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Visiting Dartmouth, Devon

Dartmouth is situated on the bank of the River Dart in South Devon. It is a truly picturesque town, combining heritage, fantastic shopping and places to eat, with a vibrant waterfront hosting an active sailing community. The annual Royal Regatta is one of the largest sailing events in the UK, and attracts visitors from all over the world.

The Britannia Royal Naval College, dating from 1863, overlooks the port of Dartmouth from its position on the hill; this is where all Royal Naval officers receive their initial service and leadership training, joined by many international Naval officers. The College is sometimes open for guided tours - and is thought to be the place where Queen Elizabeth met Prince Philip.

Dartmouth is a creative town - the small streets of the shopping heart of the town are bursting with local artists working in their shops and galleries. The Flavel Arts Centre has a varied programme of events and exhibitions to suit all tastes.

The town also boasts a strong historical and social heritage and guided walks around the old town can be arranged. The nearby Dartmouth Museum, situated in the 17^th Century “Butterwalk”, shares stories of the town’s maritime history. The oldest preserved steam engine in the world – invented by Dartmouth born Thomas Newcomen - can be viewed at the Dartmouth Visitor Centre. Other places of interest include Bayard’s Cove Fort (1510), Dartmouth Castle (1488) and St Saviour’s (1372) and St Petrox (1641) Churches.

Local Information
- Visitor Centre
  The Engine House, Mayor's Avenue, Dartmouth, Devon, TQ6 9YY
- holidays@discoverdartmouth.com
- +44 (0)1803 834224
- Visit The Discover Dartmouth Website
- By Air Exeter - 45 miles / 1hr10 drive Bristol - 110 miles / 2hrs15 drive Heathrow - 220 miles / 3hrs45 drive
- By Rail The closest railway station to Dartmouth is Totnes, where trains from London and Plymouth stop. Dartmouth can then be reached by car, bus or boat down the River Dart.
- By Road Dartmouth is easily reached by road, the M5 is the main route in to the region which links to the A38, which runs through the centre of the county linking Exeter and Plymouth. Stagecoach operates a number of bus routes linking Dartmouth with the rest of the region.
- Local Walking Routes Dartmouth is located on the South West Coastal Path which offers amazing views and walks along the surrounding coast line.

Bayard's Cove Inn

Dartmouth Castle

Dartmouth Museum

Dartmouth and the Mayflower story

Having set sail from Southampton, the Mayflower, with Pilgrims from the north of England, and Speedwell, carrying the Separatists from Lieden in Holland, didn't get very far before the Speedwell began to take on water again - either because she carried too much sail, straining her timbers, or the direct result of sabotage by the reluctant crew. The ships diverted to Dartmouth for repairs, arriving on 23 August 1620.

According to passengers, the Speedwell was leaking like a sieve and required urgent attention. The Pilgrims were regarded with some suspicion by the Dartmouth locals and while the repairs were made in Bayard’s Cove harbour, the Mayflower moored upstream on the River Dart beside what is now known as Pilgrim Hill. While much has changed on the waterfront since, they would still recognise the Tudor Bayard’s Cove Fort, Lower Street, Smith Street, St Saviour’s church and Agincourt House, now the Bayard's Cove Inn.

It took about a week for the port's skilled craftsmen to make good the damage before the ships headed out into the English Channel, North Atlantic bound.

Supported by our national sponsors and funding partners

The Mayflower 400 programme in Dartmouth

Dartmouth’s Mayflower 400 programme was developed by a team of volunteers, who used their professional skills to create an incredibly ambitious programme of activity for the benefit of their community and to further enhance the town’s visitor offer through 2020 and beyond. Highlights included:

The Mayflower Heritage Trail paints a colourful picture of Dartmouth in 1620, and also includes some highlights from Dartmouth’s earlier and later history. The route is based on a map of the town drawn in 1619 and remarkably many beautiful historic buildings have survived from that time. Bayards Cove, the old harbour quay, is a focal point as the Mayflower and Speedwell moored in the river close by.
‘Pilgrim: New Horizons’ was a newly-commissioned sculpture created by Mark Gregory and the students of Dartmouth Academy. The figure is made of galvanised steel, with worked copper panels, and stands strong on the South Embankment, looking out to the mouth of the River Dart.

You can read more about the events in Dartmouth on the official Dartmouth Mayflower 400 website.