Spotlight on: Dornafield, Devon

Set in the heart of Devon, halfway between Newton Abbot and Totnes, this campsite is as pretty as a picture and as tranquil as can be.

The site offers around 130 fully serviced pitches, and these are spread across several secluded areas that abound with trees and flowers, so it feels private wherever you choose to pitch.

Facilities-wise, there is a well-stocked shop at reception where you can also order bread, croissants and newspapers. Adjacent to this is a handy information room with plenty of leaflets for local attractions and bus timetables. There is also an indoor games room with table tennis, pool and darts. As you’d expect from an award-winning campsite, the bathroom and kitchen facilities are impeccable, and there is a dog exercising area, two children’s play areas and an all-weather tennis court.

A 10-minute walk up the road leads to Two Mile Oak, where there is a pub that serves excellent food and a selection of local ales and ciders. A regular bus service between Newton Abbot and Totnes stops here, too, and I’d recommend a trip into Totnes from where you can take the South Devon Railway steam train to Buckfastleigh. Be sure to buy the combined ticket that gives entry to the lovely Butterfly Farm and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary, and also check out the railway museum and café before leaving.

Dornafield is also perfectly located for exploring further afield in this part of Devon, as Dartmoor National Park and the English Riviera are both on the doorstep. We visited pretty Postbridge, where there’s a thirteenth century clapper bridge and eighteenth century granite bridge right next to it.

Dornafield
Dornafield Farm, Two Mile Oak, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 6DD
01803 812732

This site review first appeared in MMM magazine, July 2018 issue, submitted by Geneve Brand.