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A helpful and practical pocket guide to walking the long-distance Dart Valley Trail.
The Dart Valley Trail is a walk along one of the most scenic rivers in Devon, the River Dart. The trail begins in Dartmouth Harbour, a town long associated with naval activity and home to the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College. From here, the path leads along and over the rising hills and wooded banks of the Dart Valley. The variety of landscape provides striking views up and down the valley as well as beyond to Dartmoor National Park. En route, you will pass through the picturesque villages of Dittisham, Tuckenhay, Cornworthy, and Ashprington before finally arriving in Totnes. All these villages provide a different selection of cosy pubs, waterside restaurants, and places to stay.
This guide contains:
Detailed 1:25 000 OS maps covering the entire route
Directions for the route broken down into easily manageable legs
A suggested kit list, also available for free to download
Places of interest and village amenities such as historic locations, accommodation, eateries, and public facilities
Full six-figure grid reference for GPS reference
Colour photography throughout
Travel information
About the author
Matthew Arnold (24 December 1822 - 15 April 1888) was an English poet and cultural critic who worked as an inspector of schools. He was the son of Thomas Arnold, the celebrated headmaster of Rugby School, and brother to both Tom Arnold, literary professor, and William Delafield Arnold, novelist and colonial administrator. Matthew Arnold has been characterised as a sage writer, a type of writer who chastises and instructs the reader on contemporary social issues.
He was the eldest son of Thomas Arnold and his wife Mary Penrose Arnold (1791-1873), born on 24 December 1822 at Laleham-on-Thames, Middlesex.[2] John Keble stood as godfather to Matthew.
In 1828, Thomas Arnold was appointed Headmaster of Rugby School, and the family took up residence, that year. From 1831, Arnold was tutored by his clerical uncle, John Buckland, in Laleham. In 1834, the Arnolds occupied a holiday home, Fox How, in the Lake District. There William Wordsworth was a neighbour and close friend.
In 1836, Arnold was sent to Winchester College, but in 1837 he returned to Rugby School. He moved to the sixth form in 1838 and so came under the direct tutelage of his father. He wrote verse for a family magazine, and won school prizes, His prize poem, "Alaric at Rome", was printed at Rugby.
In November 1840, aged 17, Arnold matriculated at Balliol College, Oxford, where in 1841 he won an open scholarship, graduating B.A. in 1844.[2][3] During his student years at Oxford, his friendship became stronger with Arthur Hugh Clough, a Rugby pupil who had been one of his father's favourites. He attended John Henry Newman's sermons at the University Church of St Mary the Virgin but did not join the Oxford Movement. His father died suddenly of heart disease in 1842, and Fox How became the family's permanent residence. His poem Cromwell won the 1843 Newdigate prize. He graduated in the following year with second class honours in Literae Humaniores.
