It's the rivers as much as the 60 miles of spectacular coastline which give the South Hams the unique character which has made it an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. All the way from the Plym to the Dart, rivers and streams cut down from Dartmoor through an ancient landscape, creating deep wooded valleys which open up into stunning estuaries.
As well as our own Avon Estuary at Bantham, you can enjoy the Yealm estuary at Newton Ferrers and Noss Mayo, the Erme at Mothecombe and Wonwell Beach, the Salcombe Estuary leading up to Kingsbridge, which has no significant river to feed it, and the Dart leading down from Totnes to Dartmouth.
The main towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Totnes all busy centres with good shopping maintain their individual character as do the seaside villages and the two bigger inland settlement of Ivybridge and Modbury - the first town in Britain to ban plastic carrier bags.
Our climate is one of the mildest in Britain. Spring arrives early and summer ends late which has helped to create some stunning gardens such as the magnificent Overbeck's in Salcombe where banana trees grow and magnolia was in full flower in February this year. It's always a good time to visit the South Hams.
Click on the links below for some panoramic views.