A rare gem. Magnificently situated harbour in deep water, sheltered by steep hillsides and a conduit for trade and pleasure boats sailing up and down the River Dart to Totnes. Few towns in Devon, or England, have had such an influence on the course of England’s rich past. In the C12, the assemblage point for the second and third Crusades. The Elizabethan Age encouraged Devon men to explore the globe; to seek the North West Passage, the Straits of Magellan and the piratical waters of the Far East. Their boundless exploits on the High Seas, in the good name of Queen Elizabeth 1, and England, brought maritime supremacy and great bounty to this corner of England. Whether these men; Drake, Raleigh, Hawkins and Davis, be seen as adventurers, privateers or Her Majesty’s Most Loyal Subjects, is open to debate. By the time of the Spanish Armada, Dartmouth was to be superseded by Plymouth as Devon’s busiest port. The old warships would dock at Warfleet Creek, the smaller craft, largely smugglers, at Bayards Cove, now overlooked by some splendid C18 houses. Notably, the Custom House.

The Cherub Inn, Dartmoor — The Cherub Inn, Dartmouth

The town has great character and activity. Always a medley of locals and visitors. There is much to see; the finest building, The Butterwalk, enriched with eleven stone pillars. But take the riverside walk to the Castle and St Petrock’s church, and look out across the water to smiling Kingswear, a feast of pastelcoloured houses, and junction for the Paignton Steam Railway, a marvellous site when in full steam charging up beside the river.

Behind, dominating the hillside stands the Brittania Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Aston Webb, architect of the V & A Museum. Opened by Edward V11, it is a most impressive building overlooking the Estuary, and the beckoning sea.

Always a popular port-of-call for yachtsmen, the Estuary has two marinas, and many cruisers plying their trade to show you the enchanting River Dart. The town has become something of a food and arts centre. Witness below the many arts and craft galleries, and the bountiful eating out emporia. Regatta time is a rewarding time to visit, the Estuary ablaze with sail and colour, and good times.