River Dart

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 {{lang|cel-x-combrit|dar-}}, meaning 'oak' ({{langx|kw|derow}}, {{langx|cy|derw}}).{{ISBN|0-19-852758-6}} Oxford Dictionary of British Place Names However the second element (evident in the hard consonantal termination of Dar-t) is less certain, with postulated etymologies from {{lang|und-Latn|Darwent}} / {{lang|la|Derventio}} ('sacred place of oak') or {{lang|und-Latn|Darnant}} / {{lang|und-Latn|Darant}} ('oak stream').

The Ravenna Cosmography records a number of Latinised names for the area, {{lang|la|Devionisso Statio}} and {{lang|la|Deventiasteno}} may represent corrupted doublets of a {{lang|la|statio}} ('station') on a river named {{Lang|la|Derventio}}.{{cite book |last1=Todd |first1=Malcolm |title=The South West to 1000 AD |date=23 June 2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317871637 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pvPgAwAAQBAJ&q=ravenna+cosmography+river+dart&pg=PT305 |access-date=29 April 2021}} Although the name {{lang|la|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.{{Cite book |last=Whaley |first=Diana |title=A dictionary of Lake District place-names |publisher=English Place-Name Society |year=2006 |isbn=0904889726 |location=Nottingham |pages=lx,423 p.95}} Anna Eliza Bray recorded that a version of the name, Darant was still in common usage as late as 1832.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PpmOIoehptUC&pg=PA16 |title=A Description of the Part of Devonshire Bordering on the Tamar and the Tavy ... |volume=1 |page=16 |via=Google Books |access-date=2013-05-29 |last1=Bray |first1=Mrs Anna Eliza |author-link=Anna Eliza Bray |year=1836 }}

The river begins as two separate branches (the East Dart and West Dart), which join at Dartmeet. The paths along these rivers offer very attractive walking, and there are several small waterfalls. The rivers are crossed by a number of clapper bridges, notably at the hamlet of Postbridge.

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),{{cite web|title=Swallowfield Weir, Totnes|url=http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDV9033&resourceID=104|website=Devon and Dartmoor Historic Environment Record|publisher=Historic England|access-date=8 July 2016}} it becomes tidal, and there are no bridges below the town.

File:Dart at Salmon leap 2.JPG near Buckfastleigh]]

A passenger ferry operates across the river from the village of Dittisham to a point adjacent to the Greenway Estate. Formerly the home of the crime writer Agatha Christie, this has views across the river, and the house and gardens are now owned by the National Trust and are open to the public.{{cite web|title=Dittisham Departures |publisher=Greenway Ferry Service |url=http://www.greenwayferry.co.uk/dittishamdepartures.htm |access-date=2008-09-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080515072801/http://www.greenwayferry.co.uk/dittishamdepartures.htm |archive-date=15 May 2008 }}

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.

File:The River Dart at Totnes.jpg

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 {{convert|2.5|mi}} upstream of Dartmouth, the Greenway Ferry carries pedestrians across the river from the village of Dittisham to Greenway Quay.

A further {{convert|5|mi}} 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 {{convert|1000|ft}} upstream is Brutus Bridge, constructed in 1982 as part of a road traffic-relief scheme and carrying the concurrent A385 and A381 roads. A further {{convert|0.5|mi}} upstream, the railway bridge carries the National Rail Exeter to Plymouth line over the river. Immediately upstream of the railway bridge is a footbridge, built in 1993 to provide access to the {{stnlnk|Totnes (Riverside)}} terminus of the South Devon Railway.{{cite book

|title=The Buildings of England — Devon

|author=Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner

|publisher=Penguin

|location=Harmondsworth

|pages=866–875

|year=1989

|isbn=0-14-071050-7}}{{Cite book | publisher = Devon Books | isbn = 0-86114-817-7 | last = Hawkins | first = Michael | title = Devon Roads: An illustrated survey of the development and management of Devon's highway network | location = Exeter | year = 1988 | page = 52 }}{{cite book | last = Taylor | first = Alan |author2=Treglown, Peter | title = South Devon Railway - A Visitors Guide | publisher = South Devon Railway Trust | date = May 1999 | pages = 23–28 }}

File:dartmouth.boats.750pix.jpg, with Kingswear in the background, and river cruise boats alongside Dartmouth Town Jetty]]

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.{{cite web | url = http://www.dartharbour.org/commercial-vessels-guide/ | title = Commercial Vessels Guide | publisher = Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority | access-date = 2008-09-25 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080912045700/http://www.dartharbour.org/commercial-vessels-guide/ | archive-date = 2008-09-12 }}

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|2007|6}} ({{GT|30,277}}).{{cite web | url = http://www.dartharbour.org/visiting-ships/ | title = Visiting Ships | publisher = Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority | access-date = 2008-09-25 }}

Upstream, the Dart is navigable to seagoing vessels as far as the weir in Totnes. The river almost dries out for {{convert|2|mi}} below Totnes at spring tide low water, but vessels drawing up to {{convert|3|foot}} can proceed to Totnes from one and a half hours after low water. Above the weir, the river is navigable only to small craft such as kayaks and canoes.{{cite web | url = http://www.dartharbour.org/harbour-river-guide/sailing-directions/ | title = Sailing Directions | publisher = Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority | access-date = 2008-09-25 }}

File:Dart estuary 2.jpg

Several companies operate trips on the river, including Dart Pleasure Craft Limited, who also trade as River Link and operate the passenger ferry between Dartmouth and Kingswear. These include cruises from Dartmouth to Totnes, which can be combined with journeys on the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway and an open-top bus between the towns of Totnes and Paignton to create a circular trip.{{cite web | url = http://www.dartharbour.org/harbour-river-guide/river-trips/ | title = River Trips | publisher = Dart Harbour & Navigation Authority | access-date = 2008-09-25 }}

The harbour and port are both leisure boating locations, and several marinas and boat yards are located on the river. The Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta takes place annually over three days at the end of August.

File:NewbridgeRiverDart.jpg

The upper reaches of Dartmoor, especially those on the Dart, are a focal point for whitewater kayakers and canoeists. The best known sections of the river are:

• Upper Dart from Dartmeet to Newbridge (Grade 3/4 (higher in high water), advanced run).{{cite web|url=http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/swengland/dart.htm|title=River Dart - New Bridge to Holne Bridge - the 'Loop' - South West - England - Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook|first=Mark Rainsley, BCU Access and|last=Howard.|website=ukriversguidebook.co.uk}}
• The Loop from Newbridge to Holne Bridge (Grade 2/3, beginner/intermediate run).
• The Lower from Holne Bridge to Buckfastleigh (Grade 2, beginner section).{{cite web|url=http://www.ukriversguidebook.co.uk/swengland/lowerdart.htm|title=River Dart - Holne Bridge to Buckfastleigh - South West - England - Rivers - The UK Rivers Guidebook|first=Mark Rainsley, also Chris Green, Stuart Woodward and Dart|last=Access.|website=ukriversguidebook.co.uk}}

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.

File:River Dart Weir at Totnes.jpg

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

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|River Dart}}

• [http://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/index.php?section=champions:cycleau Devon Wildlife Trust's Dart Catchment Project]

{{Devon}}

{{Rivers of Dartmoor}}

{{Canoeing and kayaking}}

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Dart

Dart, River

Category:Canoeing and kayaking venues in the United Kingdom

Category:Rivers with fish ladders