River Dart

The River Dart is a

Most hydronyms in England derive from the Brythonic language (from which the river's subsequent names ultimately derive from an original Celtic etymology. As the lower stretches of the river are still covered in ancient oak woodlands, it is accepted that the first element derives from *Dar-, meaning oak (derow, Welsh derw).^[2] However the second element (evident in the hard consonantal termination of Dar-t) is less certain, with postulated etymologies from Darwent / Derventio (Sacred place of Oak) or Darnant / Darant (Oak stream).

The Ravenna Cosmography records a number of Latinised names for the area, Devionisso Statio and Deventiasteno may represent corrupted doublets of a Statio (Station) on a river named Derventio.^[3] Although the name Derventio is otherwise unattested for the river, it is an established etymology throughout Britain, found at the River Darent, Derwentwater, and a number of rivers named Derwent.^[4] Anna Eliza Bray recorded that a version of the name, Darant was still in common usage as late as 1832.^[5]

Watercourse

The river begins as two separate branches (the

After leaving the moor, the Dart flows southwards past Buckfast Abbey and through the towns of Buckfastleigh, Dartington and Totnes. At Totnes, where there is a seventeenth-century weir (rebuilt in the 1960s),^[6] it becomes tidal, and there are no bridges below the town.

A passenger ferry operates across the river from the village of

The entrance to the river from the sea is a rocky entrance with cliffs either side. On the East side Kingswear Castle sits very close to the water's edge, and on the west side Dartmouth Castle is built on a rocky promontory at sea level. The castles once operated a defensive chain across the estuary, which was raised at dusk to destroy enemy ships attempting to attack the harbour.

Crossings

The flooded ria that forms the lower reaches of the Dart, with its deep water and steeply sloping valley sides, is a considerable barrier to crossing traffic. There are no bridges below Totnes.

At the mouth of the river, it separates the communities of Dartmouth and Kingswear. There have been proposals to bridge the river here, but these have come to nothing. Instead the two places are linked by, in order going upstream, the Lower Ferry, Passenger Ferry and Higher Ferry. The Lower and Higher ferries both carry vehicles, the Higher one linking the A379 road.

Some 2.5 miles (4.0 km) upstream of Dartmouth, the Greenway Ferry carries pedestrians across the river from the village of Dittisham to Greenway Quay.^[7]

A further 5 miles (8.0 km) upstream is Totnes, where the river is spanned by two road bridges, a railway bridge and a footbridge over. Totnes Bridge is the nearest bridge to the sea and is a road bridge built in 1826–1828 by Charles Fowler. Some 1,000 feet (300 m) upstream is Brutus Bridge, constructed in 1982 as part of a road traffic-relief scheme and carrying the concurrent

The lower section of the River Dart forms Dartmouth Harbour, a deep water natural harbour with a long history of maritime usage. In modern times, the port's commercial activity has declined, but it is still a busy port for local fishing vessels and a wide variety of yachts and other private boats. Several local companies specialise in shipbuilding and repairs to small tonnage craft.^[11]

Dartmouth is also the home of the Britannia Royal Naval College and as a result is routinely visited by sizeable naval ships. Smaller naval tenders are often seen carrying out training exercises in the harbour and river. Large cruise ships are occasional visitors, with the largest visitor to date being the MV Royal Princess (30,277 GT).^[11][12]

Upstream, the Dart is navigable to seagoing vessels as far as the weir in

Several companies operate trips on the river, including

The upper reaches of

• Grade 3/4 (higher in high water), advanced run).^[15]
• The Loop from Newbridge to Holne Bridge (Grade 2/3, beginner/intermediate run).^[15]
• The Lower from Holne Bridge to Buckfastleigh (Grade 2, beginner section).^[16]

Sections of the East and West Dart above Dartmeet, as well as the

Webburn

are also paddled when conditions permit. This is somewhat controversial, as riparian landowners and those responsible for local fisheries maintain that the East and West Dart should not be paddled.

The lower reaches of the Dart, including the estuary are suitable for flat water touring.

See also

• Rivers of the United Kingdom
• Rolls-Royce Dart, a turboprop engine named after the river

References

1. ^ "Devon;Nature Features: River Dart Ramble". BBC. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
2. ISBN 0-19-852758-6
   Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names
3. ISBN 9781317871637
   . Retrieved 29 April 2021.
4. ISBN 0904889726
   .
5. ^ Bray (Anna Eliza), Mrs (1836). A Description of the Part of Devonshire Bordering on the Tamar and the Tavy ... Vol. 1. p. 16. Retrieved 29 May 2013 – via Google Books.
6. ^ "Swallowfield Weir, Totnes". Devon and Dartmoor Historic Environment Record. Historic England. Retrieved 8 July 2016.
7. ^ ^{a b} "Dittisham Departures". Greenway Ferry Service. Archived from the original on 15 May 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.
8. ISBN 0-14-071050-7
   .
9. ISBN 0-86114-817-7
   .
10. ^ Taylor, Alan; Treglown, Peter (May 1999). South Devon Railway - A Visitors Guide. South Devon Railway Trust. pp. 23–28.
11. ^ ^{a b} "Commercial Vessels Guide". Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority. Archived from the original on 12 September 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
12. ^ "Visiting Ships". Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
13. ^ "Sailing Directions". Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
14. ^ "River Trips". Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
15. ^ ^{a b} Howard., Mark Rainsley, BCU Access and. "River Dart - New Bridge to Holne Bridge - the 'Loop' - South West - England - Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook". ukriversguidebook.co.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
16. ^ Access., Mark Rainsley, also Chris Green, Stuart Woodward and Dart. "River Dart - Holne Bridge to Buckfastleigh - South West - England - Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook". ukriversguidebook.co.uk.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to River Dart.

• Devon Wildlife Trust's Dart Catchment Project