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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
World
Emma Grimshaw

Incredibly beautiful West Country town that looks 'Mediterranean' voted one of the best in UK

An incredibly stunning West Country town with tropical trees and 'Mediterranean blue sea' has been voted one of the best resorts in the UK.

Dartmouth was crowned the country's second-best seaside escape by Which? magazine. More than 3,000 visitors rated beaches, attractions, scenery, value for money of over 100 UK seaside towns and villages

The West Country gem was beaten only by Bamburgh in Northumberland, which topped the list thanks to its beautiful beach, ancient castle and classic seaside charm.

READ MORE: The Bristol Channel beaches where you should never go swimming

View of the small town of Dartmouth and the harbour. (Getty)

Dartmouth scored 85 per cent overall, with four stars for the town's pier and food and drinks.

TripAdvisor reviews described the town's local beach, Blackpool Sands, as a must-see. One person wrote: "The sea looked blue like the Mediterranean!!! Just wow!"

Another wrote: "Visited this beautiful place again today and discovered the Botanical gardens on the hill behind. Park in the car park and talk to the attendant for a ticket. This is steep but amazing. The range of sub-tropical trees is spectacular."

The town itself is situated on the banks of the picturesque River Dart, and boasts numerous festivals and events taking place throughout the year.

There are two beautiful secluded cove beaches in Dartmouth town – Castle Cove and Sugary Cove next to Dartmouth Castle with stunning views of the estuary and the town's castle.

Close-up of a Tudor style historic building exterior in the town centre of Dartmouth, South Devon, UK. (Getty/ Shelly Chapman)

Filled with old churches and beautiful Tudor houses, the town centre is perfect for history fans.

But it's not all been good news for the West Country as Burnham-on-Sea was voted the country's third-worst.

Rory Boland, editor of magazine Which? Travel, said: "Few countries can be home to such a diversity of brilliant seaside breaks.

"Whether you want world-class beaches and utter wilderness, or the bright lights and bucket and spade atmosphere of a resort, the UK has a seaside break made for you. What our survey shows is that it's rarely the most famous destinations that visitors enjoy most.

"Try somewhere new this year and our survey shows you should find fewer crowds and better value."

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