If I was having coffee with you this week, I would tell you about our recent coach trip to Dartmouth. Even better I would invite you to join me for virtual fish and chips by the side of the estuary and perhaps talk about one of my favourite British murder mystery authors.

We usually try to go to the seaside a few times in summer and as you may have heard this year our summer has been unusually dry and hot. I was delighted to find that a local coach firm was offering a day trip to Dartmouth. I have been to most of the south Devon resorts but not Dartmouth and I was keen to discover more about it.

Dartmouth lies within the south Devon area of outstanding natural beauty on the western bank of the river Dart. It is just round the coast from Torquay. The sheltered estuary of the river Dart provided a safe deep water harbour for boats for centuries. Small boats left from Dartmouth to transport crusaders, early settlers to America and soldiers to the Normandy beaches during the second world war. One of Chaucer’s pilgrims was a “schipman of Dertemouthe” Dartmouth in Devon is twinned with the more famous Dartmouth in Massachusetts.

The association with the Royal navy continues. Elizabeth first officially met Prince Phillip of Greece when he was chosen to give the 13 year old princess a tour round Britannia Naval college in Dartmouth where he was training for a naval career. The iconic red brick and white stone building is still in use.

The small town has a patchwork of narrow lanes and stone stairways. Agincourt house and a pub called the Cherub are probably 14th century and many other buildings are Tudor or Stuart. The town’s museum boasts a room where Charles II was entertained after he sought shelter in Dartmouth when his yacht was caught in a storm. Many of the houses are partly built from reclaimed ship’s timber.

We walked along the river to Dartmouth Castle and St. Petrox church which is still a favourite place for weddings. Returning by ferry from stumpy steps. From the water we got a clear view of the multi-coloured water front properties.

Dartmouth has a perfect small brown and cream railway station. Unfortunately the town never had its own railway line. The money ran out before a bridge could be built and passengers have to take the ferry across the river to Kingswear where they can catch a heritage steam train to Totnes. The railway station is now a busy coffee bar and has been lovingly restored.

Greenway House

Visitors can also catch a ferry to nearby Greenway house which was once owned by Agatha Christie. It is now owned by the National trust who have kept the 1950’s furniture. She described it as the most beautiful place on earth. I remember loving her books when I was 14 and allowed an adult library ticket for the first time.

The #WeekendCoffeeShare is an informal weekly link-up hosted by Natalie the Explorer

Doors for Thursday doors

Thursdaydoors is a weekly feature where bloggers from around the world come together to share pictures of interesting doors and the stories behind them.

Here are three Dartmouth doors for this week’s challenge.