The historic town of Dartmouth, Devon is a short walk along the embankment from Dart Marina. It's filled with narrow, winding streets, hidden steps and home to many fine shops, suberb dartmouth restaurants, cafes and stylish galleries.

The days here are filled with lively interest with the backdrop of river life and views that take your breath away.

The River Dart rises high on Dartmoor and the peaty water is running well when it tumbles past Dartmeet and Holne Chase. The watercourse turns placid and very English as it winds through the Dartington Hall estate, and then becomes tidal and navigable at the splendid old town of Totnes. By the time the river slides gently past the Dart Marina, it is deep and wide enough to form a perfect natural harbour between steeply wooded banks.

Around the fabulous sweep of Start Bay you can laze on the beach at Blackpool Sands or visit the nature reserve at Slapton Ley, a unique freshwater lake delicately separated from the sea by a shingle spit. From Torcross village at the south end of the Ley, you might follow the coast path to nearby Beesands and return along the beach if the tide is out. A little further south, Hallsands is worth a visit in the car, a mysterious Devon community whose cliffside village was partly washed into the sea by a great storm in 1917.

The cities of Exeter and Plymouth are no more than an hour away. Exeter has a growing cultural atmosphere and Plymouth is thriving with new development.  Plymouth and Exeter City Centres provide good entertainment and shopping facilities.