SU CARROLL rounds up the very best activities to do and things to see close to the coastline this month
ROYAL CONNECTIONS
1 In this Coronation year, there will be plenty to celebrate at the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta. Established in 1822, it is one of the oldest events of its kind in the country. Queen Victoria bestowed the Royal title when she visited with Prince Albert in 1856. The late Queen Elizabeth had a special affection for Dartmouth – it was where she met Prince Philip – and she became patron in her Platinum Jubilee Year, 2022.
This year will be the 178th Dartmouth Royal Regatta which retains a nod to tradition but stays bang up to date. Rowing and sailing have been at the heart of the week-long event since the beginning and there is a full programme of competition events. There’s everything from the spectacle of the Jubilee Parade on the water to the more than 250 vessels taking part in races across Start Bay.
On shore there is lots to see and do from tennis tournaments, crabbing competitions and plenty of food and drink. Expect some Navy participation (Britannia College is in Dartmouth) and the spectacle of the popular firework display. Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta is August 23-26. dartmouthregatta.co.uk Dartmouth has a lovely railway LOCALS station which dates back to LOVE when the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel brought the railway to this area of South Devon with a service that terminated at Torre in Torbay. The plan was to extend the line with a bridge over the River Dart to Dartmouth. But there were too many problems to make it viable and so the trains stop at Kingswear on the other side of the river…but the station had already been built in Dartmouth. It still looks the part, but it’s now a restaurant. Don’t worry, you can still arrive in style by steam train or take a river cruise. Visit dartmouthrailriver.co.uk.
UP POMPEY
2 Portsmouth’s Southsea Common is the setting for the UK’s biggest metropolitan, family friendly festival. The seafront parkland caters well for families and people with disabilities. There are several stages hosting some great music acts and a kids’ arena. There’s plenty of food and drink outlets for the weekend of entertainment.
If you want to camp for the weekend, there’s a spacious site just off the motorway into Portsmouth with a free shuttle bus to the site. In the afternoons, there’s a comedy line-up which includes Dara O’Briain, Jason Manford, Zoe Lyons, Omid Djalili and Kerry Godliman. Headliners this year are Jamiroquai (Friday), Kasabian (Saturday) and Mumford and Sons (Sunday).
Victorious Festival in Portsmouth is August 25-27. victoriousfestival.co.uk
After three centuries submerged in the Solent followed by nearly 40 years of restoration under a wall of mist, you can now see the Mary Rose in all her glory. This unique surviving ship from King Henry VIII��
