River Dart

The River Dart rises on Dartmoor and flows south for 75 kilometres to the sea at Dartmouth. Its name comes from the old word for oak, and the river is lined with ancient oak woodlands in its lower stretches. Two streams, the East Dart and West Dart, join at Dartmeet where clapper bridges cross the water. After leaving the moor the river passes Buckfast Abbey and the towns of Buckfastleigh, Dartington and Totnes. Below Totnes the river becomes tidal and no bridges span it until Totnes Bridge. The river is tidal below Totnes and has no bridges until the town, where it is crossed by a road bridge from the 19th century, a later road bridge, a railway bridge and a footbridge. A passenger ferry links Dittisham to the Greenway Estate, once home to Agatha Christie. At the mouth the river separates Dartmouth and Kingswear, connected by ferries, and guarded by Kingswear Castle and Dartmouth Castle which once held a defensive chain. Dartmouth Harbour is a deep-water port busy with fishing boats, yachts and naval vessels from Britannia Royal Naval College. Several companies run river cruises from Dartmouth to Totnes, and the annual Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is held at the end of August. Upstream the river is used by kayakers on sections graded from beginner to advanced, while the lower reaches suit flat-water touring. The National Trust now owns Greenway Estate, offering views across the river and open gardens.