Everything you need to know before you head out: weather, what to pack, the best seasons, and useful links.
Half-day highlights, full-day explorer, rainy day plan, and weekend escape: all mapped out step by step.
Dartmouth sits in a sheltered river valley a short way in from the sea, so the town itself is often calmer than the forecast for the coast, while the castle, Blackstone Point and the open water at the river mouth catch whatever wind there is. Rain comes in off the Channel quickly.
Local producers, markets, and makers worth a stop before you leave Dartmouth.
Ice cream made in Dartmouth since 1928, scooped at the Good Intent on Lower Street.
Known for: Clotted cream vanilla ice cream
Hours: Lower Street and Duke Street shops closed in January; Avenue Gardens kiosk seasonal (company's contact page)
The 1828 pannier market: shops all week, stalls on market days.
Hours: Shops Monday to Saturday; market days Tuesday, Friday and, in high season, Thursday (Discover Dartmouth)
Sourdough and Dartmoor honey
Second-Saturday food market in the Old Market Square.
Known for: Sourdough and Dartmoor honey
Hours: Second Saturday of the month, 9.30am to 3.30pm (Discover Dartmouth)
The river boats and the Castle Ferry start up around Easter; the Greenway Ferry runs daily from 1 March. Dart the Dart is on 8 May 2027 and the Dart Music Festival on 14 to 16 May 2027.
The year starts properly at Easter, when the Castle Ferry begins its runs from the South Embankment down to Stumpy Steps and the river cruises go back to a daily timetable; the Greenway Ferry is earlier, running every day from 1 March. May is busy in a way that is more local than August. The food festival team's fancy-dress food run, Dart the Dart, is on 8 May in 2027, over half-marathon distance with food stops, and the Dart Music Festival fills the town with free live music on 14 to 16 May 2027.
Regatta runs 21 to 28 August 2027, with closing fireworks at 9pm on Saturday 28 August. The paddle steamer Kingswear Castle takes some cruises from mid-June to September.
Summer is crabbing lines off the Embankment, queues for the passenger ferry and the paddle steamer Kingswear Castle on some of the lower river cruises from mid-June to September. From May to September most on-street parking in the old town is limited to an hour or two, so the park and ride at the top of the hill and the 91 bus down to the Embankment are the sane way in. The summer ends with Regatta, a week of rowing and sailing that the organiser traces back to 1822: in 2027 it runs from 21 to 28 August, Dart Harbour lists later Higher Ferry crossings on the Thursday to Saturday (check with the ferry), and the fireworks close it at 9pm on the last Saturday. Book a bed early.
The Dartmouth Food Festival was held 23 to 25 October 2026; 2027 dates had not been announced as of October 2026. Last 2026 days: the Round Robin 29 October, the Castle Ferry the end of October, the Greenway Ferry 1 November.
October is food festival month: three days of chefs, talks and producers' stalls across the town, free to walk round. In 2026 it was held from 23 to 25 October, with a ticketed opening party in the Market Square on the Wednesday before. It is also the last of the boat season. Last 2026 sailings: the Round Robin on 29 October, the Castle Ferry at the end of the month, the Greenway Ferry on 1 November. From October the North Embankment's on-street parking is free again. Britannia Royal Naval College tours carry on through the autumn on set dates, with photo ID.
Quiet. The museum opens daily except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day; the Higher Ferry is due to close for its 2027 refit from 18 January to 1 February (the operator's preliminary dates).
Winter Dartmouth is the town for itself: the museum in the Butterwalk keeps its 11am to 3pm opening every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day, Bayard's Cove Fort is open in daylight, and the coast path from the castle to Little Dartmouth is quiet. The Castle Ferry is not running, so walk out along Castle Road. Dartmouth Ice Cream's Lower Street and Duke Street shops close in January, and the Higher Ferry is due to be out of service for its annual refit from 18 January to 1 February 2027 (the operator's preliminary dates), which leaves the Lower Ferry for cars.