South Hams District covers an area of 350 square
miles and has 60 miles of coastline. With its southerly aspect sheltered by the granite uplands of Dartmoor,
the South Hams enjoys one of the mildest climates in the whole of mainland Britain. Indeed, the South
Hams name comes from the old English word "hamme" meaning an enclosed or sheltered place.
The South Hams is a rich natural area and 130 square miles (337 sq.km.) of the district
is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) with 30.86 square mile coverage of Sites
of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). There are 62 miles (100 km) of coastal path and 16 miles (26
km) of beaches. Approximately 30 miles (50 km) of coastline is owned by the National Trust and 47 miles
(75 km) is designated Heritage Coast.
The South Hams has a population of 80,000. It has six market towns and main commercial
centres. These are Totnes, Dartmouth, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Modbury.
