It seems odd that you can camp somewhere so beautifully rural and agricultural yet still, really, be just on the outskirts of a city. Just two miles from Exeter city centre and its mighty cathedral, West Town Farm pulls off this impressive feat. And it's not just a farm. It's a lusciously green, organic space, tucked amid the hedgerows of the Fordland Valley. Come here and you'll find a place to camp, a place to explore and, also, a place to learn, with an on-site education centre and an enthusiastic farmer ready to show you what it's all about.
Pocketed within the 270 acres of organic land, the off-grid campsite is based in one of the farms most accessible fields, at the foot of a slope between Chillies Copse, full of old oaks and bluebells, and the gentle path of Fordland Brook, ideal for kids wanting to build stick dens or dip their toes in the cool water of the stream. Facilities are simple and eco-friendly – there are composting loos – while an onsite farm shop is packed with organic produce, including pasture-fed meat from the farm and organic veg.
With pigs, cattle and sheep, West Town is very much a working farm but, for farmer Andy and his team, this also means being custodians of the land and working in a way that supports local wildlife, providing habitats for various animals, including voles and owls. The farm is part of the environmental stewardships initiative and, along with welcoming local primary school children for tours and educational visits, there's also a farm trail with interpretation boards that campers can explore. They also hosts a range of events throughout the summer, including dining events, as well as pumpkin picking, so make sure to time your stays accordingly if there's an event that takes your fancy,
however there will be a mobile sauna and takeaway food in the campsite on selected dates.
With so much to do on the farm itself, you might not initially feel inclined to leave but glance at a map and you'll soon be reminded why you travelled to this corner of South Devon. Dartmoor is just a 20-minute drive away, Exeter is on your doorstep and it's 25 minute's to the beaches of Exmouth, Budleigh Salterton and Dawlish Warren.