Dartmouth is a town in Devon in the south-west of England. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes. Dartmouth’s narrow streets and ancient buildings bear witness to a long if not always glorious history, which saw the town develop from a fishing port in the early middle ages to a base for smugglers and privateers. Today, yachtsmen have replaced the privateers, and the licenses are strictly for the many taverns and restaurants. The mild South Devon climate makes Dartmouth a year-round resort - often with excellent weather in February and March and golden autumn days in October and November. A regular winner of the Britain in Bloom competition, Dartmouth boasts many unusual and exotic blooms in its gardens, making the spring one of the best times to stay. No visit to Dartmouth is complete without a boat trip on the River Dart, whose wooded banks have provided the tropical setting of many a movie scene. For those more energetic, there are also walks of varying distance, visits to National Trust gardens, golf and sea angling - or one can just laze on the beaches, most of which are only a short bus or steam train ride away.