Dartmoor-edge market town and former stannary centre, with slate-hung streets and a strong independent food scene.
Ashburton is a small town on the southeastern edge of Dartmoor in Devon, one of the four historic stannary towns where tin was weighed and taxed in the Middle Ages. It sits in a valley where the open moor gives way to green farmland, and it has more character than its size suggests.
The main street is handsome — slate-hung and colour-washed buildings, a few good antique shops, and a handful of independent cafes and restaurants. The town has become something of a foodie destination for its size. The Golden Lion and other pubs serve decent food, and there is a good deli scene.
Ashburton is a practical base for exploring southeastern Dartmoor. Buckland Beacon and the Dart Valley are all close. The River Ashburn runs through town and down to the Dart, where wild swimming spots are popular in summer. Buckfast Abbey, a working Benedictine monastery about two miles north, is worth a visit for the remarkable story of its rebuilding as much as for the building itself. St Andrew's Church at the bottom of the main street is the town's finest medieval building. Holne Bridge, a medieval crossing of the Dart, is an easy excursion and a fine starting point for walking in the valley.
Guide
Eating Out in Ashburton
Ashburton has an unusually strong food scene for its size, partly because it attracts a second-home crowd from Exeter and Plymouth who expect good cooking, and partly because the town has resisted the chain invasion that has hollowed out similar market towns.
The town has become known for its independent restaurants and delis. The Golden Lion on East Street is the most reliable pub for food. Several smaller restaurants and cafes along the main street serve everything from wood-fired pizza to proper cream teas. The local farms supply good meat, and you'll find proper Devon clotted cream and local cheese in the deli shops.
On Fridays a small farmers' market runs near the town hall — a good source of local produce if you're self-catering from a nearby holiday cottage.
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Getting There
Ashburton is on the A38 dual carriageway, about 20 minutes from Exeter and 25 minutes from Plymouth by car. There is parking in the town centre.
By public transport, the town is not well served. The nearest rail station is Totnes (about 7 miles away), from which a taxi or infrequent bus can be arranged. Newton Abbot station (10 miles) also has connecting buses. Most visitors arrive by car and use Ashburton as a base for driving into Dartmoor.
