Things to Do in Dartmouth

Located on the banks of the River Dart, Dartmouth is a popular location for families and holiday makers in the south of Devon. The town is a hive of activity with regular festivals, events and exhibitions taking place all year around and with the easy access to the South West Coast Path and being within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore the beautiful scenery and get out and about.

Historical attractions galore

Dartmouth is the ideal location for anyone who has a keen interest in history as there are many stately homes, castles and landscaped historic gardens in the town. Dartmouth is said to date back to the 1100s and the town has a real eclectic mix of building styles that embraces both the modern day and its early heritage. The town’s museum is the best place to start if you want to find out more about the town, while the castle offers plenty of opportunity to truly immerse yourself with its grand and historic atmosphere. The castle has one of the most picturesque views of all the UK’s remaining castles and has stood on the banks of the estuary for over 600 years.

National Trust members will find plenty to do in Dartmouth with two properties to be found in and around the town. There are also a number of properties managed by English Heritage, as well as those managed by private companies and the town itself, so you’ll never run out of places to explore. Dartmouth Steam Railway is another of the town’s popular attractions and is ideal for a day of nostalgia!

Being a harbour town, there are strong connections to Britain’s nautical history to be found here too. It is home to the Britannia Royal Navy College and there are a whole manner of boating and sailing events that take place across the year including the famous Regatta. Aside from the boating events, Dartmouth is also well known for its sea food festivals and abundance of fresh, quality local produce. Foodies will be well catered for here!

Get out on the water

The water plays a huge part when it comes to the outdoor activities that are available in the town. The River Dart has a number of companies operating tours along the river as well as organisations that offer canoe and boat hire, so you can explore at your own pace. For something a little more adventurous, paddleboarding and kayaking sessions are also available. The river is not only a great destination for those that like their watersports, it is perfect for those that enjoy walking too. It is surrounded by beautiful countryside and with the Dartmoor National Park on the doorstep, you’ll have plenty of chances to get out and about. For families, crabbing remains a popular activity and there are several spots along the estuary where you can find crabs and learn more about the wildlife in the area. Of course, you can’t visit south Devon with its warm climate and abundance of family friendly activities without heading to the beach, luckily, the beaches in the area are among the top things to do in Dartmouth.

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