Kingswear Castle
Kingswear Castle is a fifteenth-century artillery blockhouse on the eastern bank of the Dart estuary opposite Dartmouth, built in the 1490s as the twin of Dartmouth Castle across the river to control entry to the harbour. The two castles could be connected by a chain stretched across the river mouth to prevent hostile vessels from entering, forming one of the most effective harbour defences in southwest England. The castle is operated by the Landmark Trust and is available as self-catering holiday accommodation, providing the unusual opportunity to stay within an intact medieval coastal fortification with spectacular views over the Dart estuary, Dartmouth town and the Devon coastline. The estuary setting and the historic association with the twin castle at Dartmouth make Kingswear a distinctive and atmospheric heritage accommodation experience in one of the most beautiful estuaries in Devon.