The Local Area

The South Hams of South Devon is an area of exceptional beauty and contrast with river estuaries, rolling holls and thatched cottages surrounding the lovely old towns of Dartmouth, Totnes, Kingsbridge, Salcombe, Modbury and Ivybridge.

The area enjoys one of the mildest climates in the whole of Britain. Indeed, the name "Hamme" is an old English word meaning enclosed or sheltered place. With spring arriving early, long summers, warm autumns and mild winters, you can safely choose to visit at any time of year.

With sixty miles of spectacular coastline and beaches, a rural landscape that has hardly changed in centuries and the majestic granite slopes of Dartmoor, the South Hams is a unique area worthy of its national status as a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

Raddicombe is perfectly placed for your visit to either Greenway House or Coleton Fishacre. Just over 2 miles from Coleton and 3 miles from Greenway.

Brixham

Life in Brixham centres on the harbourside and the bustle of one of Britain's busiest fishing ports. You can wander around the many harbouside shops, watch the fisherman unloading their dailly catch, or take a peek at the work of the artists who gather at Artists Corner.

Sample freshly caught seafood from one of the quayside's fish stalls, or relax in a pub or restaurant and watch life go by. Away from the harbour you can llose yourself in a maze of narrow, winding streets, and within walking distance from the town centre you will find some of the Riviera's most spectacular scenery. Sandy beaches and secluded coves give way to the towering cliffs at Berry Head, offering breathtaking views of Torbay and the starting point of the stretch of dramatic coast path that winds its way round to the village of Kingswear.

Dartmouth & Kingswear

Imagine steeply wooded hills dropping down to meet a running river where sailboats and brightly coloured trawlers bob at anchor. Ferries bustle back and forth, seawards you glimpse a cilff top church in the shaddow of a protective castle and upstream the majestic Britannia Royal Naval College stands guard over the pretty town.

On the opposite bank, a steam train puffs its way alongside the sparkling river and over all reigns at atmosphere of quintessentially English eccentricity and elegance...Welcome to Dartmouth and its sister village of Kinswear.

As its name suggests, the town sits along the majestic River Dart and it is this beautiful stretch of water that is the soul of Dartmouth. Earliest times saw the town as a simple settement at the top of Townstal, high above the muddy river bank. The 11th century found two small fishing villages, Hardness and Clifton, clinging perilously to the steep ground above the tide line. Since that time, inlets have been dammed, ground re-claimed and wharves and warehouses built to accommodate the exotic goods imported by the town's wealthy fleet of merchant ships from Europe and across the Atlantic.

Dartmouth become a haunt for privateers with our very own pirate Thomas Norton and a family of pirate Lords, the Hawleys who stole from the French and Spanish whilst cheerfully acting as the towns M.P's and Mayors! Chaucer immortalised his friend John Hawley in his Canterbury Tales as the Shipman of Deremouthe - a thief, fighter and murderer of enemy sailors but an expert in seamanship! The town itself was kept safe from marauding invaders with the building of Dartmouth Castle when chains were run across the river to Godmerock.