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The market town of Totnes lies five miles inland from Torquay on the bank of the River Dart. The town enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 16th century when the port exported cloth to France and imported wine. The long main street through Totnes is separated by East Gate a medieval arch and there are a number of old buildings that line the streets mainly Elizabethan in origin.
The Elizabethan Museum holds an interesting assortment of items many relating to the wealthy clothiers who lived at the peak of Totnes success there is also a room devoted to Charles Babbage the local mathematician who was the inventor of the first programmable computer.
Beneath East Gate the Ramparts Walk is part of a heritage walk around Totnes by local historians. The town's oldest monument is Totnes Castle a Norman structure of the motte and bailey design offering panoramic views of the Dart Valley from the keep atop a grassy mound.
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| Picture of the picturesque Church and Castle in Totnes | |
Around Totnes Bridge at the quayside is the highest navigable point on the River Dart with sea going vessels and river cruises to Dartmouth.
A short riverside walk from Totnes Bridge leads to the South Devon Railway where steam trains depart to Buckfastleigh taking in some glorious countryside up to the edge of Dartmoor.
For walkers the well marked Dart Valley Trail links Totnes with Dartmouth over 12 miles through unspoilt Devon countryside and villages.
Back to Devon Towns and Villages
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