There comes a time in every woman’s life where you want – make that need – a pair of handmade leather shoes. Less of those compulsive purchases which you wear a few times and then fall apart, and more of that quality, luxury and timeless appeal. The kind of shoes that have girlfriends falling over themselves to find out where you bought them. Those durable, ultra-comfy boots that come up trumps through countless Dartmoor hikes and blustery beach walks. The trusted kind, like old friends, which just get better with each passing year, holding all the best memories in their soft folds and wrinkles.

If that wish-list ticks your, erm, shoe boxes, then let me tell you about a rustic workshop I’ve discovered in Moretonhampstead. Here, they’ve been making men and women’s boots and shoes for the past 40 years, but with the recent retirement of its founder, Green Shoes is now in the trusted hands of Glenn and Nina, who also own Dartmoor Wool Loft upstairs. This new ownership has brought an opportunity to breathe new life into the classic brand, still using time-honoured traditional techniques and quality Italian leather. Green Shoes local artisan shoemakers are now creating a range that feels classic and contemporary, including chunky fishermens’ sandals, practical desert boots and stylish Mary Janes, as well as resilient low and high top boots, ideal for outdoor adventures.

You can also have leather shoes and boots custom-made here, or have a pair resoled and repaired, but what has really piqued our interest is their unique workshops. Here’s one of the few places in the UK where you can book in to hand-craft your own pair of shoes – in just one day! Beat that for a dinner party anecdote.

We’ll be reporting back shortly from our day in the workshop and the shoes we make (Mary Janes or desert boots, how exciting!). Green Shoes? We’re sole(d).