The SMALL-FOLK Totnes Guide: Stay

Explore Totnes shops, Devon beaches and the best coffee shops in the South West with the SMALL-FOLK Totnes Guide. In this guide: family-friendly campsites and an award-winning eco hotel on Totnes' highstreet.

As locals when we want somewhere to stay, we tend to hunt out low-key campsites for an easy going staycation. If you are visiting Totnes on your holiday or for a weekend away and don’t fancy sleeping in a tent, there’s a lovely selection of Airbnb homes to choose from, as well as characteristic inns with cosy rooms.

A few doors up from us at SMALL-FOLK, The Bull Inn shares our values on supporting organic, local and sustainable living with their supplier-led, seasonal breakfasts, lunch and dinners for anyone stopping by for the day, or staying overnight in one of their beautiful rooms or extra special self-catered apartment. In need of TLC, the original Bull Inn was taken over by Geetie Singh-Watson in 2019 (who opened the first certified organic pub in the world in 1998 and moved to Devon in 2021 after falling in love with a local farmer). Ever since its reputation for great food, service and a beautiful interior continues to grow; winning them the Times & Sunday Times Best Eco Hotel of the Year 2020 and Best British Hotels 2021.



[Images from: The Bull Inn]


For a more rustic experience, approximately a 15 minute drive from Totnes High Street, Peaceful Meadow Camping in Harbertonford offers a wild-camping experience in a secluded valley with an off-grid vibe that encourages getting back to nature. There’s access to Ashwell brook and bell-tents are available to hire if you don’t own one yourself. As the owners are vegetarian there is an emphasis on veggie eating during your stay.



[Images from: Peaceful Meadow Camping/Pitchup]


A fantastic spot if you want to be a short walk away from the beach and coastal trails is Mount Folly Farm above Bigbury Beach (which is home to the iconic Burgh Island). The site has a glorious sea view with plenty of space to set up camp for a few days. No radios or speakers are allowed to encourage total peace. As the name suggests, the site is positioned on an old farm with facilities such as toilets, cold water washbasins, electric hook ups and pay meter showers. Equipped with a picnic lunch, one of our favourite walking routes here takes you across Bigbury beach, up and around the island to soak up views from all angles of the South West coast path and back down again before sitting on the sand to relax a while. Be sure to check the tide times before you set off as you can only reach Burgh Island by foot at low tide. 



[Images from: Turn Right Out of Portsmouth and South Devon AONB]


We hope you enjoy reading our suggestions. Let us know if you stop by any of our recommendations, you can tag us at @small.folk or #smallfolktotnes.