It's celebrated for its extensive food and drink offering, but this thriving Dartmoor town has plenty more to offer visitors, writes Chrissy Harris
After weeks spent thinking about others and being fully embedded in the season of goodwill, now’s the time to think about yourself for a change.
This is a good frame of mind to be in when you visit Ashburton - the ideal place to indulge in a bit of much deserved you-time.
The creative little town on the southern edge of Dartmoor is home to loads of quirky independent shops, crammed with antiques, curios and collectables. You can easily while away a morning, just browsing interesting and pretty things before taking a well-earned rest in one of the many cafes or restaurants up and down the historic streets of the ancient stannary town.
Local produce reigns supreme, with a mouth-watering range of artisan bread, hand-dived scallops, homemade soup, treacle tarts, pasties and more, all within a few paces of each other. Arriving here hungry can be problematic for many reasons, not least because one type of lunch just doesn’t seem quite enough.
Ashburton is also a feast for the eyes. Make sure you get a good look at the handsome architecture, including the Grade II-listed Town Hall and the houses up and down North Street. Even the town’s Co-op store comes with an historic ‘slate-hung’ Georgian building.
You can’t hog the pavement for too long, however. It’s busy here - much more than it ever used to be, and in a good way. There was a tumbleweed time when it felt like there wasn’t quite enough happening, but Ashburton is a lively place to be these days, largely thanks to its pro-active and close-knit community. It’s a great place for families and outdoorsy types, especially being so close to the moors. Visitors have plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling, pony trekking, kayaking, fishing and more. In town, there’s a skatepark and a seasonal heated outdoor swimming pool, run by the local community.
The locals say Ashburton is a ‘town for all reasons’. Treating yourself is as good as any to pay a visit.
FOOD & DRINK
Make yourself part of the thriving food scene by sampling as many of Ashburton’s delicious delights as possible. The Fish Deli (East Street) is a bit of an institution here and don’t miss Ashburton Delicatessen (North Street).
Rafikis (St. Lawrence Lane) is a vegan and veggie café and bar, serving all day brunch, lunch specials, cakes and more.
Coljan (West Street) is a café by day and a wine bar and restaurant in the evening, serving dishes made from local ingredients, all at affordable prices.
The cheerful Café Latino (North Street) brings some South American sunshine to southern Dartmoor. They do speciality coffees and teas, homemade hot chocolate, cakes, sandwiches and snacks. Once a month they host ‘Noche Borracha’ (drunken night) with cocktails and drinks from South America. The Old Library (North Street) does great brunch and lunch and the occasional dinner club every month.
You can even make your own meals in this town by booking in to the delightful and well-respected Ashburton Cookery School (Old Exeter Road).
WHERE TO STAY
Not masses of choice, but there are some incredible Airbnbs, including The Hayloft (Western Road) a boutique-style, self-contained studio for two, with kitchen, shower room, bath, living room snug and double bed, plus a woodburning stove in winter and secluded terrace in summer.
There’s also the Garden Flat (nr Cooks Close). This cosy place is part of a listed building within easy walking distance of Ashburton Cookery School.
Gages Mill Country Guest House (Buckfastleigh Road) is just a few minutes’ walk from town.
Another good base is the Dartmoor Lodge at Peartree Cross, just off the A38. They’re well used to hosting walkers, cyclists, canoeists and their dogs here and pride themselves on their ‘home from home’ atmosphere.
Out of town, the Ilsington Country House Hotel and Spa is real treat. Guests here can enjoy spa treatments, a dip in the hydrotherapy pool or a session in the sauna or steam room.
MORE TO DO
The Bull Ring
The centre of town is known as ‘The Bull Ring’. Fences used to be placed along the pavement and cattle would be gathered in the centre for sale.
Festival fun
The town’s Tinner's Moon Festival takes place in Ashburton in the spring, with music and performances. The Ashburton Food and Drink Festival is another huge draw. Held in autumn, it attracts hundreds of people, as well as some of Devon’s top chefs and food producers. Another key event is the traditional annual ale tasting and bread weighing ceremony in the summer.
Heritage stop
The small but perfectly formed Ashburton History Museum (once a brush factory and later a hair salon) tells the town’s story through a lively collection of artefacts, pictures and displays. Admission is free.
