Discover Secret Devon – by boat part 3

John starts his journey in Plymouth and heads up the River Tamar travelling well beyond the Tamar Bridge from the industry of Plymouth and into the heart of the Devon countryside. Carefully timing his voyage up river with the tides – the river changes from a wide, shallow meander to a much narrower, faster flowing river. Many of the villages in the rural heartlands of the county owe their existence to the 19th century boom in copper mining, although the river’s association with mineral mining goes back much further. The following morning starts with dolphin watching on route to Exmouth and a trip into the River Exe estuary with its floating café frequented by watersports enthusiasts. Heading back into open sea heading west to Bigbury Bay into which the estuaries of three rivers flow. John’s personal favourite, the Erme, is completely unspoilt, but its shallow estuary ensures that access is restricted by the tide. The trip ends with a rare sighting of a pod of pilot whales, just off the coast. This is the Devon you’ve never seen before…