Weekend in Dartmouth.

SailorV

SailorV

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Being land locked in Bucks and after a winter of pining for a sniff of sea air, I have just booked a couple of nights at the Dart Marina Hotel in Dartmouth for this weekend for the good lady and myself (Saturday to Monday).

I have been to Dartmouth once a few years back but that was on a brief night stop on a Rag and Stick thingy - I’m a reformed character honest guv !!.
We were over in the marina on the east bank of the river, so didn’t get to see much of the town.

So I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of things to do and see there, where to eat and drink etc?
I have already booked a table at The New Angel for Sunday lunch – got to give it a try!

Also can any one recommend any charter boat trips that you can do around the coast or up the Dart?

Many Thanks in advance. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Hunt out the Cherub for good ale and excellent food... walk through the town centre past Somerfield, then take the steps on the right by the bookshop. Cherub's at the top of the steps on your left.
If you get the chance a trip to Totnes on one of the tripper boats could be worth it... lots of hippyish shops - a bit like Glastonbury moved South! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gifOk nevertheless, and there used to be a great secondhand bookshop by the quay... Haven't been there for a year or two though so it may have disappeared. The run up the Dart is pretty picturesque in itself... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
I wouldn't bother with New Angel, just paying for the name.
Saturday night dinner at Cafe Cache.
Sunday breakfast at Alf Resco, near lower ferry (not to be missed)
Sunday night dinner at the Floating Bridge pub next to the hotel, generally only a few locals at this time of year, and very friendly.
 
Some good deals at the hotel at the moment. we stayed there a couple of weeks ago. Not too many punters there either. agree the marina is v expensive.
 
We stayed at Dart Marina last summer - it was about £55 per night from my Broom 42.

Had dinner at the New Angel - excellent though the service was a little OTT. Every time you touched your glass someone was there refilling it. I'd go back.
 
The hotel is £160 per night for a deluxe room, which also includes Breakfast and Dinner for two (Ok' I should asked for advice on where to have lunch!!).

So all in all that is pretty good value. You would pay more for a Holiday Inn in somewhere like Reading.

Might just be the time of year though, probably doubles in the summer.

Thanks for all of the advice so far.
 
As a local ( well Kingswear ), a few suggestions need a comment:
The steam train is not running yet!
Cafe Cache is closed, I beleive the owner has just had twins.
The trip boats are running now as is the ferry up to Dittisham whre you can have lunch in the pub.
For future reference Browns is a good choice for a small hotel and is in the town, useful if it is raining as it saves the walk along the Embankment from the Dart Marina.
Basically you will find plenty to do for a couple of days.
 
SWMBO will want to spend a few hours wandering around Dartmouth. There's plenty of little shops to explore. If you do this on Saturday take your credit card. If you do it on Sunday the shops will be closed and you won't need your card!

The steam train trip is good, but don't bother getting off at Paignton. It's a dump.

As you are only going for a weekend, I wouldn't go to Totnes. It is worth a vist, but you can't do everything in the limited time you have. You'll be wanting to spend a good few hours in Dartmouth itself.

There's a nice little boat trip up to Dittisham to see "Greenways", home a Agatha Christie. Don't bother going if the weather is too wet. (It may not be open this time of year)

Particularly if the weather is poor some of the boats trips which just go up and down the river are nice and lazy.

There's a little Museum in the town centre. Very good if old boaty stuff is of interest.

I like Dartmouth!
 
I go to dart marina hotel every year for the music festival. Hotel is good as is the food in the restautant. We love it there. As others have said...go to the angel pub its great, then just stroll around the town and take in the ambience of the place.
Bloody awfull drive to get there tho. Thats all thats put me off before.
 
Concur with all that's gone on before - Cherub a super little pub - New Angel's food excellent but agree re. service.
Personally think trip to Totnes is worth it - wouldn't bother with train trip til steam locos operating.
Would also suggest catching ferry down to Dartmouth Castle and back.

Dartmouth, outside of July & August, is a delightful place - probably my favourite town in the UK.
 
Hi, i grew up in Dartmouth & have my 24 on the Noss Marina just up river (used to be owned by Dart Marina).

The hotel has just undergone refurb and some of the new bits are still being built e.g. leisure club. I would also recommend staying at the Castle Hotel, on the edge of the inner boatfloat- Individual rooms and excellent restaurant.

For food
1. Try Taylors overlooking the boatfloat (1st floor along from the Castle Hotel).
Table Mountain, an indian fusion restaurant (not curry) on 2. Anzac Street, just up from the butterwalk on the right.
3. There is a new restaurant opened on the main quay at the lower ferry end (tug boats, not paddles) right on the corner.. aparrently very good.
4. Anzac Street Bistro is also excellent (i used to live there when my parents had it as an Antique shop)
5. The marina hotel itself is pretty good now.
I'd avaoid the floating bridge next to the marina (sorry) unless you want cheap and cheerful. I was in there a couple months ago & its gone downhill a bit.

For the wife to go shopping, look for Musto in Foss Street as well as others down there. Also Crew on Fairfax place.
For a private ladieswear shop, try TrueBlue under the butterwalk, my mother still works there part time & its excellent.

Plenty of art shops springing up now, too many in my opinion.

Oh the 2nd hand bookshop has now closed down.

BOAT TRIP - From the quay, look out for a boat called the Falcon, its a blue charter boat about 35 foot and they do unusual trips round the coast, seal spotting etc rather than the tourist trail on the bigger boats. As an alternative book 'The Picnic Boat' which only takes about 10 people max but will tailor a trip from tea & scones up the river to lobster & champagne. The hotel reception should help you, if not the marina staff will know the lady who operates it.

sorry ive gone on a bit, but i spend alot of time there & am hoping to move back shortly.

Regards
Giles
 
Yes - had a few good weekends in Dartmouth

Before we had our Prestige36 we have a 5.85m Rib (bit of a jump I know!!) - One of our favorite weekend locations was Dartmouth.

One place to eat for a bit of a change is the "Res Nova Inn" - its a floating barge in the middle of the river, and they also run one of the water taxis - so they will come and pick you up and drop you back at the shore. You can also stay overnight in their cabins - which is handy when you are on a Rib!!

Details of our trip staying on the ResNova are here.

We also used to hire a cottage just behind the Marina and moor Panther in the Marina (very expensive I remember!!) - Launching in dartmouth always looked a bit scary, as you share the slipway with the chain ferry!!!! - so we useually launched in Brixham and left the car there and arrived in Dartmouth from the sea - the only way really!!

Enjoy your weekend

Jools
 
We usually just slum it on the town quay. Quick trip to the super market, bit crap. But usually make up for it in other shops. Cant remember all the pub names. But bought my boat off one of them!!
 
Definitely try Al Frescos for breakfast - lovely atmosphere and best cinnamon toast ever! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Need to get in early as v. popular most weekends.
 
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