Dartmouth, South Devon · Hotel
Riverside hotel and spa on the Dart at Dartmouth, with marina-facing rooms and a ten-minute walk into the historic town centre.
Dart Marina occupies a stretch of riverbank between Dartmouth's marina and the open water of the Dart, about ten minutes on foot from the town's embankment and narrow medieval streets. The setting is the point: the river is busy with yachts, ferries and the occasional naval vessel from Britannia Royal Naval College on the hill above, and the hotel's frontage takes it all in.
Bedrooms are contemporary rather than traditional, with a good proportion having balconies or terraces facing the water. Room grades run from smaller garden-facing doubles up to suites, and the difference in outlook is significant, so paying up for a river view is usually money well spent here. The spa has an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and treatment rooms, and there is a gym.
The restaurant looks out over the marina and cooks a modern British menu built around South Devon produce, with fish landed at Brixham a short drive away. There is also a more relaxed bar and terrace for lighter meals. Parking is on site, a genuine advantage in a town where the public car parks fill by mid-morning in season.
It works best for couples and for older families who do not need play facilities. Dartmouth itself is one of the most rewarding bases in the county: the castle guards the river mouth, the Dartmouth Steam Railway runs along the coast to Paignton, passenger ferries cross to Kingswear, and the coast path towards Blackpool Sands and Slapton Ley is close by. Out of season the hotel is noticeably better value and the town stays open, which is not true everywhere on this coast.