Discover North Tawton

North Tawton combines the landscape along the River Taw with an unusually rich local history. The Tarka Trail runs through the town and offers both long active days and shorter impressions along the river. There is also a significant parish church, Roman remains, memorial sites, arts activities and regional specialities. Anyone looking for a holiday cottage in North Tawton can therefore tailor their stay to their preferred pace of travel: with outdoor activity in the countryside, cultural discoveries in the town or enjoyable stops along the way.

Out and about on the Tarka Trail

The Tarka Trail is 180 miles long in total and passes through North Tawton. On the section in the town, the route follows the River Taw for more than a mile. A footbridge over Bailey's Ford provides close-up views of the river. When planning your day, it is important to note that the path conditions vary: they range from asphalt and country roads to muddy footpaths and grassy areas. This makes the route a varied option for walks and bike rides, allowing you to choose the particular route and ground conditions to suit your own outing.

North Tawton Footpath 8 is subject to a temporary closure order until Tuesday, 5 January 2027, or until the work is completed, whichever comes first. You should take this time restriction into account when planning a day of walking.

Church, Roman history and literary connections

The listed St Peter's Church is a Grade I parish church. Its tower, the oldest part of the building, dates from the 13th century. Inside, late-medieval carved choir stalls or bench ends have been preserved, including one bearing the coat of arms of the Champernowne family. The only surviving medieval glass is located in the upper part of the central north window and depicts angels with coats of arms. The oak-shingle roof is also one of the noteworthy details. At the entrance stands a late-19th-century gatehouse, listed at Grade II, which retains chamfered and stopped timber beams and trefoil motifs on the gable finials.

On the eastern bank of the River Taw near North Tawton lies a scheduled Roman monument with two forts and two marching camps. A Roman road runs east to west immediately north of the fort. In the town itself, the Grade II-listed Town Hall from 1849 commemorates its civic history. The North Tawton War Memorial is a Grade II-listed granite obelisk that was unveiled in 1921 and moved to the cemetery on Exeter Street in 1948.

The poet Ted Hughes is also closely associated with North Tawton: he moved here in 1961, and the town remained his home until his death. A plaque commemorating his life in North Tawton was unveiled in April 2011 on the wall of the Town Council Office. Those interested in local history, architecture and literature will find several different points of connection here, without having to reduce the town to just one historical theme.

Active and enjoyable holiday days

For families with children, Frank Henson Gibbings Memorial Park offers play equipment for different age groups, a MUGA, a pump track for bicycles and scooters, and an area for playing football. The Ruth Smith Gallery is an art gallery in North Tawton and offers art classes. North Tawton Bowling Club combines outdoor lawn bowls with indoor short-mat bowling, adding another leisure activity to the selection.

The town also has its own culinary destinations. Barzotelli Gelato makes freshly handmade gelato using products from local dairy farms. North Tawton is also home to a cheese shop run by Arla Foods Taw Valley Creamery. Brewery tours at Taw Valley Brewery can be booked on request. North Tawton's events calendar lists food festivals and markets featuring local produce. C. H. Jones & Son is a fifth-generation family-run business with a history dating back to 1899; award-winning cheeses have been produced since 1974. The historic woollen mill is also part of the town's history: serge has been produced there since very early times.

Choose North Tawton as your base

Free parking is available for visitors, including a car park at Memorial Park and a larger car park opposite the historic Town Hall. North Tawton lies just off the A3072 and is accessible by public transport via local bus routes. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether the focus should be on the Tarka Trail, historic landmarks, family-oriented leisure activities or regional specialities. The town's location makes it possible to incorporate these different interests into your travel plans without limiting your stay to a single activity.

Discover more places

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to North Tawton, you can also view Bere Alston, Bishop's Tawton, Chudleigh, Stoke Canon, Rackenford, Upottery, South Brent and Combe Martin in the location overview.

For the higher-level travel overview: Devon.