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Map of DARTMOUTH click here
Dartmouth is a small Devon town that has great charm and character, one of the most picturesque and interesting in the West Country. It is superbly situated on steep hills around the historic harbour, at the mouth of the River Dart. The tiers of streets, lined with very individual and sometimes quite unusual properties, all converge on the town centre around the Boat Float and Embankment of the river. Two castles stand astride the entrance to the river and 'guard' the approaches from the sea, whilst the Britannia Royal Naval College, set in its own beautiful grounds, commands one of the finest views over all the town to the sea beyond.
The harbour, important since Roman times, was a centre for the flourishing wine trade with Bordeaux during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. It has also been the launching point for many historic naval expeditions - the Mayflower called into Dartmouth in l620 on her way to America with the Pilgrim Fathers, and more recently such great sailors as Dame Naomi James and more recently, Lisa Clayton, have returned here from their record-breaking sailing adventures. Today the harbour is busy with yachts, sailing dinghies and fishing boats of all descriptions and the Yacht Clubs of Dartmouth and Kingswear maintain a full racing schedule throughout the year, which culminates in the Royal Regatta at the end of August.
The town has been carefully preserved and largely restored, with several Elizabethan buildings still standing almost in their original form, and the whole remains virtually unspoiled. Since celebrating 30 years competing in the Britain in Bloom competition,Dartmouth has won a trophy every year and in the last eight years has won the RHS gold certificate;and during the summer months the whole town bursts alive with colourful floral displays in the streets, outside shops, private gardens, window boxes and in fact, from every nook and cranny.
There are many fine pubs and several excellent restaurants which are frequented as much by the locals as by the visitors. Among the many shops offering the visitor almost anything he might require, are several specialising in local crafts. Fishermen, sailors, artists and authors abound and the natives are extremely friendly!
Within the vicinity of Dartmouth are opportunities for cliff-walking, swimming and wind surfing at the sandy beaches of Blackpool Sands and Slapton, sailing and fishing (with hire of local craft available), tennis, boat trips and bird-watching trips on the River Dart to Totnes and Dittisham. Much of the land in the area is now owned by the National Trust and there are many historic houses open to the public within striking distance of Dartmouth. There are two excellent golf courses within easy reach, and of course, the Dartmoor National Park is less than an hour's drive away.
Queen Victoria once likened the valley of the River Dart to that of the Rhine in Germany , and along the banks of this beautiful river now runs a privately owned Steam Railway for railway enthusiasts (which may, or may not have amused her!). |
