Dartmouth .... The Attributes!!

.... Dartmouth a place to lunch with great friends outside even in November

My 8 year love affair with Dartmouth is worth unpicking. Time has taught me many things and one is that your quality of life is, in lots of ways, dependent on where you live and how you live in that place.
I love being engaged with life, wherever I am, in the environment, people, events, places to shop, eat and imbibe. 


Dartmouth is full of all the above, it is impossible to be lonely or bored here! It's like living on an island, no-one passes through on their way somewhere .... and those who have made that special effort to be here never want to leave. With just over 5,000 residents, Dartmouth buzzes all year round with a large influx of holiday makers in the summer bringing with them a holiday atmosphere.


The crucial ingredients are, in no particular order :
A WATERY EXSISTENCE
• The feeling of safety that the hills create tumbling down to the River Dart - you could be anywhere in the world, spectacular & gorgeous views
• Life on the river and the many things you can do here on water - about 12 ferries which go to Totnes ... great shopping in this alternative town, Salcombe ... where all the trendies arrive in summer, Brixham ... new fish quay, Dittisham ... the Ferry Boat Inn and the AnchorStone for lunch, Agatha Christies House ... NT .. beautiful grounds overlooking the Dart, smaller ferries to the Castle - Sugary Cove or just across the river and back ... plus canoeing, fishing, sailing, crabbing ... all watery things!
• The exposed nature of the estuary when the weather comes in creating unpredictable ferry closures, dramatic skies, gale force winds whipping up the water
VIBRANT PLACES
• The Flavel housing a vibrant library and internet centre, a quality cafe, cinema with latest films, exhibitions and events
• The Royal Castle Hotel where the whole world seems to meet up ... it buzzes here with an eclectic mix of people enjoying murder mystery nights, events to celebrate almost every occasion ... great atmosphere and food
• Alf Fresco's which reminds me of the lanes in Melbourne... definitely the place where you will find locals starting their days on a hearty breakfast and robust conversation ... you can even get a 'flat white' 
• the shops that offer everything you need - no need to go to a city ever again!
PEOPLE MAKE PLACES
• The architecture - ancient, historical and attractive, full of life.
• most of all the people who are charming, adventurous, enjoying life, interesting .... creating a genuine community that is warm and open to others.
AND .... ART ...
• It's all in a word .... ART is Dartmouth with many quality galleries exhibiting great british art.


This is a flavour of life here, a place where people 'love where they live' and a place with a real heart.