Dartmouth Itineraries
Half a day or a full weekend. Here are the best ways to spend your time in Dartmouth, planned step by step.
Whether you have a few hours or a full weekend to explore, these itineraries give you a local’s route through Dartmouth. Each one links directly to the restaurants and activities along the way.
Half a day in Dartmouth
A morning on foot and on the water: Bayard's Cove, the little ferry down to the castle, back for a crab sandwich and an hour in the Butterwalk museum before it shuts at 3pm. The Castle Ferry runs from Easter to the end of October; out of season, walk out along Castle Road instead.
- 109.45·30 minutes
Bayard's Cove and the fort
Walk along the cobbles of Bayard's Cove to the Tudor fort at the end, free and open in daylight, and look across at Kingswear and the Lower Ferry.
View Bayard's Cove Fort - 210.15·15 minutes
Castle Ferry to Dartmouth Castle
Back to the South Embankment for the Castle Ferry down to Stumpy Steps; the first boat leaves at 10am.
- 310.30·1 hour 30 minutes
Dartmouth Castle
The gun tower, the chain mechanism and the view out to sea. Book online the day before for the discount.
View Dartmouth Castle - 412.15·1 hour
Ferry back and a crab sandwich
Back on the Castle Ferry, then a crab sandwich from the Crab Shell on Raleigh Street to eat on the Embankment, or a table at Rockfish.
View The Crab Shell - 513.30·45 minutes
Dartmouth Museum in the Butterwalk
Upstairs in the Butterwalk on Duke Street; the museum shuts at 3pm.
View Dartmouth Museum - 614.30·30 minutes
The Cherub and Higher Street
Up the steps to Higher Street to see the timber-framed Cherub, and stop in if it is open.
View The Cherub
A full day on the river
A day that uses the river as the road: upriver to Greenway in the morning, back for lunch, then across to Kingswear for the steam train and home on the evening ferry. It works from March to October, when the Greenway Ferry runs daily; check the steam railway's timetable for the day.
- 109.00·45 minutes
Breakfast on Lower Street
Cafe Alf Resco opens at 7am, a minute from the Lower Ferry slip.
View Cafe Alf Resco - 210.00·About 3 hours with time at Greenway
Greenway Ferry from the Town Pontoon
The 10.00 sails in peak season only; otherwise take the 11.00 and shift the day an hour. Agatha Christie's Greenway is the National Trust's, and the ferry fare does not include entry. The 12.30 boat back from Greenway Quay gets you to town for lunch.
View Greenway by ferry - 313.00·1 hour
Lunch back in town
Lunch at the Royal Castle on the Quay, or at Rockfish on the South Embankment.
View Royal Castle - 414.05·30 minutes
Passenger ferry to Kingswear
Cross on the passenger ferry from the Town Jetty; allow 30 minutes for the connection with the train.
- 514.40·2 hours
Steam train to Paignton and back
Along the east bank of the Dart and the Torbay coast. On the operator's timetable for 16 October 2026 the 14.40 from Kingswear reached Paignton at 15.05 and the 15.30 back reached Kingswear at 15.55; times vary by day, so check the daily timetable.
View Dartmouth Steam Railway from Kingswear - 616.15·1 hour 30 minutes
Ferry back, Bayard's Cove and supper
Back on the passenger ferry, a walk along Bayard's Cove to the old fort, then food at the Dartmouth Arms, which serves until 9pm.
View The Dartmouth Arms
Ready to plan your visit?
Check the weather forecast before you head out.