Freya’s guidebook
Activities
Fun for families - stroke owls, hold guinea-pigs and rabbits, feed goats and more. There's a cafe attached and to get there you walk past a South Devon Steam Railway station that's been restored to its former 1930s glory.
Park at the Pavilion Leisure Centre (TQ9 5XW). Follow the footpath that runs alongside the playing fields down to the bottom of the mainline train station. There the footpath turns right down to the river where you turn left and head over the bridge to the South Devon Railway and we're on the other side of the tracks.
35 locals recommend
Totnes Rare Breeds Farm
Fun for families - stroke owls, hold guinea-pigs and rabbits, feed goats and more. There's a cafe attached and to get there you walk past a South Devon Steam Railway station that's been restored to its former 1930s glory.
Park at the Pavilion Leisure Centre (TQ9 5XW). Follow the footpath that runs alongside the playing fields down to the bottom of the mainline train station. There the footpath turns right down to the river where you turn left and head over the bridge to the South Devon Railway and we're on the other side of the tracks.
A National Trust property that was once the holiday home of Agatha Christie. Beautiful gardens and house to explore on the river Dart with a National Trust cafe and shop.
Pre-booking parking ahead of your visit (even pre-COVID!) is ESSENTIAL as car parking is very limited. You can do this online or by phone - just look it up on the National Trust website.
132 locals recommend
Greenway House
A National Trust property that was once the holiday home of Agatha Christie. Beautiful gardens and house to explore on the river Dart with a National Trust cafe and shop.
Pre-booking parking ahead of your visit (even pre-COVID!) is ESSENTIAL as car parking is very limited. You can do this online or by phone - just look it up on the National Trust website.
A National Trust house and garden with a cafe and shop. Stunning gardens are built on the steep valley that slopes down to the South West coast path. Once owned by Lady Dorothy in the 1920s, the garden is planted with rare and exotic plants as designed by her, and the house is decorated in an art deco style.
114 locals recommend
National Trust - Coleton Fishacre House & Gardens
Brownstone RoadA National Trust house and garden with a cafe and shop. Stunning gardens are built on the steep valley that slopes down to the South West coast path. Once owned by Lady Dorothy in the 1920s, the garden is planted with rare and exotic plants as designed by her, and the house is decorated in an art deco style.
Pick your own raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, £9 a kilo.
Broadbeans and peas also available.
Combine with walks around Ashprington and a drink at the Durant Arms.
Edwards pick your own Fruit
Pick your own raspberries, gooseberries, blackcurrants and redcurrants, £9 a kilo.
Broadbeans and peas also available.
Combine with walks around Ashprington and a drink at the Durant Arms.
City/town information
Quirky Totnes is a market town on the River Dart. With an excellent range of cafes and small independent retailers and unique shops, the town is famed for its promotion of ethical products, wholefoods and fair trade goods. In the Civic Hall Square you’ll find the weekly market which held on Fridays and Saturdays.
351 locals recommend
Totnes
Quirky Totnes is a market town on the River Dart. With an excellent range of cafes and small independent retailers and unique shops, the town is famed for its promotion of ethical products, wholefoods and fair trade goods. In the Civic Hall Square you’ll find the weekly market which held on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pretty town on the Kingsbridge estuary with lots of nice shops and places to eat. Try the Salcombe Gin distillery or Salcombe Dairy ice cream - both of which have shops in Salcombe.
If you're into watersports this is a great place for sailing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and more. South Sands and North Sands beaches are great for families.
213 locals recommend
Salcombe
Pretty town on the Kingsbridge estuary with lots of nice shops and places to eat. Try the Salcombe Gin distillery or Salcombe Dairy ice cream - both of which have shops in Salcombe.
If you're into watersports this is a great place for sailing, kayaking, paddle-boarding and more. South Sands and North Sands beaches are great for families.
Food scene
Excellent food from the founders and owners of Riverford Organic.
Organic dishes cooked from scratch and a seasonal menu that changes daily.
29 locals recommend
The Bull Inn
102 RotherfoldExcellent food from the founders and owners of Riverford Organic.
Organic dishes cooked from scratch and a seasonal menu that changes daily.
Excellent coffee and Italian food made with local produce
65 locals recommend
The Curator Cafe & Kitchen
2A The PlainsExcellent coffee and Italian food made with local produce
Fresh fish and chips, crab sandwiches and seafood at a reasonable price. One of the only fish and chip places where you can get your fish grilled and unbattered for a healthier option! Get it to takeaway from the shack and eat it on a bench outside in the fresh air.
The beach isn't the prettiest, but Beesands is a long stretch where you can watch fishermen and get a good walk on the shingle.
36 locals recommend
Britannia at The Beach
Fresh fish and chips, crab sandwiches and seafood at a reasonable price. One of the only fish and chip places where you can get your fish grilled and unbattered for a healthier option! Get it to takeaway from the shack and eat it on a bench outside in the fresh air.
The beach isn't the prettiest, but Beesands is a long stretch where you can watch fishermen and get a good walk on the shingle.
18th Century pub in a very pretty setting on the river Dart serving fresh local food. Close in distance to the cottage, but it's worth taking the slightly longer 12 min drive towards Totnes to avoid very small lanes.
42 locals recommend
The Maltsters Arms
18th Century pub in a very pretty setting on the river Dart serving fresh local food. Close in distance to the cottage, but it's worth taking the slightly longer 12 min drive towards Totnes to avoid very small lanes.
Excellent brunch, lunch and freshly made cakes, coffee, smoothies and fresh orange juice. Its daily doughnut flavours are amazing.
Great options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free.
25 locals recommend
The Curious Kitchen
14-16 Middle StExcellent brunch, lunch and freshly made cakes, coffee, smoothies and fresh orange juice. Its daily doughnut flavours are amazing.
Great options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free.
Dating back to 1320AD, The Cott Inn is one of Devon's oldest thatched pubs. A relaxed, informal atmosphere with a mix of families, locals and visitors. Seasonal menus and local produce - eat inside the pub or outside in the garden kitchen which is undercover and heated in winter.
74 locals recommend
The Cott Inn
Cott LaneDating back to 1320AD, The Cott Inn is one of Devon's oldest thatched pubs. A relaxed, informal atmosphere with a mix of families, locals and visitors. Seasonal menus and local produce - eat inside the pub or outside in the garden kitchen which is undercover and heated in winter.
Taguchi-Ya Canteen (Flour & Rice) is an authentic Japanese canteen with simple and delicious dishes prepared to order. The set menu changes weekly offering meat, fish, or vegan options, as well as side dishes and kids' meals. Great value for money. I think Flour & Rice was also a bakery in the day pre-COVID. It no longer does pizza as the photo suggests!
6 locals recommend
FLOUR & RICE
12 Ticklemore StTaguchi-Ya Canteen (Flour & Rice) is an authentic Japanese canteen with simple and delicious dishes prepared to order. The set menu changes weekly offering meat, fish, or vegan options, as well as side dishes and kids' meals. Great value for money. I think Flour & Rice was also a bakery in the day pre-COVID. It no longer does pizza as the photo suggests!
Good coffee, cake, brunch and lunch. Lovely walking spots nearby - you can pay to go into Dartington Gardens or take public footpaths nearby down by the river. Ben Howard is a local and one of his first music videos was filmed in the fields next to Dartington Drive :)
34 locals recommend
The Green Table
Good coffee, cake, brunch and lunch. Lovely walking spots nearby - you can pay to go into Dartington Gardens or take public footpaths nearby down by the river. Ben Howard is a local and one of his first music videos was filmed in the fields next to Dartington Drive :)
A family-run brewery with a huge selection of craft beers, ales, and ciders, plus cocktails. The beer garden has a view of Totnes Castle.
31 locals recommend
Totnes Brewing Company
59a High StA family-run brewery with a huge selection of craft beers, ales, and ciders, plus cocktails. The beer garden has a view of Totnes Castle.
Popular wine bar and restaurant with local suppliers. Known for their homemade pizzas and Rumour 'Fries' (twice-cooked roast potatoes with rosemary salt)!
66 locals recommend
Rumour wine bar and restaurant
30 High StPopular wine bar and restaurant with local suppliers. Known for their homemade pizzas and Rumour 'Fries' (twice-cooked roast potatoes with rosemary salt)!
Lunch, supper and Saturday brunch on the Riverford Farm with vegetarian menus that make the most of its organic and locally grown veg.
Set menus make use of seasonal produce. Booking essential!
121 locals recommend
Riverford Field Kitchen - Organic Restaurant
Lunch, supper and Saturday brunch on the Riverford Farm with vegetarian menus that make the most of its organic and locally grown veg.
Set menus make use of seasonal produce. Booking essential!
Beaches
Beautiful sandy beach on the SW coast path.
Gara Rock Hotel sits at the top and serves food in its restaurant and outdoor terrace - or grab a snack from the 'Garavan'. Parking is in a field at the top and is a few £££ cash for the day. There's about a 15 min walk down to the beach and a short scramble down some rocks - there are some makeshift steps and a rope to hold onto to help you down the last bit.
Want to add a good walk? Start or end your trip with a circle walk by walking west along the coast path to Mill Bay then back on a footpath through a wooded area and through the fields back to the car park. If you look on a map you'll see the footpath that goes along the coast to Mill Bay and then circles up inland back to the car park.
15 locals recommend
Gara Rock Beach
Beautiful sandy beach on the SW coast path.
Gara Rock Hotel sits at the top and serves food in its restaurant and outdoor terrace - or grab a snack from the 'Garavan'. Parking is in a field at the top and is a few £££ cash for the day. There's about a 15 min walk down to the beach and a short scramble down some rocks - there are some makeshift steps and a rope to hold onto to help you down the last bit.
Want to add a good walk? Start or end your trip with a circle walk by walking west along the coast path to Mill Bay then back on a footpath through a wooded area and through the fields back to the car park. If you look on a map you'll see the footpath that goes along the coast to Mill Bay and then circles up inland back to the car park.
Stunning views driving to the beach. Easy car park, cafe and toilets.
Want to get away from the crowds? Visit a secret beach just around the corner. Drive past Blackpool Sands up the hill on the A379 towards Strete. Only go about 2-3 minutes and park in the layby on the left of the road where there's space for 2 or 3 cars. Walk up the road a little further and you'll see a footpath sign on the left-hand side. Take the footpath and go straight down the very steep field to a deserted cove at the bottom.
183 locals recommend
Blackpool Sands
Stunning views driving to the beach. Easy car park, cafe and toilets.
Want to get away from the crowds? Visit a secret beach just around the corner. Drive past Blackpool Sands up the hill on the A379 towards Strete. Only go about 2-3 minutes and park in the layby on the left of the road where there's space for 2 or 3 cars. Walk up the road a little further and you'll see a footpath sign on the left-hand side. Take the footpath and go straight down the very steep field to a deserted cove at the bottom.
A wide shingle beach with lots of space to get away from the crowds. There's a bigger car park if you follow the road beyond the few spaces you see immediately on the road. There's a picnic spot as well as public toilets.
You can often see high stacks of pebbles made by local people that create stunning sculptures.
Brilliant for a day trip or evening BBQ to watch the sun go down.
Drive from the cottage through Strete for INCREDIBLE views of Slapton as you come down the hill.
Warning! This is a nudist beach, but worth it if you want a quieter beach day.
From here you're near to explore Slapton Sands (a 3-mile coastal bar of shingle with a D-Day tank monument) and Slapton Ley (a freshwater lake behind Slapton Sands perfect for bird watching).
8 locals recommend
Strete Gate Beach
A wide shingle beach with lots of space to get away from the crowds. There's a bigger car park if you follow the road beyond the few spaces you see immediately on the road. There's a picnic spot as well as public toilets.
You can often see high stacks of pebbles made by local people that create stunning sculptures.
Brilliant for a day trip or evening BBQ to watch the sun go down.
Drive from the cottage through Strete for INCREDIBLE views of Slapton as you come down the hill.
Warning! This is a nudist beach, but worth it if you want a quieter beach day.
From here you're near to explore Slapton Sands (a 3-mile coastal bar of shingle with a D-Day tank monument) and Slapton Ley (a freshwater lake behind Slapton Sands perfect for bird watching).
The most popular local beach, perfect for families - backed by sand dunes there is a wide sandy beach with shallow waters at low tide and rockpools to explore. Just be careful of the rip that can happen at high tide from the mouth of the river Avon.
RNLI life guards are on duty making it a safe option.
It's also great for surfing and bodyboarding and you can hire wetsuits and boards here. There are public toilets but note these are at the top of the car park miles from the beach itself!
There's also the Gastrobus serving great coffee, homemade cakes, hot food and quick bites.
Parking can be expensive for the day and it WILL be busy so arrive early and be prepared for a crowd.
183 locals recommend
Bantham Beach
The most popular local beach, perfect for families - backed by sand dunes there is a wide sandy beach with shallow waters at low tide and rockpools to explore. Just be careful of the rip that can happen at high tide from the mouth of the river Avon.
RNLI life guards are on duty making it a safe option.
It's also great for surfing and bodyboarding and you can hire wetsuits and boards here. There are public toilets but note these are at the top of the car park miles from the beach itself!
There's also the Gastrobus serving great coffee, homemade cakes, hot food and quick bites.
Parking can be expensive for the day and it WILL be busy so arrive early and be prepared for a crowd.
The beach we tend to go to as it's closest to the cottage. Drive to Thurlestone Golf Club and park in the field beyond the Golf Club car park. There's a pay machine but it's quite cheap.
You have two options for beaches - follow the little path out of the field and you'll come to the first beach which is the smaller of the two. At the far end, there's a water pipe where it's fun to build forts and sandcastles and 'caves' which are fun to explore. It's safe for swimming and bodyboarding but there are no lifeguards.
Otherwise, follow the coast path over the headline around the golf course to the right and you'll find a much larger cove. (You can get here a bit quicker by walking up the road you drove down and taking a footpath across the golf club by the tennis courts to the left. Walk quickly across the golf course as balls fly past!
There are public toilets on the road by the entrance to the golf club.
Thurlestone
The beach we tend to go to as it's closest to the cottage. Drive to Thurlestone Golf Club and park in the field beyond the Golf Club car park. There's a pay machine but it's quite cheap.
You have two options for beaches - follow the little path out of the field and you'll come to the first beach which is the smaller of the two. At the far end, there's a water pipe where it's fun to build forts and sandcastles and 'caves' which are fun to explore. It's safe for swimming and bodyboarding but there are no lifeguards.
Otherwise, follow the coast path over the headline around the golf course to the right and you'll find a much larger cove. (You can get here a bit quicker by walking up the road you drove down and taking a footpath across the golf club by the tennis courts to the left. Walk quickly across the golf course as balls fly past!
There are public toilets on the road by the entrance to the golf club.
A scenic, shingle and rock beach with access via a steep path through some woodland which gives some beautiful views of the cove as you walk down.
The water is generally crystal clear thanks to the pebbly beach so it's great for swimming and snorkelling around the rocks.
There are lots of seals nearby so keep an eye out for them bobbing close to the rocks!
You'll probably see boats as it's a popular place for small yachts to stop.
Arrive early to park in the few car parking spots on Northfields Lane or just off it by Battery Gardens, otherwise use one of the car parks in Brixham and walk.
Buy brunch, lunch or doughnuts from the Curious Kitchen in the centre of Brixham.
8 locals recommend
Churston Cove
A scenic, shingle and rock beach with access via a steep path through some woodland which gives some beautiful views of the cove as you walk down.
The water is generally crystal clear thanks to the pebbly beach so it's great for swimming and snorkelling around the rocks.
There are lots of seals nearby so keep an eye out for them bobbing close to the rocks!
You'll probably see boats as it's a popular place for small yachts to stop.
Arrive early to park in the few car parking spots on Northfields Lane or just off it by Battery Gardens, otherwise use one of the car parks in Brixham and walk.
Buy brunch, lunch or doughnuts from the Curious Kitchen in the centre of Brixham.
A circle coastal walk - head towards National Trust Overbecks (TQ8 8LW) but park for free on the side of the road before going up the drive to the National Trust property.
Take the coastal footpath and follow it around the headland before looping back through Soar and then through Overbecks itself. There are various lengths of walk you can do depending on when you head inland - check our South Hams OS map for footpaths.
13 locals recommend
Bolt Head
A circle coastal walk - head towards National Trust Overbecks (TQ8 8LW) but park for free on the side of the road before going up the drive to the National Trust property.
Take the coastal footpath and follow it around the headland before looping back through Soar and then through Overbecks itself. There are various lengths of walk you can do depending on when you head inland - check our South Hams OS map for footpaths.
Shopping
Nkuku Lifestyle Store and Café
Beautiful homewares shop with cafe.
With a focus on arts and crafts, there’s a huge range of gifts to browse, alongside locally sourced food and drink, cafes and restaurants, and Dartington Crystal glassware.
29 locals recommend
The Shops at Dartington
With a focus on arts and crafts, there’s a huge range of gifts to browse, alongside locally sourced food and drink, cafes and restaurants, and Dartington Crystal glassware.
Dartmoor
Stunning Dartmoor Tor that's easily accessible with a small car park right next to it. Ponies will sometimes be here. Great place for a picnic with a view and for photographing at sunset.
If you visit in the day and want a walk, you can explore the tor before walking down towards the West Dart River to where a sweet picnic spot opens out and there are large rock stepping stones across the river. Good spot for paddling with kids. (See the screenshot of the map and then use the OS Dartmoor map for footpaths from Combestone Tor to the stepping stones).
Combestone Tor
Stunning Dartmoor Tor that's easily accessible with a small car park right next to it. Ponies will sometimes be here. Great place for a picnic with a view and for photographing at sunset.
If you visit in the day and want a walk, you can explore the tor before walking down towards the West Dart River to where a sweet picnic spot opens out and there are large rock stepping stones across the river. Good spot for paddling with kids. (See the screenshot of the map and then use the OS Dartmoor map for footpaths from Combestone Tor to the stepping stones).
Large Tor to explore with ruins of a medieval village. Car park nearby. Find out more here https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hound-tor-deserted-medieval-village/
27 locals recommend
Hound Tor Rocks
Large Tor to explore with ruins of a medieval village. Car park nearby. Find out more here https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hound-tor-deserted-medieval-village/
Beautiful picnic spot with large grassy areas, woodland, and deep water for river swimming.
Swim at the top (upriver) where you can climb the cliff and jump off into the water, or try further downstream where the river flows quickly into a large pool making fun rapids to swim down.
Be careful as there are no lifeguards.
24 locals recommend
Spitchwick
Beautiful picnic spot with large grassy areas, woodland, and deep water for river swimming.
Swim at the top (upriver) where you can climb the cliff and jump off into the water, or try further downstream where the river flows quickly into a large pool making fun rapids to swim down.
Be careful as there are no lifeguards.
One of Dartmoor's most famous tors with a deserted quarry and granite tramway once used to transport granite rock. Panoramic views from the top.
This Tor is really popular so it's likely to be busy on nice days. Avoid the official Haytor car park and instead, park to the right of the tor and walk over (see map screenshot). You're very likely to see Dartmoor ponies here.
Have brunch, lunch or tea and cake at nearby Ullacombe Farm.
20 locals recommend
Haytor
One of Dartmoor's most famous tors with a deserted quarry and granite tramway once used to transport granite rock. Panoramic views from the top.
This Tor is really popular so it's likely to be busy on nice days. Avoid the official Haytor car park and instead, park to the right of the tor and walk over (see map screenshot). You're very likely to see Dartmoor ponies here.
Have brunch, lunch or tea and cake at nearby Ullacombe Farm.