Explore Dartmouth

10/09/2026

Dartmouth’s history isn’t just in its harbour. It’s in its churches too ⛪

From a coastal sentinel guarding the mouth of the Dart since 1192, to a medieval town church with a 14th century carved rood screen and ironwork dating back to 1363 (and a Victorian Gothic chapel named after a Nonconformist preacher who refused to be silenced), the churches around Dartmouth and Kingswear are some of the most captivating architectural gems in South Devon.

Five churches. Centuries of stories. And on a crisp autumn day, the perfect reason to slow down and explore a quieter side of Dartmouth.

🔗 Full guide on the blog: https://shorturl.at/fidIq

09/09/2026

09/09/2026

Dartmouth was made for storytellers, and, this September, the stories come to life. 📚

The Dartmouth Book Festival returns to The Flavel Arts Centre from 18-20 September 2026, with three days of literary talks, film screenings, walking tours, and workshops right in the heart of town.

This year’s highlights include:

✍️ Headline speakers Michael Rosen, Jeremy Hunt, Patrick Gale, Megan Clothier, and Emily Hauser
🎬 A special Roger Deakins film retrospective featuring The Big Lebowski
📖 The Festival Big Read with Patrick Gale discussing Love Lane
🚶 Guided literary walking tours through Dartmouth’s historic streets
🎤 Poetry readings, travel writing talks, and local culture throughout

And beyond the festival programme, Dartmouth itself is steeped in literary history, from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales to Agatha Christie’s Greenway, Flora Thompson’s final years in Above Town, and Christopher Robin’s father running the Harbour Bookshop on the waterfront.

Three independent bookshops, a literary heritage around every corner, and one of the most beautiful harbour towns in the country to explore between sessions.

🔗 Full guide on the blog: https://shorturl.at/tzHYm

Dartmouth Book Festival
The Flavel Arts Centre

07/09/2026

On 7 September 1592*, Sir Walter Raleigh’s Roebuck and Queen Elizabeth’s ship Foresight escorted the captured Portuguese “carrack” Madre de Dios (“Mother of God”) into Dartmouth. An ocean-going cargo ship, about 1600 tons, she was then the biggest ship ever seen in England.

Inside were “riches beyond the dreams of avarice” – exotic spices, silks, damasks, porcelain, ivory, pearls, jewels galore. Better still, there were charts with vital information about trading routes to India, China and Japan.

News had already spread; Dartmouth was filled to bursting with traders and looters. The authorities lost control, the ship was mobbed and the crews of the prize and her escorts, their pockets overflowing, went wild.

Raleigh was in prison due to his secret marriage to Bess Throckmorton, the Queen’s lady in waiting. Due to the chaos, the Queen released him, sending him to Dartmouth to restore order and secure her profit.

Eventually the prize was valued at £150K (in today’s money, over £50M!). The Queen took about half. But it also galvanised English trading ambitions to the East. As some historians note, the British Empire began here.

If you are interested in finding out more about Dartmouth’s history, be sure to check out the Dartmouth History Research Group website: https://dartmouth-history.org.uk

*old style date

“Unknown artist’s impression of the Madre de Dios arriving in Dartmouth, 19thC”
Picture credit, wikimedia

06/09/2026

06/09/2026

Dartmouth is one of the finest bases for a walking holiday in the South West 🥾

The South West Coast Path runs right through town, the countryside is on your doorstep, and after a day on the trails there’s no shortage of great pubs, restaurants, and cosy places to come home to.

Here are 11 brilliant places to stay for a walking holiday in and around Dartmouth:
🏡 Dart Valley Cottages: self-catering cottages in and around Dartmouth
🏡 Ways Away Holidays: luxury self-catering properties in the heart of town
🌿 wildcomfort: unique nature-inspired stays overlooking Blackpool Sands
🏡 Coast & Country Cottages: hand-picked holiday homes in and around Dartmouth
🏡 Dartmouth Escapes: luxury accommodation right in Dartmouth
🛏️ Dartside Holidays: affordable self-catering in Dartmouth
🏡 Your Devon Escape: carefully selected holiday homes in South Devon
🌿 Dittisham Hideaway Treehouses & Shepherds Lodges: secluded glamping and retreat upriver
🏨 Bayards Cove Inn: boutique hotel in the heart of historic Dartmouth
🏨 Dart Marina Hotel, Dartmouth: riverside hotel with stunning views of the Dart
🏨 Brown's Hotel: boutique hotel in the heart of Dartmouth

And don’t forget… there are plenty of brilliant independent Airbnbs in and around Dartmouth too, well worth a search for your dates.

Walk all day. Eat well. Sleep better.

🔗 Find accommodation options at the link in bio

05/09/2026

We are hosting a Murder Mystery event at Dartmouth Library on the 26th September, 5-7pm.
Popular crime-fiction writer Kate Ellis will host an imaginary murder mystery with the audience as detectives and will sign copies of her books.
Tickets available from The Community Bookshop, 9 Foss Street, Dartmouth or at 4.30pm at the Library door if space.
Space is limited, so book now.
We look forward to seeing you there.

03/09/2026

We asked the people of Dartmouth to describe Dartmouth in one word, and this is what they came up with!

What word would you use to describe Dartmouth?