Dittisham | South Devon Village Guide
Dittisham, or ‘Ditsum’ to locals, is a picturesque riverside village nestled on the west bank of the River Dart....
Chillington is located a little over five miles from Kingsbridge, 11 miles from Dartmouth, and just two miles from the sea at Torcross. It’s quite a large village compared with most others in the area, with a population at the last Census of 877, but this has probably increased by 100-200 with the addition of new houses in the intervening years.
Its permanent population means Chillington can sustain lots of practical services like a village health centre and a mobile library, as well as thriving pub and excellent local shop.
The Bear and Blacksmith was taken over by new management in 2013 and was completely remodelled in 2016. It’s an unusually contemporary village pub in terms of its décor, looking more like a stylish coffee shop or modern lounge bar, but retains a cosy, comfortable feel. It’s popular with villagers as well as those passing through on the A379.
You can pop into the Bear and Blacksmith in the morning (from 10 am) for coffee and cake. Lunch is served between from 12 noon and 2 pm, and food is served in the new restaurant area between 6 pm and 9 pm. The Bear and Blacksmith is closed on Mondays.
In the centre of the village on the A379 you will quite clearly see the Chillington Post Office and Shop, with its traditional frontage and impressive range of stock and services. The latter even includes dry cleaning.
Chillington Village Hall is well-used by the community, with Pilates, dance classes, bridge and circuit training amongst the regular sessions. If you’d like to hire the hall for a party, visit the Chillington community website for further details.
Chillington Village Hall is next to a large playing field with a football pitch. It’s a little way off from the main road, making it feel nice and secluded.
Being a long, narrow village, you’re never far from an enticing lane or open field when you’re in Chillington. There are numerous walks to enjoy, including this hike which takes in Chillington, Torcross and Stokenham.
Chillington’s location is part of its attraction, so let’s look at what you can find nearby.
The village of Frogmore, located by picturesque Frogmore Creek is just 1.5 miles west from Chillington on the A379. Frogmore is home to @The Bakery, a café and (you guessed it!) bakery that pulls regulars in from all over the South Hams, such is the reputation of its homemade goodies!
Stokenham, around a mile away, is home to two excellent gastropubs.
Two miles east of Chillington is Stokeley Farm Shop, with its garden centre and ever-popular café, which we featured in our recent #WakeUpToSouthDevon video.
Home to three popular eateries (one pub, one restaurant and one café), Torcross is a historic coastal village at the southern tip of Slapton Sands. Just a little over two miles from Chillington, it’s a great place to head for a day of family fun at the beach. Half a mile to the north of this three-mile fine shingle bay you’ll come to Blue Flag-awarded Blackpool Sands.
Separated by a narrow bar from the sea, Slapton Ley Nature Reserve is one of the largest freshwater lakes in southern England. Bird-watchers and other nature-spotters flock here for the wonderful variety of wildlife that makes its home at various times of the year here.
Even for those of us without encyclopaedic knowledge of our flora and fauna, the Ley makes for a nice circular walk, as you can walk along Slapton Sands from Torcross, before crossing the road and making your way back through the sheltered nature reserve.
Chillington is located conveniently on the A379 for the pretty market town of Kingsbridge and the historic port of Dartmouth. In both places you can browse an array of individual shops, choose from various pubs, cafés and restaurants and soak up the friendly atmosphere.
Within a few miles in either direction of Chillington, Coast & Country Cottages offers a wide range of luxurious holiday properties. Browse our full range of South Devon holiday homes here and if you can’t find what you are looking for, be sure to speak to our friendly team of travel experts who will happily help with your search.
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