South Hams

South Hams is a local government district on the south coast of Devon in South West England. It combines a long coastline with inland farmland and small towns. Principal towns include Totnes, Dartmouth, Salcombe and Kingsbridge; Totnes sits on the River Dart while Salcombe fronts the ria known as the Kingsbridge Estuary. The district stretches from the headlands near Start Point to the woodlands and hedgerows of the interior, and includes the shingle barrier at Slapton Sands, which encloses Slapton Ley, a freshwater lake and nature reserve.
Much of the coast lies within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is followed by the South West Coast Path. Estuaries, creeks and beaches support local fishing, sailing and small boat building, and market towns host weekly markets and food producers. Roads and rail links connect the district to neighbouring parts of Devon but settlements remain on a village-and-town scale, with parish churches, castles and limekilns marking a long history of maritime trade and agriculture.