ON THE WATERFRONT

n a warm summer’s day, the grey-green waters of the River Dart flow languidly down to the South Devon coast and away out to sea. The river, which rises on Dartmoor, snakes its way past the settlements of Totnes, Stoke Gabriel, Dittisham, Kingswear and finally Dartmouth – the famous naval town. Slowly, it flushes past lush green farmland, woodland and expanses of reed bed. The Dart is a world apart and has inspired poets and artists down the ages, sailors and boat-lovers, too, who waft along its waters to find peace and tranquillity, spotting herons, little egrets, cormorants and kingfishers – even the occasional dolphin