All about Cleave Farm

Cleave Farm is known to have existed since the Domesday book, but it was plans for the future that drew the Hugheses to the area. To them, it seemed the perfect place to bring up a family and fulfilled many of their own childhood fantasies of freedom and adventure amongst nature. They loved Totnes as a place to hang out and wanted to have access to the beaches for sailing, surfing and the occasional caffé latté. Although it feels initially like the middle of nowhere, it's actually in easy reach of many of the lovely towns in the area; Totnes, Dartmouth, Modbury, Salcombe and Kingsbridge and also just a short dr

ive to the A 38, with access to Exeter and Plymouth for their other jobs.

How do you like them apples?

Local produce abounds in the area around Cleave Farm with a wealth of growers, farmers and, most importantly, cider makers. While Jane & Will are looking to press their own soon, there is no shortage of people nearby to make use of the orchard's bounty.

Getting there

Cleave Farm, Butterwells, Morleigh, Totnes, TQ9 7JS

By train

There are direct train services from Paddington to Totnes in 2hrs 45, from Bristol in 1hr 30, and from Birmingham in 3 hours.
A taxi from the station will cost around £20. If you do travel by train, make sure you bring enough food for your stay, as the nearest shop is not very near, and the welcome hamper is meant to supplement rather than sustain!

By car

You can take the scenic route through Totnes to give yourself a picture of the area, but in the summer this can be gridlocked in all directions at certain times of the day. A more direct route from the Exeter direction is to continue on the A38 towards Plymouth until you see the exit for Ivybridge Park & Ride/ Loddiswell/Ugborough. Take this exit and then turn left at the T-junction. Follow this road until you reach the BP garage and California Inn. Take the left before the garage signposted to Moreleigh. Go over Gara Bridge, a tiny humpback bridge, up a steep hill and on the left there is a blue sign for the Newhouse Trout Farm. Take this left onto a single track lane. This leads to Cleave Farm, but you need to keep driving until you see the farmhouse and barns.
When you arrive, you can park your car near the house and then it is a short walk along a green lane to the orchard, where you will find Pippin the Gypsy caravan.

Things to do

Things to do on the farm

Life on the farm is best enjoyed slowly. You might like to spend some time collecting your own firewood to stoke up the log burner, or foraging for wild fruits to eat. There are hundreds of acres of ancient land to explore, with plenty of picnic spots and viewpoints.

Children can explore – lots of space to run around in and animals to say hello to, including peacocks and two young ponies.

Guests can help out on the farm: feeding the animals, collecting the chicken’s eggs, or you can even turn your hand to herding the sheep and cattle!

In the local area

Outdoor & active

Try your hand at letterboxing – a uniquely Devonian (the place not the era) mix between orienteering and a treasure hunt.

Plenty of beaches to choose from to suit whatever you’re after: beautiful Hope Cove, surfers’ paradise Bantham, or unique Bigbury, with its sea tractor across to Burgh Island.

There are riding stables for trekking and hacking on Dartmoor, ask Jane or Will for details.

The local environment provides hours of hiking opportunities, whether across the wilds of Dartmoor or along the many coastal trails, which link with the South West Coast Path.

Bike hire is available in Ivybridge, gateway to Dartmoor.

Take a crash course in surfing, diving or other watersports on the coast.

Take a boat along the River Dart… or join in an organised canoe adventure and paddle yourself down the river instead.

Hire a boat at Salcombe and explore the estuary, looking out for seals.

Places to visit

Totnes

You're not too far from civilisation: the medieval towns of Totnes and Dartmouth have many attractions.

Blackdown Rings: an Iron Age fort just down the valley, a great spot to take a picnic.

Eating & drinking

Eating & drinking at Cleave Farm

Jane will provide a welcome hamper of local foods, including eggs from Olive and Starbucks, the farm’s two free-range chickens, and meat from local producers.

Apples from the farm’s own orchard are pressed into cider or juice.

You can pre-order a hamper from local veg/meat box suppliers so you have a selection of fresh food ready and waiting to be cooked over the open fire.

Nearby Harbentonford has a village shop and post office, perfect for buying essential supplies including freshly-baked bread.

For a more substantial array of food, the local towns each have a range of independent shops and delis, plus a wide selection of pubs, restaurants, cafes and traditional tearooms.

Pubs & restaurants

Pilchard Inn

New Inn, Morleigh (2.5 miles). Work up an appetite (or walk off your meal!) with a stroll to the village pub, renowned locally for its steaks.

Pilchard Inn, Burgh Island (11 miles). It’s worth making the trip to Bigbury beach and then taking the sea tractor across to Burgh Island, where this unique pub is completely cut off from the mainland at high tide.

All about Cleave Farm

Cleave Farm is known to have existed since the Domesday book, but it was plans for the future that drew the Hugheses to the area. To them, it seemed the perfect place to bring up a family and fulfilled many of their own childhood fantasies of freedom and adventure amongst nature. They loved Totnes as a place to hang out and wanted to have access to the beaches for sailing, surfing and the occasional caffé latté. Although it feels initially like the middle of nowhere, it's actually in easy reach of many of the lovely towns in the area; Totnes, Dartmouth, Modbury, Salcombe and Kingsbridge and also just a short dr

ive to the A 38, with access to Exeter and Plymouth for their other jobs.

How do you like them apples?

Local produce abounds in the area around Cleave Farm with a wealth of growers, farmers and, most importantly, cider makers. While Jane & Will are looking to press their own soon, there is no shortage of people nearby to make use of the orchard's bounty.