Gill’s guidebook
Food scene
If you have time a wonderful walk up to Totnes will pass via Sharpham Wine. This is a great spot for lunch and to sample some excellent English wines and cheeses (Sharpham Brie is exceptional). The team there lead tours around the vineyard alternatively you can work your way through the wine list.
The tapas restaurant (The Cellar Door) is excellent and makes for a fun afternoon. If you want to see more about this place watch the Julia Bradbury walk from Totnes to Dartmouth (ITV) Series 1, Episode 7.
90 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sharpham Wine and Cheese
Waddeton RoadIf you have time a wonderful walk up to Totnes will pass via Sharpham Wine. This is a great spot for lunch and to sample some excellent English wines and cheeses (Sharpham Brie is exceptional). The team there lead tours around the vineyard alternatively you can work your way through the wine list.
The tapas restaurant (The Cellar Door) is excellent and makes for a fun afternoon. If you want to see more about this place watch the Julia Bradbury walk from Totnes to Dartmouth (ITV) Series 1, Episode 7.
Catch the ferry up to Dittisham. The Ferry Boat Inn is a great fun pub with live music (when the tide is out). Crabbing competitions for kids on the pontoons and rock pooling (with trousers rolled) up at low water.
26 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Ferry Boat Inn
Manor StreetCatch the ferry up to Dittisham. The Ferry Boat Inn is a great fun pub with live music (when the tide is out). Crabbing competitions for kids on the pontoons and rock pooling (with trousers rolled) up at low water.
One of our absolute favourites. Book early as the terrace gets busy. Fresh fish in a really pretty spot. The Café has a sister café in Coronation Park in the centre of Dartmouth (for breakfast and snacks).
55 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Anchor Stone Cafe
One of our absolute favourites. Book early as the terrace gets busy. Fresh fish in a really pretty spot. The Café has a sister café in Coronation Park in the centre of Dartmouth (for breakfast and snacks).
For that special occasion you should try the Seahorse. Mitch Tonk's restaurant in the town is really fabulous. There is sometimes a "local's menu" offering excellent value for what is incredible food. Going the extra mile you could reserve the private dining room in The Cantina. Exceptional food.
65 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Seahorse Restaurant
5 S EmbankmentFor that special occasion you should try the Seahorse. Mitch Tonk's restaurant in the town is really fabulous. There is sometimes a "local's menu" offering excellent value for what is incredible food. Going the extra mile you could reserve the private dining room in The Cantina. Exceptional food.
Manna from Devon Cooking School
Just a very short walk away. Outdoor cookery skills.
Rockfish is another Mitch Tonks' resto and there is also a takeaway option (of the same name) near the Lower Ferry. Listen out for the alternate Shipping Forecast in the loos!
93 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rockfish
8 South EmbankmentRockfish is another Mitch Tonks' resto and there is also a takeaway option (of the same name) near the Lower Ferry. Listen out for the alternate Shipping Forecast in the loos!
Great little eaterie in Stoke Fleming with all produce coming from within 7 miles - hence the name. Views over Start Bay.
16 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Radius 7
New RoadGreat little eaterie in Stoke Fleming with all produce coming from within 7 miles - hence the name. Views over Start Bay.
Your local coffee shop. Home made cakes and simple meals. Within a stones throw of Pebble Cottage.
MOOR AT 13
13 Fore StYour local coffee shop. Home made cakes and simple meals. Within a stones throw of Pebble Cottage.
Great very local pub in Kingswear with excellent takeaway pizzas and Italian food. Italian run team of mother, son and sister run this great foodie pub.
75 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Ship Inn
Great very local pub in Kingswear with excellent takeaway pizzas and Italian food. Italian run team of mother, son and sister run this great foodie pub.
Your second great local pub. Serving great food and whilst there is no beer garden it's quite acceptable to spill out into the road overlooking the river for a pint / gin & tonic.
34 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Steam Packet Inn
Your second great local pub. Serving great food and whilst there is no beer garden it's quite acceptable to spill out into the road overlooking the river for a pint / gin & tonic.
Busy local yachtie pub with live music and lots of fun.
20 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Dolphin @ Dartmouth
5 Market StBusy local yachtie pub with live music and lots of fun.
Excellent bistro, broad menu with something for everyone and great for families.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kendricks
29 Fairfax PlExcellent bistro, broad menu with something for everyone and great for families.
Excellent breakfast spot just back from the seafront near the Lower Ferry. A favourite of Jay Kay from Jamiroqui, who lives nearby. Real mix of breakfast options and great coffees.
69 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Cafe Alf Resco
Lower StreetExcellent breakfast spot just back from the seafront near the Lower Ferry. A favourite of Jay Kay from Jamiroqui, who lives nearby. Real mix of breakfast options and great coffees.
National Trust sites
Devon was inspirational for many of Agatha Christie's murder-mystery plots. Her home on the edge of the River Dart is now a National Trust property. Wander around the house and gardens. Parking requires pre-booking, alternatively jump on one of the ferries heading up the Dart from the Town Quay in Dartmouth. They serve a mean cream tea too!
132 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Greenway House
Devon was inspirational for many of Agatha Christie's murder-mystery plots. Her home on the edge of the River Dart is now a National Trust property. Wander around the house and gardens. Parking requires pre-booking, alternatively jump on one of the ferries heading up the Dart from the Town Quay in Dartmouth. They serve a mean cream tea too!
Harking back to the Art Deco and the 1920s Arts & Crafts period, Coleton Fishacre was owned by the D'Oyly Carte family. They performed Gilbert & Sullivan plays in the living room. The RHS-accredited Chinese gardens are wonderful to walk around.
114 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
National Trust - Casa y Jardines Coleton Fishacre
Brownstone RoadHarking back to the Art Deco and the 1920s Arts & Crafts period, Coleton Fishacre was owned by the D'Oyly Carte family. They performed Gilbert & Sullivan plays in the living room. The RHS-accredited Chinese gardens are wonderful to walk around.
On the edge of Dartmoor, formerly owned by the Drewe Family (relatives run it now on behalf of the National Trust) and designed and built relatively recently (as castles go!) by Sir Edward Lutyens. The house and grounds make for a nice day out. The Drewe Arms pub in Drewsteignton is worth stopping at for a bowl of soup or pub lunch too.
73 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Castle Drogo
On the edge of Dartmoor, formerly owned by the Drewe Family (relatives run it now on behalf of the National Trust) and designed and built relatively recently (as castles go!) by Sir Edward Lutyens. The house and grounds make for a nice day out. The Drewe Arms pub in Drewsteignton is worth stopping at for a bowl of soup or pub lunch too.
Family Days Out
A great place for the kids to run free. Slides and rides this is a good family day out, only 15 minutes by car or bus from Dartmouth.
135 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque temático familiar de Woodlands
A3122A great place for the kids to run free. Slides and rides this is a good family day out, only 15 minutes by car or bus from Dartmouth.
Go Ape in Haldon Forest (overlooking Exeter and Dartmoor) is a great spot for some outdoor activity. Great walks, colour coded mountain biking of differing grades of difficulty and a challenging high-ropes obstacle course.
49 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Go Ape Haldon (Treetop Challenge, Zip Lines, High Ropes)
Go Ape in Haldon Forest (overlooking Exeter and Dartmoor) is a great spot for some outdoor activity. Great walks, colour coded mountain biking of differing grades of difficulty and a challenging high-ropes obstacle course.
A great spot near Exeter for young children. Rides galore.
175 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Temático y Resort Crealy
Sidmouth RoadA great spot near Exeter for young children. Rides galore.
Only 20 minutes from Kingswear, Paignton Zoo is a great zoo. Our boys (and Lisa) loves the great apes area (she's a sucker for an orang-utan!). Spacious enclosures and very humane conditions for the animals - you can even be a "keeper" for the day.
269 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Ambiental del Zoológico de Paignton
Totnes RoadOnly 20 minutes from Kingswear, Paignton Zoo is a great zoo. Our boys (and Lisa) loves the great apes area (she's a sucker for an orang-utan!). Spacious enclosures and very humane conditions for the animals - you can even be a "keeper" for the day.
A good wet-weather option. Based in Totnes, China Blue is somewhere the kids can paint a clay figurine / object and then have it kiln fired. You can easily while away a wet morning or afternoon here.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
China Blue
Station RoadA good wet-weather option. Based in Totnes, China Blue is somewhere the kids can paint a clay figurine / object and then have it kiln fired. You can easily while away a wet morning or afternoon here.
A pretty coastal village with access crabbing and messing about on the water with a large tidal pool that kids can enjoy. It's only 10 minutes from Kingsbridge by car. A really nice resto / café sits at the end of the jetty.
24 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Stoke Gabriel
A pretty coastal village with access crabbing and messing about on the water with a large tidal pool that kids can enjoy. It's only 10 minutes from Kingsbridge by car. A really nice resto / café sits at the end of the jetty.
Dittisham is a short ferry trip up the river. It works well with a trip to Greenway. Ring the bell for the ferry from Greenway and cut across the river. Two great eateries in the form of the Anchorstone Café and the Ferry Boat Inn (FBI). Crabbing competitions and live music. Warmer water to swim in than off the beaches on the coast.
36 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dittisham
Dittisham is a short ferry trip up the river. It works well with a trip to Greenway. Ring the bell for the ferry from Greenway and cut across the river. Two great eateries in the form of the Anchorstone Café and the Ferry Boat Inn (FBI). Crabbing competitions and live music. Warmer water to swim in than off the beaches on the coast.
Another brilliant wet day activity at Haven Banks, Exeter. Climbing for those with plenty of energy on the climbs of varying difficulty. A great active morning.
23 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Clip 'n Climb Exeter
Another brilliant wet day activity at Haven Banks, Exeter. Climbing for those with plenty of energy on the climbs of varying difficulty. A great active morning.
A wander around the banks of the Dart, on the Dartmouth side will bring you round to the Castle. Sit down to watch the comings and goings of yachts, the Naval Picket Boats and Whalers.
A growing favourite is wild sea-swimming from either Compass Cove or Western Combe Cove below the Castle - but do check the tides!
117 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Castelo de Dartmouth
Castle RoadA wander around the banks of the Dart, on the Dartmouth side will bring you round to the Castle. Sit down to watch the comings and goings of yachts, the Naval Picket Boats and Whalers.
A growing favourite is wild sea-swimming from either Compass Cove or Western Combe Cove below the Castle - but do check the tides!
Burgh Island has the Art Deco hotel, made famous in the Poirot films. There is also surfing when the wind and waves are coming in from the south and stunning beaches from Thurlestone, Bantham, Hope Cove and Bigbury. Time it right with the tiders and you can swim around Burgh Island.
21 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Burgh Island
Burgh Island has the Art Deco hotel, made famous in the Poirot films. There is also surfing when the wind and waves are coming in from the south and stunning beaches from Thurlestone, Bantham, Hope Cove and Bigbury. Time it right with the tiders and you can swim around Burgh Island.
Another great wet day activity, the aquarium is exceptional.
208 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Acuario Nacional de la Marina
Another great wet day activity, the aquarium is exceptional.
City/town information
Salcombe has amazing beaches and comes alive in the summer. A devastatingly pretty river town which can be mobbed in the summer but if you get there early we thoroughly recommend a quick wander through the town and then getting across the river to the beaches on the opposite side from the town. Our favourite is walking along to Sunny Cove. You might also choose to watch the dinghy racing from the steep banked viewing area next to the yacht club. Salcombe is famous for it's Salcombe Yawl and Merlin Rocket dinghy racing which takes place through the summer on weekends. The place is alive with chi-chi types and beautiful yachts. There are also stunning walks along the coastal path in either direction.
213 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Salcombe
Salcombe has amazing beaches and comes alive in the summer. A devastatingly pretty river town which can be mobbed in the summer but if you get there early we thoroughly recommend a quick wander through the town and then getting across the river to the beaches on the opposite side from the town. Our favourite is walking along to Sunny Cove. You might also choose to watch the dinghy racing from the steep banked viewing area next to the yacht club. Salcombe is famous for it's Salcombe Yawl and Merlin Rocket dinghy racing which takes place through the summer on weekends. The place is alive with chi-chi types and beautiful yachts. There are also stunning walks along the coastal path in either direction.
Sightseeing
Totnes is a historic hippy-chic town renowned for its spiritual meeting of lay lines. A nice spot to wander the streets, with its large number of independent shops and the smells of herbs and spices emanating from shops - great cream teas! Consider walking from Dartmouth or taking one of the ferries upstream to Totnes.
351 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Totnes
Totnes is a historic hippy-chic town renowned for its spiritual meeting of lay lines. A nice spot to wander the streets, with its large number of independent shops and the smells of herbs and spices emanating from shops - great cream teas! Consider walking from Dartmouth or taking one of the ferries upstream to Totnes.
Coronation Park is a top spot to throw a frisbee, grab a coffee at the Anchorstone Café, exercise the dog, let the kids play, watch the gig rowing on the river, play tennis on one of the 4 community courts (tickets from the Guildhall or the Anchorstone), visit the RNLI Visitors Centre and perhaps even enjoy hearing the Royal Marines Band rehearse in the Britannia Naval College above you.
Coronation Park
21 Coombe RdCoronation Park is a top spot to throw a frisbee, grab a coffee at the Anchorstone Café, exercise the dog, let the kids play, watch the gig rowing on the river, play tennis on one of the 4 community courts (tickets from the Guildhall or the Anchorstone), visit the RNLI Visitors Centre and perhaps even enjoy hearing the Royal Marines Band rehearse in the Britannia Naval College above you.
Independent shops and galleries down this quaint narrow street which backs onto the Market Square (fresh produce and bric-a-brac on Tue and Fri) and bakers and fishmongers all week. The Dolphin pub offers good father-sitting rates overlooking the square.
Baxters Gallery
12 Foss StIndependent shops and galleries down this quaint narrow street which backs onto the Market Square (fresh produce and bric-a-brac on Tue and Fri) and bakers and fishmongers all week. The Dolphin pub offers good father-sitting rates overlooking the square.
You simply must travel by steam train in or out of Kingswear to Paignton if you are a steam railway enthusiast or you have children. It is a magical trip through past Greenway with coastal views out to sea and arrives in Paignton. If you're coming to Kingswear or Dartmouth for the first time you might consider parking a car in Paignton and coming in by rail as it is simply magical.
17 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Dartmouth Steam Railway
You simply must travel by steam train in or out of Kingswear to Paignton if you are a steam railway enthusiast or you have children. It is a magical trip through past Greenway with coastal views out to sea and arrives in Paignton. If you're coming to Kingswear or Dartmouth for the first time you might consider parking a car in Paignton and coming in by rail as it is simply magical.