Explore, experience, enjoy...
Dartmouth is situated within the South Hams; an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Beautiful, sandy beaches, traditional pubs, award winning restaurants, South West Coastal Path Walks, boat trips, water sports, art galleries, vineyards and a year round program of events and fesitvals - from the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta and Dart Music Festival to Dartmouth Food Festival and Christmas Candlelit Dartmouth - and fantastic crabbing, too - why not experience it for yourselves?
South Hams
The South Hams is an exclusive part of the South West and Devon, and offers a wealth of attractions and opportunities to relax and enjoy the area. Family friendly, dog friendly, amazing sandy beaches, hidden coves, water sports and historic market towns will hold appeal for everyone and offer that perfect location for a proper Devon Cream Tea (cream before jam!)
The South Hams stetches from the edge of the Dartmoor National Park to the most beautifual stretch of coastline between Plymouth and Torbay.
From the glorious, sophisticated, sailing town of Salcombe to lovely, intimate Hope Cove, the bustling town of Kingsbridge and historic Totnes with its castle and famous market, you can easily explore these from The Old Wash House in Dartmouth, as well as venture down the lanes and explore the magical villages dotted alongside the creeks and rivers.
Explore the wildlife and conservation as well as the military past of Slapton Ley and Torcross, and the memorial by the beach to commemorate its role in the deployment of Operation Overlord and the D Day landings in Normandy during World War II.
The South Hams boasts some of Britain's most attractive and evocative beaches and seascapes, from Blackpool Sands to Salcombe's dramatic North and South Sands and staggeringly beautiful East Portlemouth beaches, to Hope Cove, South Milton, Thurlstone, Challaborough and Bantham, including the iconic Burgh Island at Bigbury-on-Sea.
An excellent road network connects you to these wonderful attractions, which can be easily and quickly accessed from The Old Wash House.
Or head across to Brixham - one of Britain's busiest fishing ports, bursting with colour, restaurants, winding steps, beaches and coves.....and the home of pirates! Torbay offers lots of opportunties to explore the English Riviera and even more watersports!
Dartmouth & Kingswear
Steeped in maitime heritage, Dartmouth is packed with a tantilising selection of restaurants, traditional pubs, fish specialists, coffee shops, wine bars, bakeries and delicatessens, ensuring that you can eat well and find something for every budget. Dartmouth also hosts a superb market, where artisan food and drink purveyors sell their wares.
Nestled into the hillside under the watch of the Britannia Royal Naval Collage, this vibrant harbour town is brimming with attractions, from the stunning embankment walk to Bayards Cove, Dartmouth Castle and the Dartmouth Musuem to a diverse range of local shops, galleries and fudge-makers. Explore the headland to Sugary Cove, or catch the passenger ferry to facing Kingwear to explore the Creek and the National Trust's Coleton Fishacre or Greenway, which was Agatha Christie's holiday home. From Kingswear, you can board the historic steam train and journey alongside the banks of the Dart to Totnes. In the summer season, water taxis run between South Embankment and "Stumpy Steps" beside Dartmouth Castle - highly recommended, and sometimes they even let you have a go at steering (under supervision!)
Climb aboard one of the many boat trips to Dittisham and out to the Mouth of the Dart, and look out for kingfishers, herons, dolphins and seals. Or simply explore the atmospheric, narrow, winding streets within the town and see where they take you. Try your hand at paddle boarding or kayaking, too!
Woodlands Leisure Park, Dartmouth Golf & Country Club and the award winning Blue Flag beach - voted Britain's favourite - at Blackpool Sands are within a 10 minute drive from The Old Wash House. Or just grab your bucket and crab line, and while away the hours crabbing on the banks of the Dart.
South West Coastal Path
Clear those cobwebs away by exploring the splendour of the South West Coastal Path, which is on your doorstep. Famed for its unforgettable scenary, sites of historical interest and a true sense of escapism, this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty will not disappoint.
The South West Coast Path is dramatic, all 630 miles of it making it the longest National Trail in the UK, with wild coastline, heather downs, crashing waves, salt spray, fishing villages waiting to be explored and towering cliffs. The heritage, wildlife, geology and scenery are truly inspirational.
There are many recommended walks - from moderate to strenuous - which will afford the opportunity to enjoy Start Bay, Soar Mill Cove, Starehole Bay, Bolberry Down, Bolt Head and Bolt Tail...and unlimited picnic locations! Don't forget to explore nearby Little Dartmouth for coastal walks - simply stunning!
Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park - recently voted Britain's favourite National Park - is within 30 minutes' drive of The Old Wash House, and is a unique blend of wild open moorland, hillscapes and valleys, dotted with tors (rock formations) and Bronze Age stone circles under moody, cathederal skies, to enticing riverside walks, lush forrests and stone leats fording streams.
Dartmoor boasts an unrivalled range of walking, climbing, canyoning, river bed walking, kayaking and cycling activities, and is perfect for those who love the challenge of the great outdoors.
Wild ponies roam the moors, while visitors flock to traditional pubs for hearty meals and wander the market towns within the National Park. Dartmoor's bleak beauty is dramatic, inspiring and will fire your imagination.
Devon
Devon is a magnificent county. It is the only county in Britain to have two dramatic coastlines in both North Devon and South Devon, two National Parks located on Exmoor and Dartmoor, miles and miles of accessible walkways along the South West Coastal Path, and five designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty - North Devon, Tamar Valley, South Devon, East Devon and the Blackdown Hills, which cover 517 square miles of dramatic coastline, sparkling estuaries and rolling countryside.
The county is bursting with historical monuments, cultural events, arts, and fantastic beaches offering surfing, body boarding and safe swimming. The great outdoors offers unrivalled opportunities for thrillists and ramblers alike, whether exploring cycling trails or sailing, riding segways through the forests or sea kayaking.
Devon has established a firece international reputation for food and drink, and the south of the county has established itself as England's Seafood Coast; crab caught here is considered some of the best in the world and is exported all over Europe.