Your local guide to Ideford & beyond
Coast in one direction. Dartmoor in the other. Plenty of good days in between.
What shall we do today?Between coast and moor
A small Devon village ideally placed between the South Devon coast and Dartmoor. Head towards the sea and you’ll soon reach Teignmouth, Shaldon and Dawlish. Travel inland and the landscape rises towards the moor, while Exeter and the English Riviera are both within easy reach.
Sometimes the best Devon days are the simplest ones.
At the barn
We hope you have a lovely stay at 3 Town Farm Court. Here are a few useful things to help you settle in.
Wi-Fi: You’ll find the Wi-Fi details in the information folder in the barn.
Hot water is on continuously. Heating is scheduled for 5.30–10.30am and 4.30–11.30pm.
If you feel chilly outside these times, press the Advance button on the left-hand side of the thermostat, which is by the light switch in the sitting room. This turns the heating on until the next programmed period.
Fuse board: under the stairs.
Water stopcock: behind the kickboard underneath the kitchen sink unit.
Spare light bulbs: top kitchen cupboard next to the fridge/freezer.
A torch is on the coat hooks next to the front door. Please return it after use and before you leave, so it is ready for the next guests.
The light above the front door operates on a dawn-to-dusk sensor. Please leave it switched on during your stay so the entrance is illuminated when you return late from a day out.
The back door is for emergency use only and opens using the thumb lock.
A key hangs by the front door for use in the event of a fire. Please do not remove this key.
The assembly point is the car park area. Please follow the separate fire action plan displayed in the hall.
Plug-in emergency lights are in the hall and on the landing. Leave them plugged in and switched on at all times.
They come on automatically in a power cut. The torches can be removed from their holders if required, for example in the event of a fire. Please return the emergency lights to their holders after use.
A little help around the barn
Please help us recycle! Labels on the mixed recycling bin in the kitchen show which items can be recycled, including mixed glass and jars, plastics (including milk bottles), tins and cans, and cardboard.
General waste: please use the black wheelie bin marked “3”, behind the fence in the courtyard.
Recycling: please use the green and black recycling boxes in front of the parking area, following their labels.
A small 5L food waste caddy is kept under the kitchen sink. Extra caddy liners are in the kitchen cupboard.
What to put in: all raw and cooked food waste, plate scrapings, tea bags and coffee grounds.
What stays out: no packaging, plastic or liquids.
Emptying the caddy: when full, tie off the liner bag and place the whole lined bag directly into the blue outdoor food waste bin in the storage area in front of the car park.
Waste and recycling are collected on Friday mornings.
If your stay includes a Friday, the bins and recycling boxes will be moved to the end of the driveway on Thursday evening (or by 7:00 AM on Friday) and returned to the storage areas once emptied.
Thank you for helping us keep the property and local area clean and environmentally friendly.
Can’t decide?
Explore the village and find the beach through the tunnel.
A straightforward introduction to Dartmoor.
Pack towels, buckets, spades and a picnic.
Cathedral, museum, historic streets and Quayside.
Explore the common. Walk up for a climb, or drive to the car park.
And if it’s pouring with rain… apparently you’re going to Trago.
Coast & beaches
Beach, promenade, pier, cafés and town centre. A good all-round choice.
Smaller and quieter, with attractive streets, pubs and cafés. The passenger ferry makes it easy to combine both towns.
Reached through a tunnel cut through the cliffs, still known locally as the Smugglers Tunnel.
More shores
Walk beside the Brook, look out for the famous black swans and wander towards the sea.
The choice for a proper family beach day. Summer parking gets busy; earlier is usually easier.
Your first day on Dartmoor
The Visitor Centre is an excellent introduction. Walk towards Haytor Rocks, explore the old quarries or follow part of the Granite Tramway.
Widecombe-in-the-Moor for a wander and refreshments, followed by Hound Tor for classic granite scenery.
Great days out
Abbey Church, gardens and somewhere to eat.
Heritage trains through the Dart Valley. For the Buckfastleigh starting point use TQ11 0DZ.
Staverton, Totnes, TQ9 6AG. This is a different station from Buckfastleigh; check the timetable for your chosen departure.
///quaking.clubbing.presumesWaterfalls, woodland, lakes and walking trails.
Ancient woodland, boulders and rushing water.
Seasonal opening—check public visiting dates before travelling.
Opening dates and visitor information ↗A full day exploring animals, gardens and play areas across an 80-acre site. Check tickets and current visitor information before setting out.
Plan your zoo visit ↗Buckfast Abbey + South Devon Railway.
English Riviera
Explore the old village and thatched cottages, then wander through the country park towards Cockington Court and its craft studios.
Best for: a leisurely afternoon, crafts, walking and a cream tea.
Kents Cavern for prehistoric caves and a wet-weather outing. Babbacombe for cliff-top views.
City day
Start around Exeter Cathedral and Cathedral Green, explore the historic centre and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM), then wander downhill towards the Quayside.
Eating & drinking
A characterful country inn at Coffinswell and a genuine local favourite. Check opening and book ahead. Telephone: 01803 873192.
Pub food and a daily carvery on Exeter Road, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3NP. Call 01626 365434 to enquire or book.
Menus and booking ↗The village pub on Fore Street, Ideford, TQ13 0AY. Closed on Mondays. Check food-service times before going. Telephone: 01626 852274.
An easy evening
Queen Street offers several choices for a meal back at the barn. Check current opening, collection arrangements and delivery to the property before ordering.
A well-regarded Indian restaurant and takeaway at 120–122 Queen Street, Newton Abbot, TQ12 2EU. Telephone: 01626 331155.
Restaurant and menus ↗Chinese takeaway at 143 Queen Street, TQ12 2BN. Telephone: 01626 337111.
Menu and ordering ↗Indian restaurant and takeaway at 114 Queen Street.
Menu and ordering ↗Pizza and kebabs at 116 Queen Street, TQ12 2EU.
Menu and ordering ↗Wet-weather plan
Kents Cavern. Exeter’s RAMM and Underground Passages. Buckfast Abbey. Newton Abbot for shopping, lunch and the town museum.
Part discount store, part garden centre and part day out, it has somehow become something of a Devon institution.
We’re not entirely sure why. But it has.
A little further afield
Independent shops, cafés, history and the River Dart.
Independent shops, restaurants and wonderful river views. Consider the ferry.
A proper working fishing harbour with plenty of character.
Practical
Groceries and everyday essentials.
Supermarket and fuel.
Supermarket and fuel.
Supermarket shopping.
Chudleigh Pharmacy: 27 Old Exeter Street, Chudleigh, TQ13 0JT. Telephone: 01626 854977.
Newton Abbot station, TQ12 2JE, is the mainline railway option.
From the barn
Two ways to explore nearby. Walking times are approximate and allow for a leisurely pace; add time for stops.
30–45 minutes each way
Follow the marked route from the barn past The Royal Oak and St Mary’s Church. The approach is steep and uneven, with views at the top.
Allow 1–1½ hours for the return walk, plus exploring time. Return the same way. For less of a climb, drive to the common’s car park and explore from there; the line on the map is the walking route.
Woods: 10 minutes to the entrance
Combe Farm: 45–50 minutes each way
Walk down Town Farm Lane to the woods. For a straightforward out-and-back walk, continue along the lane to Combe Farm, turn around and retrace your route.
Allow 1½ hours–1 hour 40 minutes for the return lane walk. A steep hill leads back into Ideford at the very end.
The woods offer an upper path outward towards Ideford Combe and a lower path back. The map shows the approach, not the individual forest paths or the complete lane walk.
On your doorstep
A 39-hectare reserve with heathland, woodland, tracks and views towards Dartmoor.
The village’s traditional local pub. Closed on Mondays. Check food-service times before a special trip.
Until next time
We hope you’ve had a lovely stay at the barn and enjoyed your time in South Devon.
Checkout is by 10am. Before you head off, we’d be grateful if you could:
Thank you for helping us get the barn ready for our next guests.
It’s been a pleasure to welcome you. Have a safe journey home, and we hope to see you again!
Best wishes,
Susanne and Simon