Totnes

Totnes is a market town in the English Riviera and South Devon region of Devon. The village of Dartington is just outside Totnes, as is Dartington Hall.

Understand

The Dartington Hall Estate was purchased Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst in 1925. They wanted to create an "experimental" estate with forestry, farming and educational projects. This led to the opening of a school, a tweed mill, sawmills, a cider company and the famous Dartington glass works.

The school, which has now closed, used novel methods, similar to those used by A.S. Neill at Summerhill . Aldous Huxley's children went to Dartington Hall, some of the educational methods in his novel Island are based on the Dartington School.

Get in

By train

• 1 Totnes railway station. has trains from London Paddington via Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance. Trains are run by Great Western and Crosscountry. (updated Mar 2017)

See

Market square, with the Butterwalk across High street in the background.

There is a market every Friday and Saturday, an Elizabethan market on Tuesdays (with the sellers dressed in period costume) and a monthly gourmet food market.

• Fore Street and High Street, both lined with Tudor period buildings.
• 1 Totnes Castle, Castle Street, TQ9 5NU, ☏ +44 1803 864406. Situated on a promontory, commanding the River Dart, Totnes Castle was built by the Normans at a point where three valleys meet. Despite little remaining of the original motte and bailey castle, other than the earthworks, the stone enclosure of Totnes Castle's keep, built at the summit of the motte, has survived to the extent of being one of the best preserved in England. adults £3.60, children £2.20, concessions £3.20.  
• 2 Berry Pomeroy Castle, Berry Pomery, TQ9 6LJ (2 miles east of Totnes), ☏ +44 1803 866618. adults £4.90, children £2.90, concessions £4.40.  
• 3 Totnes Information Centre, The Town Mill, Coronation Road, TQ9 5DF, ☏ +44 1803 863168, enquire@totnesinformation.co.uk. Run by Totnes Town Council, Totnes Information Centre represents a good starting place for visitors to the town. (updated Dec 2015)
• 4 Dartington Hall Estate, Dartington Hall TQ9 6EE. Extensive grounds and gardens of the former school. (updated Apr 2021)

Do

• 1 South Devon Railway. Daily Apr - Oct + some other days. 4+ trains per day. 7 mile steam railway to Buckfastleigh. £12.40 return.  
• DartingtonARTS. Theatre, dance and music performances 
• Dartington International Summer School of music. 

Buy

• Dartington Crystal. a famous glassworks 
• 1 Cider Press Centre, Shinner's Bridge, Dartington, TQ9 6EL. a group of shops. (updated Sep 2023)
• 2 Drift Records, 103 High St. Family owned and operated record store. (updated Jan 2024)

Eat

• Barrell House (Top of town, corner of castle street and high street). 
• 1 The Cott Inn, Cott Ln, Dartington, TQ9 6HE, ☏ +44 1803 863 777, info@cottinn.co.uk. (updated May 2021)
• 2 Roundhouse Cafe, Lower Drive, Dartington Hall, Dartington, TQ9 6EN. 
• 3 Taguchi-Ya, 12 Ticklemore St. Cosy Japanese restaurant with eat-in or takeaway. (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 The Curator Cafe, 2 The Plains. (updated Jan 2024)
• 5 The Hairy Barista, 82 High St. Café with a plant based menu and outdoor garden (updated Oct 2024)

Drink

• 6 Sandridge Barton, Waddeton Road, Stoke Gabriel, TQ9 6RL (5 miles from Totnes). Mar-Dec 10AM-4PM. is a vineyard on the River Dart, tours available. tasting from £12 vineyard safari £45. (updated Sep 2023)

Sleep

• 1 Steam Packet Inn, St Peter's Quay, ☏ +44 1803 863880.  
• 2 The Bull Inn, 102 High St, Rotherfold TQ9 5SN, ☏ +44 1803 640040. Lively inn and bistro with rooms, dog-friendly. B&B double £120. (updated May 2021)
• 3 The Old Forge, Seymour Place, TQ9 5AY. 10 bedroom bed and breakfast in a 600 year old stone building, with private garden. from £115. (updated Oct 2024)
• 4 Royal Seven Stars Hotel, The Plains, TQ9 5DD. (updated Oct 2024)

Connect

As of Sept 2023, Totnes and its approach roads have 4G from O2 and Vodafone, and 5G from EE and Three.

Go next

• Dartmouth
• Kingsbridge
• Salcombe