We recently spent a lovely couple of days in Dartmouth and instantly fell in love with its picture-perfect prettiness. Dartmouth is a harbour town situated in the south of Devon.
It sits on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart and is full of independent shops and cafes. Everywhere is super dog friendly, making it the perfect UK break for you and your pooch.
It’s one of south Devon’s most popular tourist traps and it’s easy to see why. Read on to find out how to spend a weekend in Dartmouth.
Things to do in Dartmouth
If you’re looking for a place where you can explore to your heart’s content then Dartmouth is it. Not only is there plenty on the doorstep but there are also lots of other places to visit near Dartmouth like Salcombe and Blackpool Sands.
Potter round Dartmouth
Dartmouth is a gorgeous little town and there is plenty to look around. You can take a walk by the estuary or explore the town’s shops and art galleries.
Most shops are dog friendly so you don’t have to leave your dog outside while you’re browsing.
Just along the harbour is Bayard’s Cove, a Tudor fort built in the 1500s to protect the town from enemy ships. It’s owned by English Heritage and you can walk through it and see where the heavy guns were situated.
Dartmouth Castle
About a mile’s walk out of town, around the coastline is Dartmouth Castle, a 1388 series of defences built to guard the narrow entrance to the Dart estuary. There’s lots to do inside the castle, including admiring the beautiful views from the top of the battlement.
There’s also a tearoom here and coastal and woodland walks around the castle where you can spot some local wildlife.
Out of season, the castle is only open on Saturdays and Sundays so make sure you factor this in if you’re booking your trip around this.
Take a trip on the steam train
There is an old steam train which runs from Kingswear to Paignton. It covers a scenic coastal route which can be enjoyed by anyone, whether you’re into your trains or not!
You have to first catch the ferry across the estuary to get to the train station if you’re staying in Dartmouth. The ferry costs around £2 per person and dogs travel for free.
The ferry allows you to see even more views of the estuary and it’s a really quick trip across so there’s no time for feeling queasy.
The steam train is quite expensive at around £20 per person and a £2 charge for dogs but we really enjoyed it so, if you can afford it, I would recommend it. You can either just catch the train to Paignton and come straight back or spend a couple of hours in Paignton.
If the steam train isn’t your thing, you can walk the South West Coastal Path instead. It’s a 10 mile walk which is challenging in places but you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the coastline.
Paignton
Paignton is a bit more of a traditional English seaside town with slot machines and a pier. It has a large beach where you can walk your dog and a harbour to have a look round.
We stopped for a drink at Molly’s on the harbour and treated ourselves to a snack of crabby chips.
Crabby chips were chips topped with crab, garlic mayonnaise and parmesan and they were really yummy. I can definitely recommend!
Where to eat and drink in Dartmouth
There are so many places to eat in Dartmouth that we really struggled to choose! If fresh fish and seafood is your thing then you’re definitely in the right place.
We saw no end of places serving crab sandwiches and catches of the day.
Beth’s Bistro
Beth’s Bistro is a little café in the town which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s dog friendly so your four-legged friends are welcome to join you.
We popped in for lunch on one of the days and had sandwiches and paninis. I was a little disappointed as they had run out of crab but my mozzarella and tomato panini made up for it!
Also, they serve cheesy chips and they’re not stingy with the cheese – yum!
We really liked it here and so we popped back for a full English breakfast on our last day before heading home. The staff are really lovely and there’s such a friendly atmosphere, we got talking to another table who happened to be from Derbyshire too!
Rockfish
We didn’t eat at the Rockfish restaurant in Dartmouth, even though it looked really good, but we did sample a fish and chips takeaway from there which was delicious. The flaky fish was big and chunky and absolutely melted in your mouth.
Just want you want when you’re near the sea!
Platform 1 Champagne Bar
Converted from a former railway station, Platform 1 Champagne Bar still has the look of one so you feel like you’re indulging in a glass of bubbles before being whisked away on a romantic journey like on Brief Encounter.
Weirdly, you’re not allowed to sit inside when you’re just having drinks (even though the place was empty!) but there are patio heaters and blankets to make use of outside. They serve food which did sound great but we didn’t end up eating here.
They serve Champagne Pol Roger which was Winston Churchill’s favourite champagne. Well, if it’s good enough for Churchill!
Platform 1 is a great stop to rest your legs while you’re shopping or before you head back to your accommodation for the night.
Alf Resco
I didn’t actually eat here this time but I visited Alf Resco’s for breakfast on a trip to Dartmouth a few years ago and it is still one of the most popular places to eat according to Trip Advisor.
Where to stay in Dartmouth
I actually won a competition on Instagram for this stay (I know, it’s not like me to win anything!) and so we stayed with Ways Away Holidays for three nights in their The Lookout at Lauriston House apartment.
This dog friendly apartment is super spacious and beautifully decorated. It has two bedrooms so sleeps up to four people.
The best thing about the apartment is that it has a balcony off the living room with amazing views over the River Dart.
It’s the perfect place for having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and you can watch the sunrise here too. The views are truly breath-taking and it even looks beautiful at night time when it’s all lit up.
You also get these views from the kitchen and one of the bedrooms.
Situated behind the apartment is the stunning building that is the Royal Naval College so you get the view of this from the other side. We were there just before Bonfire Night and they put on amazing display of fireworks which we could watch from the lounge window.
In fact, we struggled to leave the apartment we loved it so much!
The last time I visited Dartmouth I stayed at Just B St Elmo’s Cottage, a budget accommodation option which is perfect for if you’re only staying a couple of nights.
We had an amazing few days in Dartmouth and I would definitely recommend it for a UK break.
