Town Guide: Moretonhampstead
Sleepy Moretonhampstead is gaining a reputation as an artisan town, with Georgian streets crammed with artists and craftspeople. Here’s our guide to the best things to do and places to eat in Moretonhampstead.
MORETONHAMPSTEAD PUBS, RESTAURANTS AND CAFES
The Horse
You've got to love a place that bills itself as a 'pub and nosebag'. Despite the village location, The Horse is a hip gastropub that wouldn't feel out of place in the big city: it serves simple, well-done food including tapas, mussels, home-cured tuna, chargrilled rib-eye and lots of pizzas.
Cross Street Cafe
The Cross Street Cafe is perfect moorland refuelling stop: olives and local cheeses sit alongside pasties, pies and tempting cakes. It does takeaway hot drinks, too.
MORETONHAMPSTEAD SHOPS
Zero
Thislovely zero-waste shop is crammed with organic produce, including pastas, pulses, grains, granolas, chocolates, herbs, spices and dried fruit – all free of plastic and pesticides. You can buy just what you need for you holiday - the idea is you take your own container – whether it’s a Tupperware, tin can or reusable bag, fill up with food, weigh and pay. They have recyclable brown paper bags if you don’t have you own container. There’s not a plastic bag in sight, nor anything wrapped in the shiny stuff. This is a not-for-profit community project about consuming food and everyday products in a way that doesn’t cost the earth. Visit Zero Waste for more information.
Michael Howard’s
Michael Howard’s is a family-run butchers sells lamb from Sanduct in nearby Lustleigh, beef from Dexter or Belted Galaways, speciality sausages, fish landed in Brixham and meat cuts that you will not be able to find in supermarkets. The delicatessen selection includes Otter Vale chutneys, Midfields Granola, Underdown butter, Sharpham cheeses, Salcombe Dairy ice-cream and Creedy Carver chicken.
The Grocers
Sells fresh fruit and vegetables, along with local produce including organic Challon Farm milk.
BOOK A BREAK
Rent a beautiful thatched holiday cottage near Moretonhampstead, with prices starting at £130.
THINGS TO DO IN MORETONHAMPSTEAD
Green Shoes
With her company listed as one of world’s most ethical shoemakers, Alison Hastie and her small Green Shoes team hand-makes footwear to order, using full-grain leathers and vegan alternatives, in a beautiful chapel. Alison welcomes visitors. Please check her website for opening hours.
Greg Abel at The Forge
One of just a handful of blacksmiths left on Dartmoor, Greg works in a 150-year-old stone forge, where vintage farm and farriers’ tools, made by previous smithies, still hang from the rafters. Greg uses traditional coal in the original hearth rather than gas, which is now more commonly used, while hammer and anvil still his main tools. Greg’s products include gates, railings, fireside sets, weather vanes, rose arches, knives, coat hooks and shoe-scrapers, which he makes for the local community. Greg welcomes drop-ins, but please call beforehand. Greg runs short courses on which you can learn to make a fire poker, toasting fork, letter opener, coat hook or barbecue butler. His website has details.
Yuli Somme at Bellacouche
Bellacouche is the UK’s only remaining maker of burial shrouds, a funereal tradition dating from the 17th century, when law decreed that the dead must be buried in wool. Yuli also makes felt urns for cremated remains, hot-water bottle covers, tea cosies, pillows, seat pads and hats which she sells in her Moretonhampstead studio, which doubles as a Unitarian chapel. Yuli welcomes visitors. Prior arrangement not required. Please check her website for opening hours.
Penny Simpson Ceramics
From her pottery studio in the artisan town of Moretonhampstead, Penny makes earthenware pots inspired by nature, with fish, birds and leaves recurring themes. A keen foodie, Penny first love is creating pottery for cooking and dining such as mugs, jugs, bowls and plates. Penny's pottery is available to buy from her shop, just below her studio. Penny also runs taster potter sessions.
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