Features
Dartmouth Embankment is a stunning spot — one of the most beautiful settings on this list — but I’ll be honest with you: it’s not my top pick for families with little ones, and my own visit didn’t produce much. An open-sided quay on a big working estuary with strong tidal currents isn’t the most relaxed crabbing experience, and you’ll want older kids who can be trusted near an unfenced edge.
Variable — tide and current dependent
Mayors Avenue — low/high season pricing
Better for older kids — open quay, strong currents
Car ferry across the Dart
🎣 The Crabbing Itself
The embankment stretches along the River Dart and there are spots to drop a line along most of it. When I visited, the crabbing was slow — a strong current as the tide came in made it hard going, and we didn’t catch much. Timing your visit around slack water (the window just before and after high tide when the current settles) will make a real difference here. The tidal flow on the Dart can be powerful, so don’t expect a guaranteed haul.
The Big One
In one of the shops on the front there’s a photograph of a crab someone once caught here — it’s absolutely massive. Worth a look just to see what’s apparently lurking under the Dart.
If Dartmouth doesn’t produce much on the day, Dittisham is a short way up the river and far more reliably productive — worth having it as a backup plan.
🚗 Parking
Mayors Avenue Car Park is the closest, and it has 2 EV charging points. Pricing varies by season:
| Duration | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|
| 30 minutes | N/A | £1.60 |
| 1 hour | £1.60 | £2.60 |
| 2 hours | £3.20 | £4.70 |
| 3 hours | £4.20 | £6.20 |
| 4 hours | £5.80 | £7.30 |
⛵ Getting There and the Car Ferry
Taking the car ferry across the Dart is a genuinely fun experience, especially for younger children who’ll enjoy the trip itself even if the crabbing is slow. If you’re coming from the Kingswear side it’s a nice way to arrive rather than driving round.
🍽️ Food
If you’ve walked down to the South Embankment end, Rockfish is just one road back from the front — one of the better fish and chip options in South Devon and very handy after a session on the water.
🦺 Safety and Accessibility
This is an open quay on a big tidal estuary — no barriers, strong currents, and a direct drop into deep water. I wouldn’t bring very young children here without being extremely vigilant. For families with toddlers or unpredictable little ones, Salcombe or Kingsbridge are safer bets.
📝 Final Thoughts
Dartmouth is a beautiful place to spend a day and the embankment is a lovely spot to sit and crab — but go in with realistic expectations, time it around slack water, head south for a quieter section, and have Dittisham in your back pocket if the current’s running hard. The Rockfish and the car ferry make it a great day out even if the catch is quiet.