Dartmouth - My Home Town

On a full moon in Mars I moved from the southeast of England, 234 miles along the coast to Dartmouth in the southwest. With four chickens and two cats accompanying me in my campervan, we headed west on a sunshine filled October day to a town that is bursting with palm trees, an aquamarine ocean and one of the finest beaches in the land. Delightful Dartmouth sits at the foot of the River Dart, on the south coast of one of the most stunning counties in England ... Devon is indeed heaven! 

But let's not get carried away, it is England and we were heading into winter, which meant grey skies and rain, however nothing could dampen our spirits once we landed in the unbearably beautiful coastal town of Dartmouth. I chose my new home carefully, it has an artistic community and older demographic full of lots of wild swimmers and sailors too. 

My illustration of Dartmouth captures iconic buildings and institutions that are at the heart of this creative community and as such, includes those which are a key part of "My Dartmouth: I am a business supporter of the lively arts venue - The Flavel, where I also do a yoga class. I wild swim with an early morning sea swim group down at the historic fort of Bayards Cove.

I walk along the South West Coast Path most weeks, and to the beautiful bay at Blackpool Sands, maybe having a dip in the aquamarine ocean along the way.  Or, I head up the River Dart to Agatha's Christie's house at Greenway and over on the ferry to Dittisham. At the Old Market I buy fish from the fishmonger, flowers from the florist and pots from the resident ceramicist.

I love walking down the cobbled Foss Street or under the ancient Tudor buildings of the Butterwalk. I can see the River Dart from my home on the hill, and love watching the boats bob up and down the river. Devon is very much a food county and my favourite tipple is a local wine from the Sharpham Estate and food ... well it has to be a Devon Cream Tea. Several months on, I'm still very much in love with Dartmouth as are many that flock here for the salty air, divine food or creativity. 

And if you can't get to Devon, then bring a piece of Devon home to you with my Devon Scone recipe .... :-)