All bridges are beautiful and this one at Totnes is no exception.
Photograph by Tony Clements.

Totnes is a town at SX 805 605 that commands the first bridge to cross the River Dart. Myth has it that Brutus of Troy landed here and founded the British race and there is stone - The Brutus Stone - to commemorate this ‘fact’. It is next to 51 Fore Street, on the right hand side as you walk up the hill. Meanwhile, there is far more tangible evidence for a Saxon fort that was built here in the 900’s to protect the town from marauding Vikings. The present castle - the work of the Normans - was probably built to protect them from marauding Saxons. It is now managed by English Heritage.
Click here to see the section on their web site dealing with the castle.

There has been a road from the bridge climbing up to the castle since Saxon times. The road enters the town by the East Gate, which has been rebuilt quite a few times. The last time was in 1990 following a devastating fire. This photograph was taken from Fore Street (so called because it is ‘before’ the gate) which becomes High Street as it passes through the arch.

The path here, known as ‘The Ramparts’, takes you along the old town wall and down steps to East Gate. Totnes contains many such back waters which are worth exploring. These photographs by Bridget Rochard.

The River Dart with the tower of St Mary’s, Totnes silhouetted against Dartmoor in the distance.  Photograph by Tony Clements.

One of the best ways to enjoy this part of South Devon is to take a river boat from Totnes down to Dartmouth.