English Heritage: Dartmouth Castle

English Heritage sites are sometimes renowned for being expensive and not always value for money. Dartmouth Castle does not come into that category! We got on a foot ferry from Dartmouth to the Castle. Watching the Castle come into site was lovely, almost surreal like we were in some fantasy!
The castle itself cost us (2 adults and 2 kids) £12 to get in. It’s normally £15 for a family but we’d got a discount! Still, I would have gladly paid the £15. The Castle is very interesting as a building in itself but there is plenty of information to keep kids and adults occupied, steps to climb up and down and an amazing view from the top.
I can’t say I liked Dartmouth much but its Castle is definitely well worth a visit!

I lived in this castle for a short while. Well, for a weekend, at least — and it was absolutely amazing!
Let me clarify I’m not a lost member of the Royal family. Rather I was once an historical re-​enactor and was hired by English heritage to organise a ‘Living History’ weelend there. This comprises of getting a group of re-​enactors to live in the castle in full costume, cooking eating sleeping and drilling at arms in the same way as folks did centuries ago.
The castle itself sits perched on the high cliffs over the river Dart, dating from the 14thC when the fortification was intended to protect the wealthy merchants of the town/​harbour from attack. It then became the first fortification in England to have a purpose-​built gun tower.
With Henry VIII adding to it as a defence against the Spanish, then it seeing action and seige during the English Civil War, and again becoming significant as a defence against the French during the Napoleonic Wars, this little gem of a castle has punched well above it’s weight for centuries.
The tranquillity of it’s position belies it’s history — looking out over the clear blue seas it’s hard to believe that it was once so filled with troops armed to the gills.
I recall waking up one morning from my straw matress and looking out of a small window (having been woken by a seagull pecking at that same window) and feeling a touch of paradise. Followed by a touch of headache and hangover as the re-​enactment of a night on the cider hit me for six!
Climb to the top of the tower and just stare over the ea — it’s very hypnotic. Explore the small ancient church. Ramble along the cliff-​tops for a few hours tranquillity it’s a definate must-​see.