Ashburton: thriving moorside town

Ashburton is often described as a ‘thriving’ community. It is home to the Ashburton cookery school which has created an international reputation for itself, offering over 40 courses for amateurs and professionals alike, using quality, seasonal, local produce wherever possible. The 2 award winning delicatessens in town stock a wide range of locally caught fish, cheeses, olives, pastries and mouth watering speciality foods to tempt every palette… There’s also an independent fruit and veg. shop and Ashburton whole foods. Rachel at Cuddyford farm, just a 15 minute walk out of town from the apartment, has a stall selling locally grown veg. flowers and eggs, in season, with local honey sold just a couple of doors up the hill by the Vevers ... You can find out more about the ‘good life’ yourself, including courses on growing your own, at the Ashburton Husbandry School.

The town is host to a number of cafes, bars and restaurants, including the award winning Old Library, Rafikis, serving vegetarian and vegan specialities, and the beautifully refurbished Old Exeter Inn, dating back almost 900 years … Emelia’s and Le Vin Perdu are recent quality additions to Ashburton’s food and wine scene, alongside the reemergence of the wine bar Number 14.  Try Taylor’s for loose leaf afternoon tea served in porcelain cups with cake, or Cafe Latino for the best coffee in town and a modern, street cafe vibe.

Ashburton boasts a range of boutique shops and emporiums

Ashburton boasts a range of boutique shops and emporiums, specialising in antiques, and if you’re looking for a unique item to add a special touch to your home, then you’ll be able to spend many happy hours browsing a fascinating range – if vintage is your thing, there are 2 clothes shops selling pre-loved items – and several outlets selling hand-made crafts, soaps, jewellery, screen prints, photography and fine art, offering collectable pieces to suit every pocket.

The Robert Lenkiewicz Gallery opened in 2021, showcasing the work of the late famous Plymouth painter.

…If vintage is not your thing - there’s are new clothes shops too, gift shops, and a Spar and Co-op – both very well stocked… The independent hardware store Churches – painted pillar-box red, on the corner of North Street - contains a treasure trove of practical stuff for every need and occasion.

If you fancy some pampering there are several beauticians to choose from in Ashburton, including Blush Hair and Beauty, Kerry Bartlett, Julie Adams, Jo Woolvett massage, and The Haven (next door to the Indian take away on West street) providing a range of holistic and modern beauty treatments and therapies to help you unwind and look your best. There are also a couple of hairdressers, a barber, nail bars and even a tattoo artist in the town should ink be your thing!

Further Afield

Still with provisioning the larder in mind - Riverford organic vegetables has an outlet called Ben’s farm shop just 4 miles from Ashburton, on the way to the Dartington Estate – visit their fabulous grade 1 listed gardens with the colour-themed sunny border, or go to see a film in the Barn cinema on the site – enjoy a meal on the estate at the White Hart, or the nearby award winning thatched Cott Inn, just a 5 minute drive away. From Dartington, Totnes is just a couple of miles away, and has a busy market in the Civic Square on Friday, a rare breeds farm, a steam train connecting with Staverton and Buckfastleigh, and a ferry all the way down the picturesque river valley to Dartmouth …

The White Hart at Dartington

Heading north up the A38, the MAKE Southwest at Bovey Tracey hosts an exhibition space for some of the finest crafts people in the southwest, with a very nice cafe.

Dartmoor Landscape

Westwards, there are many lovely walks on Dartmoor which is just a 5 minute drive away. Have a look at the guides in the property, or simply go and explore the Tors – you can’t miss them – they’re those great lumps of fissured, weathered granite sticking out of the ground everywhere you turn – great for climbing on and enjoying sweeping views of the rugged scenery. Try the excellent pub in Haytor Vale after you’ve visted Hay tor, but if you’d like a quieter walk – I recommend Bench tor – you can even scramble down to the river from there to bathe, and look down on birds flying in the wooded valley below. But if you don’t fancy climbing in the car, there’s even a couple of hours’ walk that takes in views, stream and woodlands starting just 200yds from the house!

The coast is about a half hour away – several beaches to choose from including Bantham, close to the famous Burgh Island… Salcombe, Dartmouth and Sidmouth all within striking distance.

…If gardens and historic buildings are your thing – Castle Drogo – the last castle built in England – designed by famous Arts and Crafts architect Lutyens – is just half an hour away to the north… close to two thriving moorland towns. Try The Horse in Moretonhampstead - our favourite place to spend the evening. Great pizzas and cuisine, and good atmosphere. Trendy, yet unpretentious… In Chagford, The Three Crowns has recently been refurbished and offers stylish dining.

Another gem worth visiting when heading to the coast, and leaning towards Art Deco design, is the National Trust-owned Coleton Fishacre. The architect was Oswald Milne, Lutyens’ pupil. RHS garden Rosemoor is a 45 minute drive away - both gardens are worth visiting at almost any time of year…

Bantham beach

Castle Drogo

If you’re looking for more hussle and bussle, Exeter and Plymouth are both half an hour away along the A38. The Royal Albert Memorial Museum – RAMM – has recently been refurbished and won an award. The architecture is stunning with bright pink walls next to Queen Victoria’s bust. We hope she’s amused! There are many excellent exhibitions, and quirky curios…

Just outside Exeter, on the southern side is Haldon forest (20 minute drive). It’s forestry commission land with cycle tracks and adventures up trees, and also a cafe. You can hire bikes, or take your own..

In Plymouth, the Royal William Yard, an ex-naval victualling facility, and the largest collection of grade 1 military buildings in Europe, hosts shops, restaurants, galleries and amazing views.

Closer to home – 5 minutes by car, River Dart country park has a great range of adventure playground equipment for young people in a stunningly beautiful parkland setting.

Coleton Fishacre

Cycle tracks with bikes for hire at Haldon Forest

Phew! With so much to do, you’ll be happy to come home and flop into a comfy leather sofa at the end of the day with a glass of wine in one hand and the remote in the other! Or maybe a game of jenga with the kids…It is the holidays after all. Make the most of it by staying with us at High Oak House. Book your stay with us today.