Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday pm - The Tornado steam train!

Whilst wandering along the quayside we heard the now familiar sound of the steam train arriving into the station at Kingwear. Looking across the water we discovered that it was the Tornado a newly built steam train, featured on Top Gear last month.

The weather was, once again, closing in so we headed back up to the campsite on the bus.

We had decided to travel home Sunday night instead of joining all the Monday morning work traffic, so we had a snack for our tea, packed up and headed home.

Roll on August and Exmoor!!!

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday pm - Royal Avenue Gardens, Dartmouth

After a lovely Sunday lunch in the Dolphin Inn near the market place (doggie friendly of course!) we had a wander around the Royal Avenue Gardens.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday am - Dartmouth boats

On our way to find a pub for Sunday lunch we had another wander along the quayside.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday am

We then caught the higher ferry back across to Dartmouth.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday am - walk from Kingswear to the higher ferry

After leaving Kingswear we walked along the public footpath (that runs right alongside the train tracks) up to the higher ferry (a brand new ferry has just been put to work and is much bigger than the previous one). Foot passengers are just 50p and dogs are free!

Whilst walking along the footpath the stream train left Kingswear for its half hour journey to Paignton passing us en-route!

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday am - Kingswear Railway Station

Once in Kingswear we wandered around the pretty little station awaiting the arrival of the first steam train of the day.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Sunday am - Kingswear

We got up on Sunday to a dry day with some sun so decided to go over to Kingswear on the lower ferry as foot (and paw!) passengers to see the steam train coming into the the station.

The views of Dartmouth, including the Royal Naval College, from the ferry are wonderful.

Kingswear is a pretty place with lots of multi-coloured houses.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Saturday am - weather closing in!!!

By the time we had followed the same route back in Dartmouth the weather was closing in. The rain clouds loomed over the hills above the town so we found a nice dry pub for a satisfying lunch and a pint!

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Saturday am - walking the coastal/bridal path to Stoke Fleming

It was still dry after a drinks stop at the castle, overlooking the pretty Castle Cove, so we headed up the coastal path and onto the bridal path for a 2.5 mile walk to a little Devon village called Stoke Fleming, where we found a doggie friendly pub for another much needed drinks break!

The village had the highest post box we'd ever seen. Not sure how you get your letters posted in that village?!?!?

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Saturday am - walk to Dartmouth Castle & Church

As it was still dry (still threatening though!) we decided to head to Dartmouth Castle and Church that sits on the mouth of the estuary. Up through the cobbled streets and very steep steps of Dartmouth, passing through Warfleet creek on the way.

Dartmouth - July 2009 - Saturday am (in town)

We got up Saturday to a dry day, but there were plenty of clouds around that threatened to ruin the day!

Once again we caught the park and ride bus service down to the town.

There are some lovely old buildings in Dartmouth, including the Royal Castle Hotel and the New Angel Restaurant (once owned and run by the TV chef John Burton-Race).