10 ideas for places to visit around Dartmouth

Dartmouth sits on the banks of the River Dart and is an area of outstanding beauty.

The town and surrounding areas are steeped in history and offer a wide range of places of interest to visit and explore making it the perfect place to spend time.

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  © Copyright Rob Purvis

  Hallsands

  Dartmouth, TQ7 2EX

  Discover the haunting remains of the lost village of Hallsands, between Beesands and Start Point. Once a thriving community, the village was washed away by storms in 1917 following the short-sighted removal of a nearby beach. Now only a few ruined houses mark this haunting site.
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  Cookworthy Museum

  108 Fore Street, Kingsbridge, TQ7 1AW

  01548 853235

  Website

  Discover the history of Kingsbridge and the South Hams with permanent displays and special exhibitions showing how residents have lived, worked and played over many generations. The museum was opened in 1972 in the old Kingsbridge Grammar School and named after William Cookworthy who was born in Kingsbridge and discovered China Clay.
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  South Devon Arts Centre

  Unit 23 Ford Road, Totnes, TQ9 5LE

  Website

  Tucked away on Totnes’ industrial estate is the hive of live music and activity that is the South Devon Arts Centre. There’s also regular DJ nights for dancing until 1am and the whole venue is available to hire.
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  Taste The Experience

  Sharpham Estate , Totnes, TQ9 7UT

  01803 732203

  Website

  Sharpham Vineyard is perched on the bank of the River Dart near Totnes offering some of the most wonderful views in all of Devon. They offer a range of tours to ‘taste the experience’ from a simple self-guided Trek and Taste to a guided Vine to Wine or Vineyard Ramble with their well-informed tour guides.
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  Photographer Steve Boyd, East Sussex

  Berry Head

  Berry Head Visitor Centre Berry Head, Brixham, TQ5 9AP

  01803 520022

  Website

  Brixham’s Berry Head has superb coastal walks and the chance to spot local wildlife, as well as Napoleonic forts and the highest, but shortest, lighthouse in Britain. A colony of rare Greater Horseshoe Bats lives there, as do various seabirds that nest in the cliffs and harbour porpoises, which dwell in the sea below.
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  The Golden Hind - Brixham

  The Quay , Brixham, TQ5 8AW

  01803 856223

  Website

  Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind at Brixham is a full-sized replica of one of the most iconic ships and a fantastic experience onboard with its Tudor displays and big open decks. It’s been a feature of Brixham Harbour for more than fifty years and has recently changed ownership and acquired a new resident called Sid the skeleton.
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  Wheeldon Off-Road Bike Centre

  Halwell , Totnes, TQ9 7JY

  01548 821784

  Website

  Wheeldon Off-Road Centre is the UK’s only all-weather off-road adventure centre. It has a purpose built 30,000 square foot indoor arena, junior training arena and outdoor MotoX track. The centre caters for all levels of rider ability from complete novice, through juniors, to the more experienced competition rider, with its fleet of off-road motorcycles available to hire.
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  Torre Abbey

  The King's Drive, Torquay, TQ2 5JE

  01803 293593

  Website

  The majestic Torre Abbey was once the home of the medieval White Canons. Torquay’s famous Cary family transformed it into a country home.It now holds an impressive permanent art collection and lively programme of contemporary arts events. The picturesque gardens are full of exotic and exciting plants. There are activities for children and a lovely tearoom at the front of the house, with sea views and vintage décor.
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  Powderham Castle

  Kenton, Exeter District, EX6 8JQ

  01626 890243

  Website

  Powderham Castle is located in a unique, picturesque setting just outside Exeter, alongside the Exe estuary. Six hundred years of history are contained within the walls of one of England’s oldest stately homes. It’s stayed in the same family to this day and is currently home to the 18th Earl and Countess of Devon.