Is Dartmouth in Devon worth a visit?

“Stunning Place But Parking Is a Challenge”

Dartmouth is a picturesque coastal town with beautiful harbour views, charming independent shops, and a relaxed atmosphere. It's a great place for a weekend break, especially in good weather, with plenty of pubs, cafés, and spots to enjoy the riverfront.

The ferry trip across to Kingswear is fun and scenic, though there's not much to do once you get there. Dartmouth itself has a lot of character, but exploring beyond the town can be tricky due to limited parking. Be prepared to use the park and ride if you're staying overnight, as parking near the centre is virtually impossible.

All the parking in the town is either one hour or four max stay. There is a park and ride car park just out of town, which is a good option, but the council's official website says that it has a max stay of 11 hours, meaning it can't be used for overnight stays, let alone a whole weekend or longer. However, there didn't seem to be any ANPR cameras or enforcement, so I took a gamble and got away with parking there for four days. It was just a pain as I had to remember to pay each morning via the app as you can't pay upfront for anything longer than 11 hours.

That said, if you're happy to stay local, relax, and soak up the surroundings, it's a lovely destination - especially if you manage to find accommodation with a view.