SOUTH DEVON'S HIDDEN (NOT SO HIDDEN) GEMS
When it comes to South Devon's Hidden Gems, we'd like to think The Cridford Inn fits the bill, as a longhouse that has been around since before the Norman Conquest and now serves up delicious British fare, alongside our welcoming bar and beautiful accommodation. But there is lots more Devon has to offer inquisitive travelers. Here is our A to Z of Devon's best sights as loved by locals (well, strictly speaking, A to T!).
Ashburton is an ancient stannary town that dealt with the considerable administration around tin-mining. But today it’s best known for its cluster of antique shops — the perfect place for you to engage in your own personal Bargain Hunt.
Buckfast has been home to an abbey for over 1000 years. Its resident monks were known for producing beautiful stained glass and tonic wine. Today, Buckfast Abbey continues to operate as an active Benedictine monastery.
Escape from the bustle of the beach by slinking away into one of the many picturesque coves in Devon, including Ansteys cove, Elberry cove, Hope cove and Soar Mill cove.
Lying in South Devon’s Flete estate, this estuary offers miles of sand stretching out to the sea when the tide is out. It’s a perfect place to walk your dog and grab a bite to eat at the lovely fish restaurant or the cafe in the old school house.
This medieval village boasts a host of picturesque walks through ancient woods. But you’ll get more than beautiful sights, you’ll also encounter notable, local historic landmarks such as Jay’s Grave, the Bowerman’s Nose rock formation, Becky Falls and a medieval church with bells dating back to 1450.
Much-loved poet laureate Ted Hughes is celebrated in a 2-mile poetry trail as well as a children’s trail in Stover Country Park. While you enjoy the beauty of the nature around you, you can also read Ted Hughes’ poems capturing his thoughts on the natural world on poetry posts found along the trail.
Ashburton is an ancient stannary town that dealt with the considerable administration around tin-mining. But today it’s best known for its cluster of antique shops — the perfect place for you to engage in your own personal Bargain Hunt.
Devon has no shortage of sandy beaches where you can enjoy the clear waters and cool ocean breeze. Beaches worth a visit include Bigbury-on-Sea, Blackpool Sands, Coleton Fishacre, Salcombe, South Milton Sands and Thurlestone.
At over 3000 years old, we still don’t entirely understand the purpose of these ancient relics but you’ll find no less than 14 of them in Dartmoor, ranging in size from just under 18 metres in diameter to just over 38
metres.
Buckfast has been home to an abbey for over 1000 years. Its resident monks were known for producing beautiful stained glass and tonic wine. Today, Buckfast Abbey continues to operate as an active Benedictine monastery.
This 700-year-old, Grade I-listed house and abbey in the village of Buckland Monachorum is famed for its former residents, Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and Sir Francis Drake.
Just around the corner from The Cridford Inn, Canonteign Falls offers stunning views that have long drawn painters and photographers. It comprises 2 waterfalls — one natural and one man-made, the latter commissioned by Lady Exmouth in 1890. When local silver miners were made redundant, she employed them to build this waterfall which now bears her name.
Devon has no shortage of sandy beaches where you can enjoy the clear waters and cool ocean breeze. Beaches worth a visit include Bigbury-on-Sea, Blackpool Sands, Coleton Fishacre, Salcombe, South Milton Sands and Thurlestone.
This 700-year-old, Grade I-listed house and abbey in the village of Buckland Monachorum is famed for its former residents, Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and Sir Francis Drake.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try a spot of wild swimming? Brimming with freshwater, Crazywell Pool is fed by a spring and steeped in local legend. Your journey to this beautiful pool will take you through some stunning scenery via Crazywell Cross, thought to be one of the many ancient monk’s tracks linking Buckfast Abbey to Tavistock and Buckland.
Made up of 3,500 acres of woodland and just a couple of miles from The Cridford Inn, this park is filled with trails of every sort — trails for avid walkers and runners, trails for cyclists and horse riders too. It’s a great place to go mountain biking or enjoy an orienteering course.
If you want a walk that will get your adrenaline pumping, then this is the one for you. Try a cliff-top climb and gaze down at rocky beaches below. From the top you’ll also be able to spot the sunken shipwreck of Demetrios and ancient boundary stones.
Teign Gorge was once home to stunning natural woodland but over hundreds of years this was cut down for timber. Conifers eventually dominated the landscape but thankfully, in recent times, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust have doggedly invested in restoring the natural make-up of this woodland in what is one of the nation’s biggest woodland restoration projects. See the transformation for yourself on a walk through this beautiful gorge.
Escape from the bustle of the beach by slinking away into one of the many picturesque coves in Devon, including Ansteys cove, Elberry cove, Hope cove and Soar Mill cove.
If you’re feeling adventurous, why not try a spot of wild swimming? Brimming with freshwater, Crazywell Pool is fed by a spring and steeped in local legend. Your journey to this beautiful pool will take you through some stunning scenery via Crazywell Cross, thought to be one of the many ancient monk’s tracks linking Buckfast Abbey to Tavistock and Buckland.
Words cannot capture the beauty of the open moorlands and river valleys that make up this national park. As you walk through its craggy landscape, you’ll encounter countless historic sites, including the Bronze Age stone circles we mentioned earlier, neolithic tombs and the remains of medieval farmhouses.
Lying in South Devon’s Flete estate, this estuary offers miles of sand stretching out to the sea when the tide is out. It’s a perfect place to walk your dog and grab a bite to eat at the lovely fish restaurant or the cafe in the old school house.
Made up of 3,500 acres of woodland and just a couple of miles from The Cridford Inn, this park is filled with trails of every sort — trails for avid walkers and runners, trails for cyclists and horse riders too. It’s a great place to go mountain biking or enjoy an orienteering course.
East Devon is lucky enough to be home to a considerable section of the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s fossils, rocks and landforms tell a story that dates back 185 million years.
At over 3000 years old, we still don’t entirely understand the purpose of these ancient relics but you’ll find no less than 14 of them in Dartmoor, ranging in size from just under 18 metres in diameter to just over 38
metres.
Just around the corner from The Cridford Inn, Canonteign Falls offers stunning views that have long drawn painters and photographers. It comprises 2 waterfalls — one natural and one man-made, the latter commissioned by Lady Exmouth in 1890. When local silver miners were made redundant, she employed them to build this waterfall which now bears her name.
Words cannot capture the beauty of the open moorlands and river valleys that make up this national park. As you walk through its craggy landscape, you’ll encounter countless historic sites, including the Bronze Age stone circles we mentioned earlier, neolithic tombs and the remains of medieval farmhouses.
East Devon is lucky enough to be home to a considerable section of the Jurassic Coast, England’s only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s fossils, rocks and landforms tell a story that dates back 185 million years.
With over 100 acres of woodland, Stover Country Park offers lots of lovely walks. If you’d like to learn more about the local flora and fauna, you can stop off at the Nature Interpretation Centre, which also offers live streaming from 2 cameras, one looking onto a lake and one looking into a nest box. For a truly unique view of the woodland, we recommend the tree-top Aerial Walkway, which is wheelchair accessible and pushchair-friendly.
This ancient market town has reinvented itself in recent history, embracing a uniquely eccentric hippy vibe. Potter around this lovely little town and you’ll discover vintage shops, a zero waste supermarket selling organic, plant-based foods, stylish womenswear boutiques and the obligatory English Heritage site which rises above the rest as one of the best preserved early Norman castles.
This medieval village boasts a host of picturesque walks through ancient woods. But you’ll get more than beautiful sights, you’ll also encounter notable, local historic landmarks such as Jay’s Grave, the Bowerman’s Nose rock formation, Becky Falls and a medieval church with bells dating back to 1450.
If you want a walk that will get your adrenaline pumping, then this is the one for you. Try a cliff-top climb and gaze down at rocky beaches below. From the top you’ll also be able to spot the sunken shipwreck of Demetrios and ancient boundary stones.
With over 100 acres of woodland, Stover Country Park offers lots of lovely walks. If you’d like to learn more about the local flora and fauna, you can stop off at the Nature Interpretation Centre, which also offers live streaming from 2 cameras, one looking onto a lake and one looking into a nest box. For a truly unique view of the woodland, we recommend the tree-top Aerial Walkway, which is wheelchair accessible and pushchair-friendly.
Much-loved poet laureate Ted Hughes is celebrated in a 2-mile poetry trail as well as a children’s trail in Stover Country Park. While you enjoy the beauty of the nature around you, you can also read Ted Hughes’ poems capturing his thoughts on the natural world on poetry posts found along the trail.
Teign Gorge was once home to stunning natural woodland but over hundreds of years this was cut down for timber. Conifers eventually dominated the landscape but thankfully, in recent times, the National Trust and the Woodland Trust have doggedly invested in restoring the natural make-up of this woodland in what is one of the nation’s biggest woodland restoration projects. See the transformation for yourself on a walk through this beautiful gorge.
This ancient market town has reinvented itself in recent history, embracing a uniquely eccentric hippy vibe. Potter around this lovely little town and you’ll discover vintage shops, a zero waste supermarket selling organic, plant-based foods, stylish womenswear boutiques and the obligatory English Heritage site which rises above the rest as one of the best preserved early Norman castles.
THE CRIDFORD INN
With so much to see, don’t forget to have a rest, enjoy some hearty fare and a nice tipple at The Cridford Inn while you’re on your Devonian adventure.
