Dartmouth and South Devon

 Dartmouth from Kingswear

For the Bank Holiday Weekend at the beginning of May we took the Caravan down to South Devon and stayed on the Caravan Club Site 'Hillhead'. We love this site, we have stayed here quite a few times now. The staff are very friendly, the site is well maintained, the toilets and shower blocks are kept immaculate, and it has a club with entertainment. There is a small shop, the Bar serves food and a very popular Carvery on a Sunday. And there is an outdoor Swimming Pool.

This time our visit had a purpose - I wanted to visit 'Greenway' the holiday home of Agatha Christie. I have read alot of her books and was really keen to visit the house. You can reach the house by boat down the River Dart from Dartmouth or you can get there by an old bus. But there is no parking! so don't take the car.

We left our car at Kingswear and got the passenger ferry to Dartmouth, from here we got a river cruise down to Greenway. Greenway is now run by the National Trust so it is a good idea to look into membership before you go, if you are not a member already. The boat fare is not covered by National trust.

The Boathouse at Greenway

 

The boathouse at Greenway lies on the river just before you reach Greenway Quay. For anyone that has read Agatha Christie Books you will remember that her story 'Dead Man's Folly' featured a murder in a boathouse. Which I always imagined to be just like this one.

 

When you leave the boat it is just a short walk through the woods to reach Greenway. The house stands in its own grounds, which are beautiful. I could imagine Agatha Christie entertaining friends and family here, but to me it would have just been an inspirational place to write.

 





 

Greenway from the River Dart

 

From Kingswear it is also possible to take a trip on the Dart Valley Steam Railway to Paignton. This is a short journey, but quite picturesque. The train cosses over a viaduct on its journey which also passes Broadsands beach with its colourful beach huts.

 

The Colourful Beach Huts at Broadsands

 

During our stay at Hillhead, Brixham was holding it annual Pirate Festival, which was great fun. The whole town appeared to be involved.

It has to be said that I have never seen so many Johhny Depp lookalikes in one day !

Brixham's replica of the Golden Hind.