Devon Towns and Villages

The small fishing village of Appledore stands in North Devon where the Taw and Torridge rivers meet before they flow into the Atlantic at Bideford Bay.For centuries an important shipbuilding centre, Appledore is now home to the North Devon Maritime Museum. A large, privately owned...

Ashburton lies in the heart of the South Devon countryside on the southern slopes of Dartmoor. It is roughly half way between Plymouth and Exeter and is an ideal base from which to explore the whole region from the moor to the coast. Among the various activities offered in the area are...

The small ancient market town of Axminster is situated on the River Axe in the east of Devon. It is famous for its Axminster carpets. These were designed by Thomas Whitty in 1775, in a manner similar to Turkish carpets. Caster Hill House, where the carpets were originally produced, can...

Babbacombe is basically an area of Torquay, just a mile from the harbour, but it does have some individual attractions. The main draw is the beach but other activities include tennis, bowls, golf, putting and swimming are all available in the small resort. High on the clifftop,...

The pretty historic town of Bampton, in mid-west Devon, is situated on the southern fringes of the Exmoor national park in the deep valley of the river Batherm. It is about two miles from the Somerset border, to the north of Tiverton, off the A396. The town’s origins date back to about...

The largest town in North Devon is Barnstaple on the River Taw. This ancient town was granted its charter in 930 AD by King Aethelstan - the grandson of Alfred the Great. It lies to the north of Dartmoor and to the west of the beautiful Exmoor National Park. There are some lovely...

Beer grew up around a smuggler’s cove and the caves, which still characterize this picturesque town on Lyme Bay. The men of Beer were once known as the 'the very kings of smugglers' and the caves were used to store all kinds of contraband. However, surprisingly, the town does not take...

Bideford is an attractive town on the west bank of the River Torridge, where the river begins to widen to form the estuary. The old road has a lovely old bridge crossing the Torridge linking the town of Bideford to its neighbouring village East the Water. This impressive, arched stone...

Bigbury on Sea is situated in Bigbury Bay on the South Devon Coast. It is in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty and offers an ideal centre for exploring the region. The safe beach is a mixture of mainly sand and some shingle, perfect for a family holiday. It is backed by...

Bovey Tracey is a small market town, built of cob and granite and known as one of the gateways to Dartmoor. It is the ideal location for exploring the southern edge of the moor and is close to the famous Haytor, one of the high points of Dartmoor. At nearby Parke is the headquarters of...

Branscombe is located at the meeting point of two valleys or combes, and this is how it derives its name. Branscombe’s thatched cottages meander down a magnificent valley nearly all the way to the sea and the village is believed to be the longest village in England. It is this location...

Braunton is said to be the largest village in England, although it sometimes feels more like a small town. It lies close to Barnstaple, two miles from the sea. The Caen Stream, a tributary of the Taw, runs through the centre of the village. Braunton took its name from St Brannock, who...

Perhaps the least commercialised part of what is known as the English Riviera, Brixham is a picturesque fishing town built upon a limestone outcrop at the southern end of the Torbay crescent of coastline. Brixham had one of the largest fishing fleets in the UK in 1851 but this is now...

Buckfastleigh is a small market town, originally an important wool centre where some of the old mills still survive. The original name was Buck-tied-fast-in-the-leigh, where buckfast means a stronghold where deer and buck were held and leigh is open pasture. The name Buckfastleigh...

Budleigh Salterton offers a quiet and relaxing holiday, with unrivalled views of the dramatic East Devon coastline with its wonderful red sandstone cliffs. It is a beautiful town made famous by celebrities such as Noel Coward and the writer P.G. Woodhouse. A small stream flows past some...

Burrington lies about twelve miles from Barnstaple and about a mile to the picturesque Taw Valley. It is about 540 feet above sea level. The centre of this quiet village is dominated by the church. Grouped around this are older houses built mainly of cob, many dating back to the early...

In the heart of Devon, Chagford is a perfect base for anyone looking for a special place from which to explore many aspects of this lovely county. It is one of the original four Stannary Towns, chartered in 1305, where tinners brought their metal for assay and stamping. The town has...

A typical old Devon town, Chudleigh has numerous narrow lanes and passageways between quaint old cottages. It is located at the end of the Teign Valley, close to the Haldon Hills. Perhaps more to the point is that it is on the main road from Exeter to Plymouth, to which it owes its...

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Set into a steep hillside, Clovelly is one of the best known and most unusual villages in the North Devon. The cobbled high street winds its way down the hillside through traditional 16th century whitewashed cottages decked with fuchsias and geraniums. This street drops 400ft in the...

The idyllic village of Cockington, close to the English Riviera, is hidden in a deep valley just a mile from busy Torquay. It is accessible from the seafront by bus or car, or alternatively by the more romantic horse-drawn carriages. Narrow winding lanes lead into the village where even...

Combe Martin is a resort situated in a sheltered valley on the western fringe of the Exmoor National Park. The large village is located close to some of the most stunning coastal scenery in the area. There are spectacular views across the bay to dramatic headlands beyond and the small,...

The historic market town of Crediton is convenient for both Dartmoor and Exmoor, and lies only seven miles from Exeter. It lies in the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty and has a unique climate due to its position relative to Dartmoor. The town was the birthplace in 680 AD...

Driving from Saunton Sands on the North Devon coast there is a great panoramic view of Croyde Bay as one drops down to the sea. The village of Croyde is a magical place steeped in old world charm and boasting several thatched cottages. There is a superb beach close to the village with a...

Cullompton is on the River Culm and is famous for its working textile and paper mills. It is an ancient market town still boasting an old market place and several attractive half-timbered buildings. The wide open area where the market is held is known as the Bull Ring. The town’s War...

The popular beauty spot of Dartmeet sits near the centre of Dartmoor, about 4 or 5 miles east of Two Bridges. It acts as a meeting point of the two major tributaries of the River Dart which are the East Dart and the West Dart. There is a road bridge just above the East Dart and was...

The bleak beauty of Dartmoor National Park covers an area of 365 square miles. It is the result of an eruption of granite 250 million years ago, which lifted the softer rocks on the earth’s surface. This accounts for the weird and wonderful shapes left where the sedimentary rocks have...

Dartmouth is built in the valley of the picturesque River Dart, between steep wooded hillsides. The main South Embankment runs the length of the town, from New Ground, built on land reclaimed from the river, towards the historic Bayard’s Cove. This long stretch along the riverside...

Dawlish is a small resort set slightly back from the coast above steep, red cliffs. It lies on the east coast of Devon not far from the larger town of Torquay and within easy reach of Exeter. Although most architecture in the town dates back to the late Georgian and Victorian periods,...

The lovely little yachting village of Dittisham lies just a few miles up the River Dart from the town of Dartmouth. Lying on what is the widest part of the Dart estuary this is an ideal place to learn to sail before heading seawards.This really is one of the prettiest spots around with...

East Devon remains largely unspoilt by insensitive developments due to large parts of its territory being divided between two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. East Devon AONB and the Blackdown Hills AONB. These areas are protected against intrusive exploitation and thus the scenic...

Exeter is situated on the River Exe and is the capital city or county town of Devon. The city has lots of character and historic buildings, but is still able to offer all the amenities and comforts that would be expected of a modern day city. Today it provides Devon with an attractive...

Gentler than Dartmoor at the other end of Devon, the high plateau of Exmoor is criss-crossed by numerous streams and slashed by a few deep river valleys. It rises up steeply from the gentler farmland and eventually stretches to the steep cliffs overlooking the Bristol Channel. Much of...

As the name implies, Exmouth lies where the River Exe meets the sea. It is a good base from which to explore this part of the Devon coast and some of the inland towns and villages. Exmouth boasts the longest seafront in Devon and Cornwall along two miles of golden sand, rare on this...

Great Torrington is an historic market town in the heart of Devon. The town commands spectacular views over the River Torridge and the surrounding farmland. It is a pleasant little town built round the Market Square where there is a refurbished Victorian Pannier Market. This undercover...

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Founded by Monks over a thousand years ago, Hatherleigh is located in the centre of Devon at the meeting point of the River Lew and the River Torridge It is a bustling little market town with many charming eccentricities. Hatherleigh lays claim to its own pottery and the Rams Head...

The ancient market town of Holsworthy is situated amidst the rolling green hills of North Devon. Within a short distance are the rugged cliffs of the Hartland Peninsula, the sandy beaches of Bude and nearby Widemouth Bay, the South West Coastal Path and fishing and boating on the Tamar...

The South-East Devon market town of Honiton has long been famous for lace, pottery and glove making, and Honiton still has numerous shops dedicated to lace or pottery. More recently the town has become a centre for antiques and antiquarian books. There are around thirty establishments...

Where once smugglers plied their illicit trade, travelers may now enjoy an enchanting holiday destination. The village of Hope Cove is in fact two villages- Outer Hope and Inner Hope. It is located in the South Hams, just 12 miles from Plymouth Sound and rests in the protective...

Ilfracombe is the leading holiday resort in North Devon. It sits snugly amongst the rugged cliffs of the Atlantic coast, and has a charming natural harbour and elegant Victorian architecture. The town enjoyed its heyday after the arrival of the railway and most buildings derive from...

Where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet before joining the sea, on the opposite bank to Appledore and between the villages of Westliegh and Yelland one can find the lovley village of Instow.Its estuary beach is perfect for families as sand bars protect it from the dangerous swells. The...

Ivybridge has a magnificent natural setting and boasts centuries of history both as a mill town and as a staging post on the route from London. The first recorded mention of the town was in 1280 when it was described as a dowry of land on the west side of the River Erme, by the Ivy...

Kingsbridge is in the area of South Devon known as the South Hams. It is an attractive town with cobbled streets, quaint passage and alleys. Some of these have strange names such as Squeezebelly Alley. Perhaps the most interesting building is the Shambles, an old market hall raised on...

Kingswear is located on the opposite side of the river Dart to Dartmouth in the South Hams area of South Devon. Its most prominent feature is the privately owned Kingswear Castle a 15th Century artillery tower located in the village outskirts, built to defend Dartmouth harbour. The...

Lundy Island is in the Bristol Channel off the west coast of Devon. It attracts many visitors, both for its lovely and peaceful surroundings and for scientific research. The waters around Lundy are England’s only statutory Marine Nature Reserve. The island itself is mostly granite with...

Located within Dartmoor National Park on the historical coach road between Tavistock and Okehampton is the ancient Saxon fortress village of Lydford.It is as this spot that Alfred the Great king of Wessex built a Hlidan to protect his lands from Viking and Cornish raiders. Lydford went...

Set amongst the spectacular scenery of an area known as England’s Little Switzerland is Lynton, a small Victorian town with a selection of shops, tea-rooms and cafés. The town boast few buildings of particular note but the Town Hall is worth a second glance, as is the strangely named...

Modbury is a small market town, which the visitor may be forgiven for missing as it is almost completely hidden by the contours of the South Hams. Modbury is comprised of three steep streets each of which is home to antique shops, art galleries and tea -shops. Many of the town’s houses...

Moretonhampstead was originally known as Mor Tun and was the major settlement of land within the boundaries of the rivers Teign and Bovey occupied by the Saxons soon after 682 AD. By 1086 AD the Manor of Moreton, with some neighbouring manors, supported more than five thousand sheep....

Newton Abbot is located close to the Dartmoor National Park with its beautiful scenery, as well as to the attractive beaches of Dawlish, Teignmouth and Torquay. The Town Council organises various activities during the year including a Cheese & Onion Fayre, a Town Criers’...

North Devon occupies, as you would expect, most of the northern portion of Devon an is fairly sizeable with an area of 850 square miles. To the east it blends into Exmoor and west is Cornwall. The principal towns are: Barnstaple, Braunton, Fremington, Ilfracombe, Instow, South...

The picturesque village of Noss Mayo is set on the southern banks of the Newton Creek, off the River Yealm estuary. Across the water is the slightly larger village of Newton Ferrers which can be reached on foot by a causeway when the tide is low, or by a seasonal ferry on higher tides....

Okehampton sits at the centre of Devon, where the gentle rolling hills of North Devon meet the stark scenery of the Dartmoor National Park. The high peaks of Yes Tor and High Willhayes can be seen on the horizon on a clear day. The granite strewn moorland of Dartmoor has been inhabited...

Ottery St Mary lies in the beautiful Otter Valley, a few miles from the Jurassic Coast of East Devon and Dorset and about eleven miles from the city of Exeter. It is the centre of a number of small communities, such as Alfington, Aylesbeare, Talaton, Whimple and Wiggaton to name but a...

Paignton is part of Torbay on what is known as the English Riviera. It is a family resort with a harbour, long beaches and parks. The town has grown considerably since becoming a Victorian resort. There is a new cinema complex on the Green next to the theatre on the sea front and lots...

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Postbridge can be found on the B3212 between Moretonhampstead and Two Bridges. Located at the centre of Dartmoor National Park it is an excellent base camp from which to explore the awesome natural beauty of Dartmoor.The Clapper Bridge in Postbridge is perhaps the best example of this...

Pricetown is Dartmoor's highest village. It is well worth your time to visit though many have spent there time trying to escape from its rugged and windswept vistas. This is because it is the location of Dartmoor Prison.[[{"fid":"544","view_mode":"wysiwyg_right","fields":{"format":"...

Salcombe became famous for the schooners which brought fruit from the West Indies. Details of this past trade and other local history can be found in the Museum of Maritime and Local History on the Custom House Quay. The museum has a fascinating collection illustrating ship building and...

Seaton is a small traditional seaside resort, popular with families. It is Devon’s easternmost resort and lies on a flat site at the mouth of the River Axe. Seaton has been a resort for more than a century, and has many small shops, restaurants and cafés. It holds a Carnival Week from...

Sidmouth has beautiful gardens, regency buildings, fine hotels, clean beaches and friendly shops. This resort, lovely seaside town nestling beneath majestic red cliffs was most fashionable in the early 19th century and was visited by Queen Victoria in her youth in 1819. Victoria and her...

The South Hams is a geographic and administrative area comprising 342 square miles, most of this area and its 52 miles of glorious coastline being officially designated as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Its Beaches have won more clean water awards than any other district in...

South Molton is a small market town on the River Mole, trading mainly in sheep and cattle. Market day is Thursday and still attracts many visitors. There are lots of pubs, antique shops and art galleries in the centre of town. The town was once a thriving wool town until the mid 19th...

Tavistock is the main town of Dartmoor's western moor. It is an exceptionally attractive town owing as much to some fine Victorian architecture as to its picturesque location on the banks of the river Tavy. A busy market town, there is no shortage of shops and cafes plus Tavistock is...

Teignmouth is a pleasant seaside town nestling below the Haldon Hills. It lies along a stretch of red sandstone coast on the attractive estuary of the River Teign, beneath the shadow of Dartmoor. There are panoramic views from the high ground around the town. Teignmouth claims record-...

An immensely attractive coastal village, Thurlstone stands on a headland between two glorious beaches. The Village is lent its name due to a "thyrled" stone, which can be seen offshore from the south beach. This stone is pierced and its mention in a charter of AD 846 is how the village...

Tiverton is a busy market town situated in the middle of Devon and a convenient centre for both coasts, the moors and the cities of Exeter and Plymouth. The name was originally Twyfyrde, meaning town of two fords, and Tiverton stands on two rivers - the Lowman and the Exe. It was...

Topsham is an ancient and well preserved historic port town close to the City of Exeter on the Exe Estuary. Although it is now technically part of Exeter, the town still has its own distinct identity. It is an ideal centre from which to explore the banks of the river and to enjoy the...

Torbay is a large bay on Devon's south coast. Overlooking its clear blue waters from their vantage points along the bay are three towns: Paignton, Torquay and Brixham. The bays ancient flood plain ends where it meets the steep hills of the South Hams. These hills act as suntrap,...

The splendid village of Torcross is built on a thin strip of land between the fresh water lake Slapton Ley and the glorious golden dunes of Slapton sands. The Ley is a nature reserve and was formed after the last ice age. Bird watchers and nature lovers flock to this natural treasure...

The elegant seafront lined with palm trees, the Italian style white villas perched on the surrounding hillsides and the yachts moored in the modem marina create a truly continental atmosphere. For over a hundred years, Torquay has attracted the rich and famous and today thousands of...

Totnes is a charming Devon town with a bustling main street and a regular market. Totnes has regular outdoor markets on Fridays and Saturdays. During the main season, between May and September, there is an Elizabethan market each Tuesday morning, where local people and traders go about...

The seaside resort of Westward Ho!'s biggest claim to fame is the exclamation mark after its name - nowhere else in Britain has one! It is also unusual in the fact that the name actually came before the village. It was Charles Kingsley's 1855 adventure novel Westward Ho! and an...

In a valley carved out by the East Webbern river at the heart of Dartmoor lays the village of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. It is a hamlet of considerable charm, embraced by the ambling green hills of Devon but framed by craggy vistas of moorland and granite toors. It is very popular with...

Woolacombe in North Devon is a favourite for spot for surfers and beach lovers. The resort has three miles of golden sand and has won a number of awards for cleanliness and facilities. These include Blue Flag, Best Family Resort and Best British Beach. The town sits between the dramatic...

The name Yelverton is believed to be a corruption of the original name of this large village one the very edge of Dartmoor. The earlier name was said to be Ella’s Ford Town later contracted to Elfordtown. The story goes that when the Great Western Railway opened a station here in 1859,...