Flying into Dartmouth: The Best Routes and Airlines for Your Devon Adventure

Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash

*Guest Blog Post – Abigail Laidlaw, Netrocket

Dartmouth is a quaint coastal town with something for everyone. It’s a top destination for people who want a long vacation or for those who just want to escape the big city for a day.

However, while many people visit Dartmouth for its seclusion, this also makes it a long journey to reach. In this article, we’ll take you through the best routes for reaching Dartmouth, including what airlines to fly with and how to get from the airport to the town.

Overview of Dartmouth, Devon

Dartmouth is a town in southwest England, situated on the banks of the River Dart. The picturesque town and the coastal atmosphere make Dartmouth an attractive location for events, festivals and vacationing. 

Stroll through the picturesque town and discover the beautiful nature, stunning architecture, and rich heritage of Dartmouth. Go shopping in the town or visit art galleries, a cinema or a live music show. You’ll also find plenty of vineyards, breweries and distilleries to visit.

The town is situated on green rolling hills and there are natural wildlife reserves nearby. Dartmouth’s coastal location also makes it a prime spot for maritime activities like kayaking, paddleboarding or sailing.

Photo by Zach Pickering on Unsplash

Nearest Airports to Dartmouth

There are several airports nearby that can help you reach this vacation town:

• Exeter Airport (EXT)

Exeter Airport is located just outside the town of Exeter, Devon. Getting to Dartmouth from Exeter Airport takes 1 hour by car or 2 hours by train. 

• Bristol Airport (BRS)

Bristol Airport is bigger than Exeter Airport, so it may be easier to get to Bristol. However, it takes 4 hours by train and 2 hours by car to get to Dartmouth.

• London Airports (Heathrow and Gatwick)

If you’re travelling from another country to the UK, then flying to a London airport is the most practical and affordable option. From there, you can connect to Exeter. The train ride to Dartmouth takes 7.5 hours and driving takes 5 hours.

Best Airlines for Travelling to Dartmouth

British Airways

British Airways is a major international airline, so flying with British Airways to London and getting a connection to Exeter may be a good option. British Airways offers flights from London to Exeter, but they’re not direct.

EasyJet

EasyJet offers international flights to London airports and Bristol Airport, but doesn’t offer flights to Exeter. 

Ryanair

If you’re travelling to the UK from abroad, you can fly with Ryanair to London Stansted, and from London Stansted, you can get a connection to Exeter. If you have a Ryanair flight disruption, you may be eligible for Ryanair cancelled flight compensation. 

Other notable airlines

Other airlines that operate out of Exeter Airport include Aer Lingus, Loganair and Aurigny. 

Direct Flights vs. Connecting Flights

Direct flights are faster and don’t require time-consuming connections, but are usually more expensive.

Connecting flights are cheaper but waiting for connections is time-consuming. When changing flights it’s also easier for the airline to lose your luggage.

The best flight option is to find a flight to a major London airport and then book a connecting flight to Exeter. Travelling to Dartmouth from Exeter is only an hour by car. 

When booking a flight, make sure you’ll have enough time to make a connecting flight. Consider the time it takes to go through UK customs and passport control.

Booking Tips and Best Practices

Booking your flight two to three months before your flight will get you the best deal. Use flight comparison tools to find the best prices and sign up for automatic alerts on ticket price changes. Use rewards collected from loyalty programs to reduce ticket costs, leaving you more to spend on your vacation.

Transportation from the Airport to Dartmouth

If renting a car, book in advance to get the best price. Choose a common route for driving, and avoid taking back roads which may get you lost.

Public transport can be cheaper than renting a car, but you have to take your luggage with you and the travel time is longer.

With private transfers and shuttles, you can easily store your luggage and the driver will take you to your accommodation. These benefits come with a higher price too.

Additional Travel Tips

Bring clothing for every situation, including formal wear for dinners and outdoor gear for nature hikes. Make sure you get travel insurance that covers activities like watersports.

If you experience flight disruptions, customer service can update you on your flight and book a new flight if necessary. Flight disruptions can be frustrating, but airlines must compensate you for this inconvenience.

In Conclusion

Many airlines fly to major London airports, but there are few flights that fly directly to Exeter Airport. Therefore, it makes sense to book a flight to London, and then a direct flight to Exeter. Getting to Dartmouth from Exeter is an hour by car or shuttle bus, or two hours by train.

The long journey is worth it, though, as Dartmouth is a charming town with stunning architecture, serene nature, intriguing historic buildings and activities for everyone. Airline flights are always changing, so keep an eye on prices through alerts and compare flights to find the best deals.

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