Discover Ashprington

Ashprington lies above the Dart Estuary, where Bow Creek flows into the River Dart. It is important to distinguish between the village and the parish for geographical context: Ashprington Parish is bounded to the east by the River Dart. The village developed as an estate settlement for Sharpham House. Ashprington thus brings together settlement history, historic buildings and the riverside landscape. If you are looking for a hotel in Ashprington, these themes can help structure your itinerary: village history, architecture on the Sharpham Estate or paths along the Dart offer different points of interest.

Churches, manor house and historic buildings

The tower of St David’s Church dates from the late 13th century. The Church of St David also contains an intricately decorated 12th-century sandstone font and a marble wall memorial to John Kelland of Painsford and his wife Susanna. The font and memorial tell, in different ways, of the furnishings and the memories associated with the church.

At Painsford Manor, architectural history meets the present condition of the remains: the manor probably dates from the late 16th or early 17th century. To its northeast are the roofless remains of a chapel, which is listed as a Grade II building. The chapel was rebuilt in 1683. Tuckenhay tells a different architectural story: its listed paper mill dates from 1889. Tuckenhay Bridge probably dates back to the 17th century and was widened in the early to mid-19th century. The dated examples of architecture thus span older bridge and chapel buildings through to an industrial building from the late 19th century.

Sharpham House and the landscape along the Dart

Sharpham House stands on the west bank of the River Dart. Sir Robert Taylor built the country house around 1770 for Captain Philemon Pownall. The grounds include formal terraces dating from the mid-20th century and 19th-century pleasure grounds. Their different dates of origin give the garden landscape several historical associations rather than reducing it to a single period. From the grounds of Sharpham House, the view stretches far north up the River Dart towards Totnes. The house, gardens and river have a specific spatial relationship here; the stated direction of the view follows the Dart northwards.

Walking routes and cycling trips

A signposted walking and cycling route connects the village of Ashprington with the Sharpham Estate. This is distinct from the cycling route from Ashprington along the River Dart to Totnes: the two descriptions name different destinations and should not be combined into a single route when planning. Local conditions can vary. Check the current route and accessibility before travelling, particularly if you intend to use the signposted route.

Ash Meadow and events throughout the year

Ash Meadow is home to a community orchard with old apple varieties from the West Country. The site also hosts family-friendly events throughout the year. These include a traditional winter wassail and a summer village fair with a picnic; individual dates may change. Checking the specific event dates can therefore help with travel planning.

For 2026, the programme at the Sharpham Estate included participatory workshops on nature connection and mindfulness in spring, summer and autumn. This offering differs in timing from the recurring events at Ash Meadow. If you would like to include a workshop in your trip, check the current programme in advance. This helps you plan your stay around the dates actually scheduled, without confusing the different event locations and times of year.

Discover more destinations: Kenton, Washfield, Bradninch, Dunkeswell, Chudleigh, Harberton, Bratton Fleming, Holne

For the wider travel overview: Devon.