Our Favourite Days Out With Kids In Dartmouth
Dartmouth is a truly magical place for families — a rare mix of coastal beauty, outdoor adventure, and timeless charm. Over the years, we’ve discovered some wonderful ways to spend time locally with our children, and these are the days out we return to again and again.
If you’re visiting the area with little ones (or simply looking for fresh ideas close to home), here are some of our tried-and-tested favourites.
A Perfect Beach Day: Blackpool Sands & Slapton Sands
When the sun is shining, nothing beats a proper beach day, and for us, Blackpool Sands and Slapton Sands sit firmly at the top of the list.
Blackpool Sands is just a short and scenic drive from Dartmouth, heading past Stoke Fleming. The journey itself feels like part of the adventure — so much so that we’ve nicknamed it “Ocean Drive.” The road weaves past hidden coves and glittering bays, with views stretching all the way to the lighthouse at Start Point. It’s hard not to slow down and soak it all in.
The beach itself is beautifully maintained and very family-friendly, with a great café and shop for ice creams, coffees, and any beach essentials you may have forgotten. It’s perfect for paddling, swimming, and classic bucket-and-spade fun.
If you’re feeling energetic (and aren’t navigating a pushchair), it’s even possible to walk to Blackpool Sands from Dartmouth via Swanaton Road. It’s a fair trek, but that first cool dip in the sea makes it completely worthwhile.
Rainy-Day Fun: Woodlands Leisure Park
When the weather doesn’t play ball, Woodlands Leisure Park is our reliable go-to.
Set near Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, it’s a brilliant all-weather family attraction. A family ticket gives you access to plenty of indoor soft play and covered activities for younger children, alongside more adventurous outdoor assault courses, woodland slides, and trails for older, braver explorers.
What we love most is that the weather really doesn’t matter here — rain or shine, the children always come away tired, happy, and full of stories.
A Summer Adventure: Dittisham by River and Footpath
One of our most treasured family days out is a trip to Dittisham, especially in the summer months.
We like to begin by walking along the river, crossing on the higher ferry before following a quiet road that leads to a woodland footpath towards Noss Marina. From there, the trail winds past Greenway, Agatha Christie’s former home — a lovely bonus for anyone with an interest in history or beautiful gardens.
Eventually, the path brings you back down to the river, where you can ring the bell to summon the passenger ferry across to Dittisham. This moment never fails to delight the children.
Once in the village, we head straight to the iconic pink pub — the Ferry Boat Inn, affectionately known as the FBI. It’s full of character, welcoming locals, and serves proper, comforting pub food.
For something a little more special, we climb the narrow steps opposite to our favourite restaurant in the area. The seafood is exceptional — fresh, simple, and best enjoyed on their sun-drenched terrace overlooking the river.
After a long, leisurely lunch, the children love crabbing from the pontoon while we soak up the peaceful atmosphere. The only challenge is remembering to catch the last ferry back to Dartmouth — otherwise, it’s a very long walk home.
For our eight-year-old, one-way on foot is quite enough!
