Arriving in dartmouth

Whilst down there, my cruising ground was. Devon, Cornwall, Britainy and Solent. Did it all in one go, a few times. Some times just headed one way. Finished up in Birmingham once.

What is it that folk with super posh boats, dont go anywhere. Anyway my super posh 21 year old boat . is now expolring Wales Ireland and Scotland again.
 
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The Angel looks nice

[/ QUOTE ] Mrs jhr and I had a meal there about 18 months ago and we really enjoyed it, but others on here have been less complimentary, so it may or may not be your thing. Don't forget to re-mortgage your house before booking /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif.

Breakfast at Cafe Alfresco is a must-do as well.
 
The seahorse was fully booked so ended up in the New Angel. Superb service and food. They do a daily special at £30 for 2 courses, £35 for 3 courses. The killer is the wine list. £60 a bottle is the norm and you wouldn't have to try too hard to break £100 a bottle. However, look a little harder and there are gems like a lovely Sauvingion at just £25 meaning a couple can experience fine dining at it's best for around £100 which is something of a bargain. Not at all stuffy with children either which to my mind sets real fine restaurants apart from the pretenders who think you need to alienate the kids. They even offered Ems tomatoe ketchup. Declined !

So a big thumbs up.

Trying the Dartmouth Apprentice this evening.

Keeping an eye on the wind forecast. Sunday looks good. Wednesday terrible so debating when to leave for a good crossing back to the Needles.

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I was one of the disapointed diners, but since then it's been shut and re-opened so hopefully at a better standard than before, which seems to be confirmed by HenryF.

I'd also give the Royal Dart YC a go on Kingswear side, fabulous position, friendly and very reasonable. And very welcoming to guests.

The Cherub has already been mentioned, my favourite Dartmouth pub. Hopefully back there next week. Can't wait.
 
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Trying the Dartmouth Apprentice this evening.


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Do post a review, as it was pretty dire when I went a month or so after it opened.
I have been told that it is much improved, but with the wide choice of places around here, I have not been back yet.

You can be my guinea pig! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Will do. Lunch at Wildfire in Dartmouth marina. Very modern setting, relaxing ambience and so far so good.

Had a walk round town. Some lovely spots. The old market was an eclectic group of individuals peddling their various wares. Some new, some slightly second hand.

Popped in to see Paul Barclay the artist (and former dockmaster) and may commision a drawing of the boat set in front of our flat in Gosport.

More later........

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Right then. The Dartmouth Aprentice.They were using the lower dining area which was a shame as the upper area is stunning, there are some tables by the windows which are to die for. Service and welcome were top notch, not stuffy but really trying to hit the spot and looking for feedback. Starters took a while to arrive but in fairness they appologised without any prompting. Cod and Sirloin steak ordered for main course. Simply stunning, my Sirloin was as good as I've tasted. Ever. Deserts won't disappoint either !!

Some interesting wines on the list, nothing over the top. Tried a Viognier which was lovely.

They fully admitted there were issues when the restaurant opened in August '08. Definitely sorted now so give the place another try. Not expensive, fine produce, talented staff and a good cause.

Off up river tomorrow.

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Sounds good I will give it a try!

How far are you planning to go?
If you get the tide right you can go all the way to Totnes (or as far as you wish ). Those big Riverlink boats on the outside of you do it with no problem.
What ever you do, you can pick up a visitor buoy at Dittisham with no problem and the pub near the waters edge is good for a pub lunch.
 
Hope the weather was better up the Dart than it was in Salcombe , Kingsbridge and most of the way up the A38/M5. Very murky indeed.

I've spent a few nights on a buoy off Stoke Gabriel. That seems to have a couple of "interesting" pubs.
 
I'd have thought you'd be heading where the young happening people hang out Jimmy! How's the V58 hunt coming along?

The plan - you know it's going pear shaped as soon as you mention there is a plan - is to enjoy a leisurely breakfast. Head into town to avail ourselves of the facilities in order the re-provision (we're going to buy some gut luggage in Somerfields), then head up river. I'm hoping to call into the winery first - looks like they have their own pontoon, have a quick snifter at their grape based selection, possibly invest in a half bottle or two, although I've yet to taste an English wine that doesn't strip the enamel off your teeth so we'll see.

Then it's back downstream (I think), to Dittisham - or Dit'sham as I'm reliably informed the natives reffer to it, for 2 nights. After that we'll see but I think we're going to stick around and head back to the Solent during the bank holliday weekend weather permitting.

What could possibly go wrong!

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Departed Dartmouth to head upstream, past Ditsham and paying careful attention to newly aquired charts and the chartplotter aimed for Sharpham. Much winding later arrived at the "new" quay which looks quite old. If you're going there and expecting an old quay on the west bank I'll give you a tip, there isn't one! There's an old one one the east bank with what's left of the last visitor still attached.

Now at this point dear reader I could bend the truth a bit. My expectations of the new quay were somewhat over inflated to the point where popping 45 feet of flybridge on it would be akin to getting HMS Invincible tied up on the hammer head of your local marina. I did try and got to within 6 feet but just under 2 feet showing under the keel at that point saw me, how would one put it? Chicken out I suppose sums it up. I could have dropped the hook, popped the tender off and tendered over, run up the hill to the shop andbought a bottle. But I didn't.

Being the only craft heading upstream and everyone else coming back downstream encouraged me to throw the towel in and backtrack to Ditsham. In fairness if you did get caught out with the tide there are loads of places with enough water, in fact you could probably make the whole run on a spring low but I know my limitations on a first fist.

Ditsham is stunning. Were on a bouy south of the ferry on the west bank, trees either side rising steeply on both banks. Some lovely photos to post on our return.

Dinner booked at the pub by the ferry slip / pontoon. The bloke's as mad as cheese so should be fun. If I'm still alive in the morning I'll let you know how we got on!

Keep smiling

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
My one man review of the river Dart continues:

The Ferry Boat Inn Ditsam. When you first walk in there are a couple of people who wouldn't be first in line for the next Gibbs super white smile promotional posters sitting around the bar and the place isn't massive. It is also total chaos in terms of stuff on the wall. We'd had a walk round the village and I almost thought we'd better book into the Red Lion (walk along the high tide mark of the river to the playing field / kid's playground / car park / toilets, go out of the car park and the Red Lion is on your left by the church. But no - don't. Have a word with Ray and get yourself booked in. A more friendly host you couldn't wish for. Food was delightful a tip - Baileys chocolate torte, a dry crumbly texture unheard of in terms of pub deserts. Judge the plce on this one dish.

Better yet I not only got to sample a bottle of Sharpham wine but also got to chat to the horticulturalist who planted the vines and I find myself stunned to say that it was a most drinkable wine. A touch pricey at £17 given other options on the wine list but who's to a couple of quid when it helps local business. The meal in it's self was very reasonable helped by the lack of additions for service, side orders, water, bread with olive oil & vinegar, soap and towels in the bog & all the other extras that seem to appear at the end of an evening when eating out.

Incidentally if the gentlemen amongst you need to visit the little boy's room it's next door! What a good pub should be, warm, inviting and full of local characters who engage in amusing conversation and from whom you can learn more than books could ever teach.

In the height of the season I'm sure money can't buy a table there at the weekend so get in there quick and tell them Henry sent you /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

More tomorrow........


Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Excellent report!

I know what you mean about the pontoon at Sharpham! There is a reasonable place to anchor on the bend just before Sharpham, but you do get the wash of the trip boats passing by.

The Ferry Boat is great fun and I am glad that you tried it, Thursday is quiz night and that is a hoot.

Sounds like you have enjoyed Dartmouth and have you had breakfast at Al Fresco yet? Well worth a visit before you go.
Cheers
Jim
 
Dartmouth is now a distant memory. Woke up to a glorious morning on our swinging mooring. If you're planning on picking one up it's nice and simple, they have a maximum overall length on the top of each blue bouy. In general the longer boats are going to be further downstream and the moorings in the main "lake" area upstream of the ferry are for sub 30 footers.

Got in the dingy to pop over to Greenway first thing. Had chat with the ferryman - there's a song title in there somewhere! - and was told it wasn't possible to use the little jetty south of the ferry (as already indicated on here). We could land in the mud (low tide) north of the ferry and pay an undisclosed sum to a random person or moor on the Ferry Boat Inn side and pay £8.50 a head to use the ferry. Given we only wanted to be there for 40 minutes or so we gave it up as a bad job and broke camp.

Weather window for the forseeable future looks a bit grim and conditions looked picture perfect for our return accross Lyme Bay so we seized our chance and headed for Weymouth - Dartmouth for the common man where Larger is king and fish & chips is a close second.

Our appointment with the Portland race was for 14.30hrs and we hit it on the nail. You could have rowed accross it. Just goes to show the paying attention to your almanac and the Tidal flow does work.

Let's see if we can't find a bit of culture. Going to wrap this one up now and start a new thread. Massive thanks to all who have contributed. Dartmouth really is the most wonderful place and to be honest it was a real wrench to leave but I'm racing after the bank holliday and didn't want to get trapped by the weather.

Henry /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
The regatta sounds fun. I've heard people talking about it already in the bars. Given the folk we've bumped into I can imagine it's a load of fun. Play your cards right and I imagine you could even be an honorary local for the week!

The only thing that would worry me is that it's like Cowes week where there is less than no chance of a mooring anywhere. We've stopped bothering with Cowes having been turned away on 2 occasions now. In fact the town as a whole tends to take things for granted, actually to be fair Cowes Yacht Haven does and that's where the activity centres around.

Oh, we did try Alfresco for breakfast but victims of their own success I'm afraid. Hung around for a table, perched on the end of someone's table, hear a few mutterings about waiting for food and the 10 deep queue to order didn't bode well, so made our excuses and left ( for a very average breakfast in the spinning wheel with ballads of the 80's CD in the background /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Anyway a quality place and we need to see a posse from the Solent Getting together for a return trip. Possibly a Princess owner's club run or an unofficial Motor Boat & Yachting, or is it monthly I never know /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif , run out.

Weymouth has got it's work cut out to follow on........

H. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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