Resting in the heart of the town is the Boat Float, also referred to as the inner harbour. When arriving via the passenger ferry from Kingswear it’s one of the first things that will greet you. The iconic scene is often found on souvenirs and could be one of Dartmouth’s most recognisable locations. Surrounded by historical buildings, this bustling hub in Dartmouth is a popular area for tourists and locals due to its beautiful setting. It’s the perfect place to grab an ice cream and take a stroll to look at the boats.
In 1881 a scheme for the embankment or esplanade was produced by the Harbour Commissioners and by 1885 it was completed. The building of the new Embankment was to provide additional mooring space as well as an attraction for visitors to Dartmouth but it did leave a section of the River Dart isolated. This then became the Boat Float and smaller vessels can access it via a bridge under the road.
Being such a popular spot in Dartmouth due to its colourful boats and with many shops and eateries surrounding it, it’s no wonder that it also happens to be probably one of the most photographed places in the town. Whether it’s peeking through the flowers at Royal Avenue Gardens to get a shot or standing on the Embankment looking directly across to the popular Royal Castle Hotel, there are lots of angles to get a wonderful shot of this famous harbour. We’ve had a look through Instagram and put together our 10 favourite photos of the Boat Float for you to have a look at below! We hope you enjoy them as much as we do and perhaps they’ll give you some inspiration for your next visit.
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For your regular dose of our stunning town, be sure to follow us on Instagram here. We share images mostly taken by our followers! You can tag us in your images using @discoverdartmouth or #discoverdartmouth and we might even feature yours too!