Dartmouth, England, United Kingdom

Dartmouth sits along the English Channel on the west bank of the Dart River estuary in Devon, England. As part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dartmouth has long attracting yachting and boating enthusiasts. The castle, constructed in 1481, guards the entrance to the estuary, from which Richard I’s Crusaders set sail in 1190 over 400 ships gathered during the 1944 D-Day landings. The town’s rich naval history also includes the hometown of Thomas Newcomen, inventor of the first working steam engine in the early 1700s. Dartmouth charms with its historic colorful streets and traditional architecture, particularly its hidden gems, including painted family crests and narrow winding steps. Nearby, discover the secret known to locals: Blackpool Sands, a “Blue Flag”-awarded beach tucked away in a cove among evergreens and pines, named an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.