Davenport and Brixham

Although I have travelled extensively throughout the UK, Dartmouth was a town I had never visited. It had been on my ‘wish list’ for a while, not least because of Greenway House, the summer home of Agatha Christie, which had always been a place I fancied exploring. So, with foreign travel temporarily suspended, we decided to head to Devon!

We were very lucky to find a self-contained property to stay in, in a quiet village situated equidistant between Dartmouth and Brixham, with a lovely distant view of the sea from our little balcony. I was delighted to find that Greenway House was literally ‘up the road’ so this was first on our agenda. A National Trust property, we booked a visiting time and set off. Greenway is a late 18th century estate set on the River Dart – a beautiful setting enjoying views of parkland, woodland and the water. Having enjoyed a look around the house, whilst exploring the grounds we found the pathway down to the small landing area where ferries from Kingswear brought visitors directly to Greenway. Sitting here enjoying a coffee and the stunning view of the estuary was a real highlight. That evening we went down to Brixham. This fishing town features a busy port and harbour nestled below rows of colourful houses on the hillsides. We enjoyed a walk round the harbour and then traditional, fresh fish and chips – having to be careful to guard our supper from the eager gulls!

Our final day was spent exploring Dartmouth. We parked at Kingswear and took one of the frequent passenger ferries for the 5-minute trip across to the centre of the town. There are 3 ferries making the trip – 2 carry cars and one is for foot passengers only. The ferry ride itself was fun and not too busy so with the requirement to wear masks as well it felt very safe. From the ferry we could see the historic Naval College and the old fortifications of Bayard’s Cove which we later explored on foot, as well as the Royal Avenue Gardens and the old historic town centre. We were certainly not disappointed with our UK break and found this part of Devon offered a great deal with its many attractions, stunning countryside and the outstanding beauty of the Dart Estuary.