Totnes is a little town in the South Hams where a friend, alluding to it’s alternative population, once said you can see the haze of the wacky baccy floating above as you approach. The name sign on the road from Dartington says it’s twinned with Narnia. Totnes is packed with little hippy shops, second hand bookshops, wholefoods, and cafes to suit everyone, it’s a super place for a pootle. Every alternative therapy known to man can be sampled, needless to say it’s on a ley line.
Before leaving the town centre I had a chat with a lady who runs a geisha house http://www.sarasvati-arts.co.uk/hachisu/index.html she was dressed in a beautiful kimono. One of the alternative therapies on offer is ‘gonging’, where you sit close to one of these and you are immersed in its sound. Excuse the reflections on this photo, but I had to share it, click to open and read about a Pastor offering an unusual service!
Walking down the town we reached the River Dart and had a short walk on the Access for all ‘ path. We met a couple in their 80’s you were having trip down memory lane. They had grown up in Totnes and said that as children their parents had warned them away from the river because they would drown. Needless to say that didn’t stop them from jumping in and swimming around the weir. They weren’t swimming this time, or walking – they had cycled, only around eight miles, not their usual distance of up to thirty!
Further along I took these photos of a canoeist who looked like he was having a great time. On the walk back we found him on the river bank with his canoe deflated. He had parked in Totnes, caught the steam train up to Buckfastleigh, about seven miles, boat in backpack and then paddled downstream. We envied him, it sounds idyllic, but no doubt I, if not friend, would have drowned. I hope you like the sound of Totnes, for further posts about the area click on Dartington in my category cloud and if you click on the first photo a slide show will appear!
Lucid Gypsy 
Wonderful, talk about a trip down memory lane …. now, if you can get down to Slapton Lea and Torcross, then I will be able to see my father’s old home!! I love this part of the world, and so appreciate your pictures. I’ve been visiting the area since I was 10, and even lived across the Exe in Lympstone for many years …. It’s so good to be reminded of the beauty and quirkiness of this part of the world!!
When were you last here? and in Lympstone? you will see a photo on here somewhere of the estuary from Lympstone, gorgeous little place and I sometimes pootle there when the tide is out! Thanks for visiting me and I may yet pop down to Slapton this summer!
Last time I was in Torcross was or my father’s funeral 3 years ago … as for Lympstone, probably 5 or 6 years ago …
You have such a wonderful selection of captures here, Gilly. Beautiful share. 🙂
Thanks so much Marcy, I appreciate your nice comments 🙂
Lovely images Gilly! Of parts of your country I doubt I will ever visit! Thanks for sharing!
If you are ever in the UK this is the best part to visit!
A lovely tour. I’ve never been there but feel like I was.
Thanks, maybe one day you will!
Like I said, a travel ‘photography’ in disguise. I like the canoeing pics and the old street musician.
Nooo I’m supposed to be a writer! Thanks, the man with the canoe was really nice and I loved that his boat deflated and packed up into a case!
That’s why ‘in disguise’.
Bwahaha. You ‘loved’ that his boat deflated. ? Well, I would’ve wanted to see small mishap like that as well.
Heehee it was supposed to deflate!
HI,
Great photos, and it does sound like a very interesting place.
It is Mags! thanks for visiting me 🙂
what a super place for a ‘pootle’ those lovely narrow streets and quaint shops …. and i would not mind a bit of gonging either!
Oh I know you would love it! then next you have your aura read, your chakras balanced, you could have danced Gabrielle Roth’s 5 rhythm’s, not to mention a flotation thingy!
oh my, should i allow a week? lol!!!
Excellent…I need to get out there!
Thanks! do you mean to the river or the town?
Thanks for a day trip to this lovely place. I love the tree covered path. Of course, I am
in love with farmers markets. The lake looked very peaceful. A fantastic display of travel images.
Toodles,
Izzy
Thanks honey, have a lovely day and i hope you have sunshine 🙂
Quaint place. How do you pronounce “Totnes?” and a pootle? I think I’d be lost here. Saw your entry of Dartington too! Thanks for taking me there!
Tot as in hot and nes as in yes! pootling is just wandering around with no fixed aim just soaking up the atmosphere! Totnes isn’t big enough to get lost in but it’s lovely and even has a castle!
A geisha house in England??? Who would have ever thunk it????
My thoughts entirely – I could imagine it in London maybe but down here – crazy!
Excellent post! The photos are nothing less than amazing and they are exactly what interested travelers should see before making their actual visit to Totnes. I’ll be looking forward to reading your next post on Dartington and off course for some more fabulous photos.
Thank you Totnes Hotels, I’m flattered and pleased that you like them, as you can tell I love Totnes!
Gorgeous photos, Gilly!
I liked your subtle descriptions of the town’s alt-lifestyles, too – they made me smile.
Sounds lovely, though, no matter on what side of the fence your politics are. Who could resist that calm-looking river? (Oh, and the older couple you mention sound like they were quite the adventurers, even now! Though, why do I imagine them skinny-dipping in that river when they were of the age for such tomfoolery? :D)
Mayumi thank you! It’s a lovely place with a great atmosphere! I like the idea of them skinny dipping but are they too old now???