Dartmouth (England)

By car

Dartmouth is on the A379 coastroad from Kingbridge to Torbay; if coming from the East it is easier to drive to Torbay and then follow the signposts, from the West, drive to Plymouth (or the Devon Expressway) and follow the signposts to Dartmouth.

Bus or rail

There are direct national coach (National Expresss)and rail links to Totnes and Paignton from London, Birmingham and even as far as Scotland. Taxis are usually available from both stations, otherwise local bus stops are just a few minutes walk away. During the main holiday periods, at certain times, it is possible to get off a modern train at Paignton and cross to the Steam Railway. You can then travel the last few miles through breathtaking scenery to Kingswear before crossing the Dart on one of the ferries.

Boat

Dartmouth has strong connection with the sea and arriving by boat is a perfectly feasible and enjoyable way to enter into the town and the surrounding area, Dartmouth Directory has more information about services people travelling by boat

• The town is too small for a traveller to need a bus, by foot is the best way
• There is a ferry between the two sides of the valley, there is a small charge for crossing

• Foss StreetA delightful pedestrianised street dating from the 1200s. It was built as a dam to hold the Mill Pool. As the water ran out it drove two mill wheels. If you stand about halfway along Foss Street and look towards St Saviour's Church, it is still almost possible to imagine how things might have looked.

• Browns HillThis used to be the main road into Dartmouth. Today it is typical of the many small streets ablaze with colour during the summer months and well worth exploring.

• Dartmouth Castle

  phone: +44 1803 833588
  address: Castle Road, TQ6 0JN
  Strictly speaking, two castles. The Medieval fortress dates back 600 years while the more recent building was still in use during the Second World War. It is under the care of English Heritage.

• Dartmouth Museum

  address: The Butterwalk, Duke St, Dartmouth TQ6 9PZ
  Occupying the first floor of an old merchant's house. The collection includes many ship models, pictures and artefacts of this ancient town together with much local and maritime information.

• St Saviour's Church

  phone: +44 1803 414767
  address: Anzac St, TQ6 9DL
  Consecrated in 1372 on the site of an earlier chapel and rebuilt during the 1630s. The church contains a fine wooden screen and an exceptional 14th-century door. It contains the famous Hawley Brass.

• St Petrox Church

  address: TQ6 0JN
  Has some of the most stunning views in the country! Probably a monk's cell when first recorded in 1192 (it has been rebuilt - in the 17th century.) This church has an interesting collection of brasses and family memorials. Well worth a visit - perhaps by river taxi.

• The Newcomen EngineOne of the town's star attractions. It is well worth visiting Thomas Newcomen's famous engine if only to feel very small standing beside this huge machine!

• Bayards Cove

  address: Bayards Cove, TQ6 9AX
  The Pilgrim Fathers set sail from here in 1620 in the Mayflower and Speedwell (but hit problems and had to go to Plymouth until they could continue their journey). Bayards Cove Fort was the last line of defence against foreign intruders. During the 1970s this area found fame as a setting for TV's The Onedin Line.

• Paignton and Dartmouth RailwayTo get to Dartmouth's railway station, you must take a ferry to Kingswear the other side of the river. The railway reached Kingswear in 1864 and remained part of the network until 1971. Today steam trains run throughout most of the year except March.

• Woodlands Family Theme Park

  phone: +44 1803 712598
  address: Woodlands Leisure Park, A3122, Totnes, TQ9 7DQ
  3 Watercoasters, Toboggan Run, Arctic Gliders, Boats, 15 playzones for all ages. Biggest indoor venture zone in the U.K. with five floors of play and rides. Falconry & Animals.

• Dartmouth Golf & Country Club

  phone: +44 1803 712686
  address: Totnes, TQ9 7FE
  About 4 miles outside Dartmouth with an 18-hole Championship golf course (voted one of the top 80 courses in Great Britain & Ireland), a 9-hole pay-and-play course, driving range plus a superb leisure suite, complete with swimming pool, sauna, steam room, spa, health & beauty treatments, sunbed, gymnasium and physiotherapy clinic. Open daily to non members, handicap certificates not required.

Dartmouth has the usual array of tourist products, art galleries and other outlets

Restaurants

• Anzac Street Bistro

  address: 2 Anzac Street

• Browns Hotel Tapas Restaurant

• Cherub Inn and Restaurant

• Dart Marina

  address: Sandquay

• Dartmouth Golf & Country Club

• Taylors Restaurant

  address: 8 The Quay

• Jan and Freddies Brasserie

• Kendricks

  address: 29 Fairfax Place

• Kings Arms

  address: Dartmouth Road, Strete.

• La Casa di Tudor Ristorante Italiano & Dartmouth Coffee House

  address: Bayards Cove

• Skippers

  address: Fairfax Place

• Sloping Deck

  address: 10 Duke St

• Station Family Restaurant

  address: South Embankment
  also take-away

• Tsangs Chinese Restaurant

  address: 23 Fairfax Rd
  also take-away

• Waterfront Coffee House

  address: 8 South Embankment

• Wheelhouse

  address: Fairfax Place
  also take-away

• Zannes Bistro and Breakfast Bar

  address: Fore Street, Kingswear
  also take-away

Food on the water

• The Picnic Boata delightful way to enjoy food and drink

Pubs

• Dartmouth Arms

  address: Bayards Cove

• address: Coombe Road

• Forces Tavern

  address: Forces Cross, Blackawton

• Royal Castle Hotel

  address: The Quay

• Seale Arms

  address: Victoria Road

Take-away/cafés

• Greenfields Sandwich Bar

  address: 30 Lower St.
  Also real local ice cream

• Zannes Bistro and Breakfast Bar

  address: Fore Street, Kingswear

Hotels

Dartmouth has a good selection of hotels, the ones below are just a selection. the town also has many Guesthouses and B&Bs

• Bayards Cove HotelRefurbished Tudor merchant's house.

• Browns Hotel

  address: Victoria Road

• Dartmouth Golf & Country Club

  phone: +44 1803 712686
  address: Totnes, TQ9 7FE
  3-star hotel.

• The Dart Marina Hotel

  address: Sandquay

• Fingals Coombe Dittisham

• Royal Castle Hotel

  address: The Quay

• Stoke Lodge Hotel

  address: Stoke Fleming
  Les Routiers Westcountry Hotel of the Year 2003.

Camping

• Woodlands Caravan & Camping ParkFor more information

Plymouth is to the west, Exeter is to the east and there is beautiful coastline all around the area.