About rural Devon

Devon is one of the most rural and topographically varied counties in England — from the high tors of Dartmoor to the thatched villages of the South Hams, from Exmoor’s rugged uplands to fertile river valleys and hidden coves. Its countryside is not only scenic but deeply lived-in, shaped by centuries of farming and settlement.

Devon’s farming is diverse. Upland areas — Dartmoor and Exmoor — support hardy sheep and native cattle, with farms often scattered and exposed to the elements. In contrast, the red soils of mid-Devon support productive arable farming, and the south is rich in market gardening, dairy, and mixed livestock.

Villages like Chagford, Cheriton Fitzpaine, and Widecombe-in-the-Moor remain rural strongholds, with working farms, active pubs, and long-standing traditions. The county’s field boundaries are often thick Devon banks — earth mounds topped with hedgerows — and many of its lanes are sunken, a sign of their ancient use.

Devon’s rural life is also tied to its food culture, with local cheeses, cider, and beef widely celebrated. Conservation, smallholdings, and regenerative agriculture are expanding too.

Devon’s countryside is as varied as its geology — but everywhere, it’s deeply tied to the land and those who work it.