Set opposite the town of Dartmouth, Kingswear is a charming character village that has some of the most beautiful views across the River Dart.

The beautiful town of Dartmouth situated on the mouth of the River Dart is one of South Devon’s most popular and enchanting towns. With its charming historic streets, scenic river location and surrounded by South Devon countryside you have to go a long way to find a town as pretty. The beauty of the landscape, the historical buildings, and the exceptional local produce all make Dartmouth the perfect holiday destination.

Getting There

By far the easiest way to experience Dartmouth is to take either the train or bus to Kingswear then take a ferry across the River Dart. There are two vehicle ferry options (upper and lower) if you wish to take the car to Dartmouth, but parking is quite limited on both sides of the river. Kingswear is where the Dartmouth Steam Railway terminates (from Paignton) and all passenger tickets include a foot passenger ferry return crossing. Alternatively from outside Waterside Holiday Park take the Stagecoach No 120 bus straight to Kinsgwear (approx. 7 miles) and buy a foot passenger ticket on the lower ferry. The other alternative to take your car to Dartmouth and avoid all river crossings is a 22 mile, 1 hour journey via Totnes!

History

With a long tradition of strategic importance for sailing ships, Dartmouth has a long association with the Royal Navy, with The Britannia Royal Naval College located on the hill overlooking the town and has been training Officers since 1863.

With its medieval and Elizabethan roots, many of the original buildings in the town still stand giving it a distinctive character, with Dartmouth Castle and Bayards Cove Fort being two iconic historical buildings that are well worth a visit.

Dartmouth also played a role in the historic sailing of the Mayflower to America in 1620.

Things to Do

The River Dart is the perfect watersports playground – sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, boat trips and more are all on offer – you can even learn to surf at one of the nearby beaches, or just spend a lazy day enjoying the views. One of the country’s top beaches Blackpool Sands is just a short drive from Dartmouth and is not to be missed.  

Dartmouth is full of history and heritage, no trip to Dartmouth would be complete without visiting Dartmouth Castle, or Agatha Christie's Greenway National Trust Holiday Home. For the kids, there are plenty of local attractions such as Woodlands Theme Park, and activities and crabbing is a popular pastime on the embankment to keep them amused.

Spend a day exploring the town, with its museum, art galleries, independent shops and places to eat.

Where to Eat in Dartmouth

From the bustle of the waterside to fine dining, traditional pub grub and bistros as well as fish and chip shops and ice cream vendors, there’s a huge variety of food and drink outlets for you to choose from. The fresh local seafood is a specialty in Dartmouth – especially the South Devon crab. Many places also serve local wine and ales so you can experience the best of the South West’s food and drink.