a weak spot for adventure, your imagination is sure to be captivated by Crowhurst’s fascinating tale.
"I wouldn’t dare do what he did," says Firth. "Even to this day, what Crowhurst did is unparalleled because, although people have gone around the world and have endured all sorts, I don’t know if it’s even possible now to construct a challenge with that sort of adversity... They were sailing across a frontier."
Finding himself out of his depth and in direct competition with world-renowned sailors, Crowhurst decided to hide out. It seems his plan was to skip the most treacherous part of the race through the Southern Ocean, make false reports of his location and slip seamlessly back into the pack as it made its way back towards England.
Things to do in Teignmouth
As you’d expect, much of the filming for this seafaring journey takes place outdoors, with the beaches, Grand Pier and charming regency seafront used to showcase both the town and the South Devon coast.
Beaches
A long expanse of sand punctuated by a pier and wooden groynes, Teignmouth Town Beach is backed by a promenade that features the noisy arcades that have become synonymous with British seaside towns. Aside from losing your money to the flashy neon machines, you can also take part in watersports such as kayaking, coasteering and paddleboarding.
To the west, on the banks of the River Teign, Teignmouth River and Back beaches have a quainter feel, with small fishing dinghies dragged carefully up onto the sand. Unlike Town Beach these are dog-friendly throughout the year.
The Grand Pier
It’s here that the crowds stood to wave off Crowhurst as he embarked on his voyage. Today, the Victorian pier is filled with arcade games and its frontage looks as though it's barely changed over the last 50 years.
Town centre
With a lido, play park, crazy golf and skate park all found in the town, there’s plenty beyond the beaches and arcades of Teignmouth to keep the kids entertained.
Once the famous Royal Hotel, Royal Court has been repurposed as retirement housing on the seafront. It was here that Donald and his wife Clare (played by Rachel Weisz) had dinner before the final preparations for the race. While the interior has been radically altered, the facade remains the same. You might also recognise the frontage from The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour.
Shaldon
The nearby village of Shaldon with its prominent, rugged headland can be reached either by boarding the country’s oldest passenger ferry and cruising across the estuary or by driving over 19th-century Shaldon Bridge. Here you can adventure to Ness Cove Beach through a smugglers tunnel or walk the headland and enjoy views back across Teignmouth.
A surprising foodie hotspot
The self-guided Taste of the Teign trail takes you around some of the town’s foodie hotspots including the Red Rock Brewery; Old Walls, the steepest vineyard in England; Shute Fruit where you can pick your own fruit; Milltop Orchards; and Luscombe Farm Shop.
Teignmouth food festival has become an annual event in late September–early October and showcases the region’s finest regional produce. Cafes and restaurants feature special menus while local producers and chefs demonstrate skills such as how to shell and dress a crab.
The UK coast on the silver screen
It’s not just Teignmouth that’s starred on cinema and TV screens around the world. The UK is full of famous coastal filming locations.
Cregneash, Isle of Man
Although supposedly set in Ireland, the fictitious fishing village of Tullymore in Waking Ned was actually filmed in Cregneash at the southwest tip of the Isle of Man. A variety of other scenes from the 1998 film were shot around the island, making the most of the beautifully wild scenery including Cronk ny Arrey Laa and Cornaa.
Charlestown Harbour, Charlestown, Cornwall
This waterfront Cornish village has a timeless appeal that has attracted film and tv makers from across the globe. It has featured in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, The Three Musketeers, Doctor Who and British TV sensation Poldark. A grade II-listed harbour, the view rarely changes and the port has a collection of old ships worth seeing.
Castle Ward, County Down, Northern Ireland
If you’ve seen Game of Thrones, you’ll instantly recognise Castle Ward as Winterfell. A National Trust property, the home of House Stark sits on Northern Ireland’s east coast. With a replica archery range built on site, you can channel your inner Arya Stark or Jon Snow. Other seaside Game of Thrones locations in Northern Ireland include Downhill Strand, a seven-mile beach overlooked by Mussenden Temple, and the village of Ballintoy.
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The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent
Celebrating its 400th anniversary in 2018, The Historic Dockyard Chatham has been used as the backdrop for dark, grimey scenes in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, Suffragette and Les Miserables. Re-opening February 10, 2018, the site is also the set for hit tv show Call the Midwife and fans can take a Call the Midwife Location Tour from April 7–October 28. Recent BBC One drama Taboo, meanwhile, used Tilbury Fort, a few miles away on the north bank of the Thames.
Weymouth, Dorset
War epic and summer sensation Dunkirk was partially filmed at Custom House Quay, Weymouth Harbour. It’s here that local fishermen cast off for France to help soldiers off the beach. Panoramas of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast also make an appearance.
Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales
The dramatic setting of the Pembrokeshire coast has attracted many location scouts over the past decade. The expanse of sand at Freshwater West has had Russell Crowe ride across it in Robin Hood and seen Harry bid a tearful farewell to Dobby in Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows. Movie lovers may also recognise nearby Marloes Sands as the backdrop for scenes from Snow White And The Huntsman.
West Sands Beach, St Andrews
This is where the opening sequence of Chariots of Fire – those lyrical images of young men in white running along a beach – was filmed. St Andrews is a place of pilgrimage for golfers, of course, but it offers far more than that. The beach itself is glorious, a vision in galloping white horses. Throw in the delights of an ancient university town and you have the perfect venue for a weekend break or a day trip from Edinburgh.
Holkham Beach, Norfolk
From a famous opening sequence to a famous closing sequence. Remember Gwyneth Paltrow striding away into the distance in what was meant to be Shakespeare's Illyria? The beach seemed to go on and on and on – which Holkham Beach in north Norfolk does. Four miles long and almost a mile wide, backed by dunes and pine woods, it offers something for everyone, whether you want a bracing walk along the Norfolk Coast Path or a gentle ramble through the adjoining nature reserve. Follow this with tea at Holkham Hall, a Palladian pile that is well worth a visit in its own right.
