Dartmouth is a small town with great charm and character and is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque and interesting in the West County. It is situated around the historic harbour at the mouth of the River Dart, home to over 3000 boats of all descriptions. There are tiers of streets with very individual and unusual properties as well as many interesting shops and a huge variety of restaurants and pubs. Boat trips up the river (as far as Totnes) run for most of the year.

The surrounding coastline and beaches are well known for their outstanding beauty. Dartmouth is an excellent base for exploring the National Trust’s famous south-west coastal footpath.

There is swimming and wind surfing (at nearby Blackpool Sands and Slapton beach), fishing, tennis, boat trips on the River Dart and bird-watching. Much of the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust and, as well as the coastal footpath, there are many historic houses and gardens open to the public in close proximity including Agatha Christie's Greenway House and Coleton Fishacre. The Dartmoor National Park is easily reached by car as are other attractions such as the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.