Passaford Meadow offers a pretty place to pitch a tent not far off the Devon Coast to Coast cycle route. It’s an ideal place for cyclists and walkers to make a pit stop as though it has a setting in lovely countryside, it’s also just a short distance from the amenities of town. That town is Hatherleigh and it offers a couple of pubs and a cafe for refuelling, as well as a shop for stocking up at before your next adventure. The campsite itself is a sheltered haven for relaxed, back-to-basics camping with simple facilities in the field.
It’s a summer-only site, part of a smallholding looked after by Vicki and Steve. In July and August, they open up an acre for the pitching of tents and have built the things you need for a night or two under canvas. There are a couple of compost loos, a shower, and a washing-up sink. It’s rustic but enough for most of those who venture this way into Devon’s Ruby County. This is the rural hinterland between the north and south coasts. It's typically peaceful and quiet with no noise from busy roads. You might hear a few doggy hellos from neighbours at the nearby kennels but the more frequent soundscape is one provided by birds and bees in the hedgerows that surround the site.
While this place is ideal for campers arriving on foot or by bike, people with cars and small campervans are also welcome as long as they're happy off grid. In fact, if you’re on your way between coastlines or en route further west, the location is very handy. It’s not far off the A-road, which links Bideford on the north coast and Plymouth in the south, and close to another which leads straight to Bude, a half-hour drive away. That’s the obvious choice for a day at the beach but others on both north and south coasts can be reached within an hour. Much closer to site there are typical Devonshire pleasures of wild swimming in a nearby river, walking in countryside and, of course, excellent cycling.
Pitch your own tent in our peaceful countryside meadow, with easy access to walks over Hatherleigh Moor, multiple cycle trails, public transport links and the facilities of the pretty Devon market town of Hatherleigh. You may be lucky enough to spot foxes, deer, slow worms, barn owls and bats onsite.Passaford Meadow is just over a mile south of the market town of Hatherleigh which Sustrans Route 27, the Devon Coast-to-Coast route passes by. It offers excellent fairly easy cycling on a route that stretches 99 miles from Ilfracombe on the north coast to Plymouth in the south. Even if you’re not taking on the whole route, it makes a good option for shorter cycle rides. If you fancy a spot of wild swimming, ask your hosts if the river at the end of the road is deep enough during your visit – otherwise head into Dartmoor. The national park is 10 miles south of the site with plenty of opportunities for wild swimming, walks and road cycling too. The lovely sandy stretch at Bude is a drive of about half an hour away. Westward Ho! Is just over 20 miles (but takes about 45 minutes to drive) and, on the south coast, Exmouth and Dawlish are about an hour’s drive.
Hosts Steve and Vicki might be able to sell you a few eggs for breakfast from their own chickens but for more than that head into Hatherleigh (a mile and a half away). There’s a handy Co-op for supplies if you want to self cater and a few options if you want to eat out. For breakfast or lunch try One Market Street Café and for dinner choose between The George Hotel and the Tally Ho Inn and Brewery.
