Devon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why">WHY?</h2>



<p>Dartington puts an international pin in the Devon map, not for its size, but as a byword for Dartington Hall. The medieval manor and 1,200-acre estate which sits at the heart of the village has been a go-to for progressive learning, ecology and the arts for almost a century, making here a cultural hotspot, and drawing people from across the globe.</p>



<p>Surrounded by countryside, with good access to a major arterial road and a train station, and dozens of new eco homes going up, here&#8217;s looking like an increasingly tempting place to live. The indie stores and eateries of Totnes (a frequent Muddy Best Place to Live) is just two miles down the road, drawing a creative, bohemian crowd who live in the locale, and who are very invested in keeping this part of Devon independent and alive.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-eat">EAT</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/cott-inn.jpg" alt="beer garden at The Cott Inn Dartington" class="wp-image-44223" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/cott-inn.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/cott-inn-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/cott-inn-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/06/cott-inn-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Cott Inn</figcaption></figure>



<p>Tuck into a Sunday roast and classic pub menu at <a href="https://cottinn.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cott Inn</a>, an award-winning 12th century pub with a contemporary outdoor kitchen. For brunch or a coffee and cake pitstop with your walk there’s <a href="https://www.dartington.org/visit/food-drink/the-green-table/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Green Table </a>café serving up healthy salads and wraps, the excellent <a href="https://bayardskitchen.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bayards&#8217; Kitchen</a> with its waterside terrace and <a href="https://www.dartington.org/visit/food-drink/white-hart/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The White Hart</a> pub on the Dartington Estate, for a super-local menu using produce raised by the estate tenant farmers. Just down the road is <a href="https://fieldkitchen.riverford.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Riverford Field Kitchen </a>where you can enjoy a local-grown organic menu of veggies and meat. Opposite the entrance to The Cider Press is <a href="https://thingshappenhere.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Things Happen Here</a>, a community-owned tap room and Friday night hub for locals, where you can hop outside for a stone-baked pizza from Pizzalogica and the Big Kebabski on Sundays.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shop">SHOP</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="2048" height="1152" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories.jpg" alt="The Cider Press Centre homeare and furniture" class="wp-image-70059" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories.jpg 2048w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/09/home-accessories-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Cider Press Centre</figcaption></figure>



<p>For a small village, there’s a diverse offering, ranging from the gifts, homeware (including Dartington Crystal) and deli of <a href="https://www.dartington.org/visit/shopping/cider-press-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Cider Press Centre </a>shops, to regular maker markets hosted by the Estate. For provisions, <a href="https://www.nisalocally.co.uk/stores/devon/totnes/shinners-bridge" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartington Village Stores</a> at Shinners Bridge stocks over 2,000 Co-op lines, and the cardamom-scented Texaco petrol station is rated for its local homemade curries, chutneys, poppadoms and organic goods made by <a href="https://thegoodfoodshop.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Good Food Shop</a> next door. There’s a very cool sourdough bakery and mill, <a href="https://www.thealmondthief.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Almond Thief</a>, on the industrial estate, and the opportunity to book a regular organic veg box delivery from Riverford or <a href="https://www.schoolfarmcsa.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">School Farm</a>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-community">COMMUNITY</h2>



<p>The community ranges from young families, to older retired couples with the Meadowbrook <a href="https://www.dartingtonra.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartington Recreation Association</a> providing a super-vibrant community hub for families where locals gather to meet over an al fresco pizza while kids make use of the play park, outdoor swimming pool (closed for a planned refurbishment) and playing fields. There’s also a community centre and a Village Hall which can be hired out for events and play dates. The local not-for-profit CIC, <a href="https://dynamicadventurescic.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dynamic Adventures Dartington</a>, which celebrated 25 years in 2024, run outdoorsy activities and Duke of Edinburgh programme, along with community events, wild camping on Dartmoor and fun runs.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-health-amp-wellbeing">HEALTH &amp; WELLBEING</h2>



<p>Dog-friendly riverside and Dartington Estate walks abound, there&#8217;s the outdoor pool at Meadowbrook and Dartington Trust runs inspirational workshops on everything from wine making to personal development and jewellery making. Beaches and moors are nearby and you have opportunities to boat, kayak and paddle-board on the River Dart, the beautiful waterway from which the village takes its name. There are two doctors surgeries in Totnes, along with numerous alternative health therapists for which the town is known.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nearby-attractions">NEARBY ATTRACTIONS</h2>



<p>Totnes has an independent cinema and a castle, while at Buckfastleigh, <a href="https://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">South Devon Railway </a>runs regular steam rail and river trips to the harbour town of Dartmouth. Here you’ll also find <a href="https://ottersandbutterflies.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartmoor Otters &amp; Buckfast Butterflies</a>, a friendly sanctuary animal sanctuary and farm. The rides at <a href="https://www.woodlandspark.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Woodlands Theme Park</a>, the reputedly haunted ruins of English Heritage <a href="https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/berry-pomeroy-castle/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Berry Pomeroy Castle</a>, <a href="https://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pennywell Farm</a> and <a href="https://www.paigntonzoo.org.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Paignton Zoo </a>are all under five miles away if you’re after a day out with kids.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-culture">CULTURE</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/dartington-aerial-view.jpeg" alt="Dartington Estate Devon from the air " class="wp-image-49304" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/dartington-aerial-view.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/dartington-aerial-view-800x450.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/dartington-aerial-view-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/10/dartington-aerial-view-900x507.jpeg 900w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Dartington Estate</figcaption></figure>



<p>The 1200 acre <a href="https://www.dartington.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartington Estate</a>, Grade 2 listed gardens (hello Henry Moore sculpture!) and The Great Hall offers a veritable feast of culture with its rich programme of year-round events, festivals and walks. Here’s the small <a href="https://www.dartington.org/whats-on/barn-cinema/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Barn Cinema</a>, comedy club, plus regular live music, theatre and festivals. Dartington&#8217;s famous Summer Music School has been replaced by ChloralFest led by one of the word’s leading conductors, Gavin Carr. The community run tap room, Things Happen Here, run a huge events program of underground music, including hip hop and jazz. Plus, Totnes has loads going on from live music at <a href="https://barrelhousetotnes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Barrel House</a>, the sustainably-minded events at <a href="https://www.albatrosstotnes.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Albatross</a>.</p>



<p>Opportunities to improve yourself are abundant too, with Dartington running everything from half-day workshops to week-long creative retreats, online courses to six-month residencies in the arts, ecology and social justice. The internationally renowned <a href="https://campus.dartington.org/schumacher-college/history-ethos/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Schumacher College</a>, which was co-founded by the Indian British activist, Satish Kumar, has recently reduced its courses but still offers holistic ecology-centred short courses and horticultural programmes.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-average-house-prices">AVERAGE HOUSE PRICES</h2>



<p>Homes went for an average price of £569,280 last year with the majority detached properties.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hot-property">HOT PROPERTY</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/11/dewberry-dartington.jpeg" alt="The Dewberry Dartington " class="wp-image-70933" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/11/dewberry-dartington.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/11/dewberry-dartington-800x533.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2024/11/dewberry-dartington-768x511.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Move into brand-new 4-bed eco home created by an award-winning local company with solar panels and EV charging, <a href="https://luscombemaye.com/property/totnes-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">On the market for ££1,100,000</a></figcaption></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-nurseries-nbsp">NURSERIES&nbsp;</h2>



<p>In nearby Staverton, <a href="https://www.st-christophers.devon.sch.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">St Christopher’s Prep</a> is rated Excellent by ISI. <a href="https://www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk/nurseries/dartington/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Old Station Nursery</a> at Gidleys Meadow is registered for children aged 0 – 5 yrs and has a hygge-inspired vibe.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-schools">SCHOOLS</h2>



<p><a href="https://dartington-lap.co.uk">Park School Primary</a> was rated Ofsted Good in 2016 for kids aged 3 – 12 yrs. <a href="https://dartington-lap.co.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Dartington Cove Primary</a> was rated Good by Oftsed in 2023. <a href="https://bidwellbrook.devon.sch.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bidwell Brook</a> is a Good school for children with special needs.&nbsp;Totnes&#8217; co-ed state school, <a href="https://www.kingedwardvi.devon.sch.uk" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">King Edward VI Community College</a> for 11 – 18 year olds (rated Good by Ofsted), and the independent <a href="https://www.parkschoolonline.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Park School</a> provide secondary education and are just a short drive away. And for older kids, Exeter College is only 30 mins away.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-kept-secret">BEST KEPT SECRET</h2>



<p>A chill, no-frills place for a local Voyager coffee, a read of the paper or a spot of remote working, <a href="https://www.thealmondthief.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Almond Thief</a> bakery and café is tucked away on a small industrial estate and uses their own flour to make fabulous sesame miso cookies, cinnamon buns and sourdough.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-commute">COMMUTE</h2>



<p>The A385 and A38 Devon Expressway which takes you to Plymouth and Exeter is 4 miles away or you can catch a train to London (2 hrs 10 mins), Bristol or Plymouth from Totnes.&nbsp;</p>



<p><em>View the full&nbsp;</em><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/"><em>Top 300 Best Places to Live</em></a>.</p>


Dartington

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