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Voykit pocket guide · United Kingdom
Ashburton
Visit Ashburton for a half‑day to a full day; no need to stay overnight unless you want a quiet base in Dartmoor.
Ashburton is the largest settlement inside Dartmoor National Park, offering a historic centre, a few pubs and eateries, and easy bus links to nearby towns. It works as a brief stop on a Dartmoor itinerary or a relaxed one‑night stay for walkers.
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (wet, short days); check for snow on the moor
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- GBP
- Money
- Currency is the pound sterling (GBP, £). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; some places are card-only.
- Daily spend
- Budget £45–60 excl. bed · Mid £70–100 excl. bed · High £120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- EE, Vodafone (merged with Three in 2025) and O2 run the networks; prepaid SIMs sell in supermarkets, phone shops and airport vending machines, no registration needed.
- Emergency
- Police / Ambulance / Fire 999 · Non‑urgent police 101
- Plugs
- Types G · 230 V · 50 Hz · Three-pin Type G only; European, US and Australian plugs need an adapter. Bathrooms have two-pin shaver sockets only.
- Tipping
- Restaurant with table service: 10–12.5% if no service charge is on the bill; check before adding more.; Pub or bar: Not expected; 'and one for yourself' offers the bartender a drink.; Taxi: Round up or 10%.; Hotel porter: £1–2 per bag.; Tour guide: £5–10 per person for a day tour; free walking tours expect £10–15.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere. Free refills are common; restaurants will bring tap water if you ask.
- Toilets
- Public toilets are scarce and some charge 50p–£1 or are card-only. Stations, museums, department stores and pubs (if you buy a drink) are the fallback.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | £2–£3 |
| Fish and chips (The Red Mullet) | £8–£12 |
| Pub pint | £3–£4 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | £12–£15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- EXT · Exeter Airport
- about 20 mi (≈30 min) by car
Typical fares
- Bus 88 Ashburton ↔ Totnes
- about £6 return (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Bus 88 runs between Totnes and Newton Abbot and stops in Ashburton; most visitors walk the compact centre. Car gives access to surrounding moorland.
See and do
Known for
- gateway to Dartmoor National Park
- historic St Peters Church clock
- local pubs and cafés
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Princetown | A3357 west, about 14 mi, 25‑min drive or 45‑min bus | ≈45 min |
| Buckfastleigh | A3352 south‑west, 4 mi, 10‑min drive or 20‑min bus | ≈20 min |
| Exeter | A38 north‑east, 20 mi, 30‑min drive; regular train from nearby Newton Abbot | ≈45 min |
Sleep
- Lavender House Hotel
- Boutique hotel in town centre; good for a single night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Sorrysɒri |
| Thank you | Thank youθæŋk juː |
| How much is it? | How much is it?haʊ mʌtʃ ɪz ɪt? |
| Where is the toilet? | Where is the toilet?wɛə ɪz ðə ˈtɔɪlət? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake at first meeting; 'hi' and first names quickly; avoid: Cheek kisses with strangers
- Conversation: Weather is a safe opener; understatement and self-deprecating humour; avoid: Asking about salary or class
- Queues: Join at the back; avoid: Pushing onto buses or trains before others get off
- Apologies: 'Sorry' is said constantly, even when not at fault; avoid: Taking it as an admission of blame
- Pubs: Buy rounds in a group; wait at the bar without waving money; avoid: Clicking fingers at staff
- Nations: Call Scots Scottish and Welsh Welsh; avoid: Calling the whole UK 'England'
Scams and watch-outs
- Evening buses are limited: check the 88 timetable for the last return.
- St Peters Church clock at Buckland-in-the-Moor has no posted opening hours: check before going.
Ashburton is low‑risk; typical UK small‑town safety, watch for narrow country roads and limited evening transport.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Ashburton yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- gateway to Dartmoor National Park
- historic St Peters Church clock
- local pubs and cafés
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Ashburton, revision 5301939 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5301939
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/ashburton). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.