It's taking time to adjust to that extra hour this morning while I wait for another amazing breakfast. I'm packed before that and make my way to the dining room. What should be half an hour turns into a full one with endless chat with my hosts. This has really been a feature of my stay here. At 9.45 a.m. I head out but not by car; I've arranged to leave that here while I take a short trip by bus down to Paignton. I head to the Dartmouth Steam Railway in the town.
Wikipedia states that 'The Dartmouth Steam Railway, formerly known as the Paignton and Dartmouth Steam Railway, is a 6.7-mile (10.8 km) heritage railway on the former Great Western Railway branch line between Paignton and Kingswear in Devon, England. Much of the railway's business is from summer tourists from the resorts of Torbay, who travel to Kingswear, where the Dartmouth Passenger Ferry takes them across the River Dart to Dartmouth.' I'm here to check it out.
As I arrive, I need to wait 30 minutes or so for the next arrival/departure which leaves plenty of time to look around and visit the shop, well stocked with souvenirs. The wait is worth it as a GWR Class 4200 No. 5239, Goliath arrives at the station on a tour. This adds yet another heritage steam train that I can add to my YouTube channel. It's time to pick up some gifts and head back to collect the car and I know where I'm heading next. It's off to a logical next attraction, as I head south.
My hosts at the guesthouse have picked out the iconic town of Dartmouth on the coast for me to visit which of course is at the other end of the Dartmouth railway from Paignton, well no quite. I'm heading for Kingswear which is often used on steam train excursions. This town lies on the opposite side of the River Dart estuary to Dartmouth itself and is connected by the passenger ferry. Arriving at a viewpoint above the town, I have to say that 'iconic' is just one way of putting it. The view of the station, the harbour and Dartmouth beyond is just exquisite. You could spend most of the day in this area, but sadly I don't have that much time. I do manage to call at the station though, but the train I saw in Paignton has been and gone.
For my final day here, it's been great so far and I've seen enough to want to return. With a bit warmer weather it would be sensational here. Now I still have time on my side as I consider other options, one of which is a splendid view of the railway with the ocean as the backdrop but I can't find it, arriving instead at the sandy beach at Goodrington which has no appeal for me. Sadly, time has run out as far as my Paignton experience is concerned.
If there was one reason apart from taking a break, that I came here it was to see some vintage trains and the day seems to be the day for it. I'm now introducing a wild-card in the form of the South Devon Railway which is some 40 minutes from Paignton. I'm heading for Totnes to check it out. It was back in July that visited this railway but at the other end of the line in Buckfastleigh, a fantastic experience. Will I repeat that today? Well, from the start, the GPS sends my off along country lanes on a wild goose chase. OK, let's reset and drop a pin on Totnes railway station. Arriving at the stations I'm confused. I can only see the mainline station even though I see signs for the SD heritage line. It seems I have to walk but first pay for parking. Then to my horror, there is no short-stay parking only day rates that would be pointless for a brief visit. My efforts have been in vane with time running out to arrive home at a reasonable hour. I will have to carry out a post mortem latter. Now before I hit the road home, there is just one more duty to perform.
I promised my wife I'd bring something she needed from the region and after two failed attempts, find what I need in Tesco, Newton Abbot. This done I'm on my way. Just one more stop is needed to drop off some gifts in Portishead, Leo's home then back to Hereford for a 7.00 p.m. arrival. I conclude by saying that this short trip to Devon was groundbreaking, offering new opportunities. Those opportunities can't happen until the Spring next year, but things I've learnt about how to get around and what there is to see have been most valuable. Would I stay in Paignton again? If I did, the Clydesdale Guesthouse would be a good choice but I'd have to see what other options there were. In general though, the weather needs to be warmer to really appreciate this part of the country. That said, for late October, the weather in South Devon was better than I expected and for that I was most grateful.

Source: Visit