Dartmouth’s narrow streets & ancient buildings bear witness to a long if not always glorious history, which saw the town develop from a fishing port in the early middle ages to a base for smugglers & privateers. Today, yachtsmen have replaced the privateers. Dartmouth has over 30 restaurants & 14 bars that sell fine ales & quality local food with options for all tastes from fish & chips to a fine dining. There are also several 'celebrity chef' restaurants to chose from if you fancy something a bit special.

The mild South Devon climate makes Dartmouth a year-round resort - often with excellent weather in February & March and golden autumn days in October & November. Many visitors who come for Christmas often stay on for the unique New Year festivities. With Christmas in mind, shopping for seasonal gifts is a must at the many specialist outlets which, within a few doors of each other, offer an array of goods rarely encountered elsewhere.

A regular winner of the Britain in Bloom competition, Dartmouth boasts many unusual & exotic blooms in its gardens, making the spring one of the best times to stay. The mild climate & access to the sea bring a rich bounty of local produce to be bought from the shops or sampled in the many eateries. In particular there are local cheeses, fresh & smoked fish, shellfish, wines, ciders & of course clotted cream.

The Dartmouth area has several small & beautiful villages such as Blackawton, East Allington, the Kingsbridge area, Stoke Fleming, Strete, Kingswear, Torcross & Slapton.

No visit to Dartmouth is complete without a boat trip on the River Dart, whose wooded banks have provided the tropical setting of many a movie scene. For those more energetic, there are also walks of varying distance, visits to National Trust gardens, golf & sea angling - or one can just laze on the beaches, most of which are only a short drive or steam train ride away.