Exploring » River, Sea & Beaches
To enjoy Dartmouth fully, every visitor just has to take to the water at some time and we have plenty of boats for everyone. You may have been lucky enough to arrive by ferry and therefore enjoyed the wonderful panorama of Dartmouth and the Britannia Royal Naval College from the river.
Throughout the year, the Lower Ferry, pulled by a tug, and a foot passenger ferry cross the Dart from Dartmouth to Kingswear, whilst the Higher Ferry, with its paddle wheels and chains, crosses to Noss.
Try to make time to take the passenger ferry out to Dartmouth Castle or up river to Dittisham, Greenway or the historic town of Totnes in the summer months - you may make friends with our grey seals on the way!
For fun, fishing, birdwatching or simply sightseeing why not hire a boat from the Embankment or a sailing dinghy from Dittisham. If you prefer not to take the helm you can embark on an organised river or coastal trip with many boat hire companies, some of which offer tailor-made trips. For the more adventurous traveller, why not explore the creeks and river banks in a canoe. Hop on any boat at the usually busy embankment and within minutes you'll find yourself in another world, sailing up the tranquil river, surrounded by woodland and wildlife. The noisiest neighbour may be a heron squawking overhead, the prettiest bather may be a bright white egret - they're both common sights. Round the rugged coast you should see more seals and, if you're lucky, dolphins and basking sharks. From October to March there is a profusion of unusual birds - widgeon, teal, lapwing, shelduck and dunlin winter here.
For a day on the beach our choice is exceptional - award winning Blackpool Sands is situated in a spectacular crescent shaped bay whilst Slapton Sands offers miles of unspoilt shingle beach with Torcross at the far end where water sports are available.
Looking for a dramatic coastal walk? It's quite a hike from Kingswear to the magical house and gardens of Coleton Fishacre, but well worth the effort. A more gentle meander takes you along the Dart Valley Trail to Greenway, one time home of Agatha Christie.
The South West Coast Path offers a variety of tough, cliff walking to gentle hills and lanes with an abundance of bird and wildlife and fabulous views - don't forget your camera!
Beyond Dartmouth Castle the River Dart starts to open out into the sea offering a complete contrast to the estuary. The steeply wooded cliffs out to Froward Point are covered with spectacular pines clinging to the rocks, and turning the point (the edge of the world!) opens up a spectacular vista of the Mewstone, a dramatic collection of rocks thrust upward from an ancient volcanic eruption. This maze of rocks becomes the home of colonies of cormorants, shags and gulls during the spring and summer. A small colony of seals rest here at low tide during the summer when it becomes to busy for them in the Dart, and watching them laze in the sun with their pups is a privilege.
Exploring this area by boat is the best way to see the sights and trips from Dartmouth regularly run around this area. Further along the coast are sheltered coves such as Pudcombe Cove and Scabbacombe that can only be seen and accessed by boat offering tranquillity, and often the sight of Peregrine Falcons hunting with their young. Further out to sea numerous deep water sea birds such as Fulmars, Guilliemots and Razorbills are sighted, along with the spectacular sight of a flock of Gannets plummeting high from the sky to dive for fish. Other visitors to the sea around Dartmouth are Sunfish, dolphins, pilot whales and basking sharks.
Further North-East rise the steep limestone cliffs of Berry Head with its colony of thousands of nesting Guillemots in the spring and early summer.
To the south east of the Dart the “Dartmouth Needles” off Coombe Point lead the way into Start Bay with its long expanse of shingle beaches, site of Operation Tiger prior to the D-Day Landings in WWII. At the end of the beaches the distinctive profile of Start Point rises and the race and Skerries Bank outside the point produce a huge variety of fish and bird life.
Exploring the above areas with the boat operators based in Dartmouth will open an exciting area for a few hours or a day and a real contrast to the River Dart.
