Cruising on the River Dart, South Devon

Cruising on the River Dart

South Devon spot your nostalgic steam train puffing away through the trees. Then all is quiet, just the occasional boat sending ripples across the water or the breeze whispering Sun, sand and sea, Devon is fabulous, but if you feel in the trees. The oaks which gave the Dart its Celtic like a change from the beach, a river cruise is a lovely name may be sparse but there’s plenty of greenery way to relax away from the crowds. The Dart has its along the meandering banks, while up on the hills source up on Dartmoor, its east and west branches meadows glow in luminous light. Salmon, trout joining in Dartmeet before flowing into the Channel and more, the river is full of fish, a treat for blackat Dartmouth. headed gulls and other birds – here an osprey, there Among the options is the award-winning Round a rare dipper, a lonely heron, a colourful kingfisher Robin starting in Paignton, where a steam train takes and egrets galore. Most exciting in season are the you along the scenic coast down to the estuary. Canadian geese feeding in the shallows and, if you’re The half-hour journey ends in Kingswear on the left lucky, grey seals basking on the rocks or swimming bank, then it’s just three minutes on the ferry across alongside the boat. to Dartmouth. In this land of deep water and steep In this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a few valleys there are no bridges until you reach Totnes, villages doze along the banks – like Stoke Gabriel, about eight miles away at the end of the cruise. its winding streets gathered around an 800-yearDepartures are governed by the tide and passengers old yew tree, or Dittisham with delightful seafood may have time to explore Dartmouth, a gorgeous cafés and a passenger ferry to Greenway across the little place where myriad yachts glisten in a coastal river. Owned by the National Trust, this was Agatha inlet. Framed by green hills, as lush as velvet, neat Christie’s holiday home and inspiration for a few cottages beckon up the lanes festooned in pastel murder mysteries. You’ll need a special trip to visit colours and flowering plants. But soon the cruise is house and garden, but as you sail past you’re sure ready to go – paddle steamer only on special dates to see the elegant Georgian house rising on the hill – first downstream if the tide is right for a close-up among the trees. A little further, the Sharpam Estate look at the medieval castles that once guarded the may also tempt you back with award-winning wines narrow entrance to the estuary. Feel the currents? and its own delicious cheese. Time to turn around and enjoy the most enticing Ninety minutes or so after leaving Dartmouth, views of Dartmouth, town clinging to the hills, Totnes greets you like a fairy tale with bohemian dazzling yachts, the Britannia Royal Naval College, an lanes, cream teas and panoramic views from its impressive late Victorian building, and you might just hilltop castle. To advertise in The Villager and Town Life please call 01767 261122