The Dartmouth Steam Railway runs along the Dart estuary from Paignton to Kingswear, with a ferry connection across the river to Dartmouth itself. The line follows one of the most scenic stretches of railway in England, hugging the water's edge with views across the estuary that are arguably better from the train than from the road. Steam locomotives haul the trains, and the whole operation has the feeling of a preserved piece of the 1950s.
A round trip from Dartmouth — ferry to Kingswear, steam train to Paignton, bus back — makes a good half-day excursion and covers terrain that is difficult to appreciate by car. The line is owned and operated by a private company, and the fares reflect the cost of maintaining steam locomotives, but the experience is worth it on a clear day when the estuary is showing itself off.