Townapedia
Chagford's famous ironmongery stores, Webbers and Bowdens
Chagford's famous ironmongery stores, Webbers and Bowdens · Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, CC BY 2.0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 58
Chagford (2022-08-25) 58 · Simon Cobb, CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 62
Chagford (2022-08-25) 62 · Simon Cobb, CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 61
Chagford (2022-08-25) 61 · Simon Cobb, CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 59
Chagford (2022-08-25) 59 · Simon Cobb, CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 60
Chagford (2022-08-25) 60 · Simon Cobb, CC0

Chagford, United Kingdom

Chagford is a town of 1,020 people in England, United Kingdom.

Plan a trip
Loading the weather...
Population1,020 GeoNames
RegionEngland
Elevation574 ft 175 m
Time zoneEurope/London
Land area11.7 sq mi 87 people per sq mi
Nearest airportExeter Airport (EXT) 19 mi
Advertisement

Why visit Chagford

Townapedia lists 28 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 14 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 13 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Fingle Bridge, Butterdon Hill, Castle Drogo and Spinsters' Rock.

About Chagford

Chagford is a market town and civil parish on the north-east edge of Dartmoor, in Devon, England, close to the River Teign and the A382, 4 miles (6 km) west of Moretonhampstead. The name is derived from chag, meaning gorse or broom, and the ford suffix indicates its importance as a crossing place. At the 2021 census, it had a population of 1,539, which was slightly more than the 1,449 recorded at the 2011 census.

From the Wikipedia article Chagford (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Travel tips from other travellers: Chagford on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Photos of Chagford

Chagford (2022-08-25) 63
CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 57
CC0
Chagford (2022-08-25) 56
CC0

Things to do13

Fingle BridgeCC0

Fingle Bridge

Bridge · 2.9 mi

Bridge in Devon, England, UK

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Butterdon HillCC BY-SA 4.0

Butterdon Hill

Scenic view · 3.1 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Gidleigh TorCC BY-SA 3.0

Gidleigh Tor

Scenic view · 1.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

Scorhill TorCC BY-SA 4.0

Scorhill Tor

Scenic view · 2.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Shilstone TorCC BY-SA 3.0

Shilstone Tor

Scenic view · 3.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Buttern Hill

Scenic view · 3.0 mi

Open in Google Maps

Cranbrook Down

Scenic view · 2.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Hunters Tor

Scenic view · 1.7 mi

Open in Google Maps

Kestor Rocks

Scenic view · 2.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Meldon Hill

Scenic view · 1.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Middle Tor

Scenic view · 2.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

Sharp Tor

Scenic view · 2.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

1 more on the map.

Museums and landmarks28

Castle DrogoCC BY 3.0

Castle Drogo

Monument and historic site · 1.9 mi

Country house in the form of a castle near Drewsteignton, Devon, England, UK

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +44 1647 433306

Spinsters' RockCC BY-SA 4.0

Spinsters' Rock

Monument and historic site · 1.9 mi

Dolmen in England

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Grey WethersCC BY-SA 4.0

Grey Wethers

Monument and historic site · 4.8 mi

Prehistoric stone circles in Dartmoor

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

GrimspoundCC BY-SA 4.0

Grimspound

Monument and historic site · 4.3 mi

Archaeological site in Manaton, Teignbridge, Devon, England, UK

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

ScorhillCC BY-SA 4.0

Scorhill

Monument and historic site · 2.9 mi

Stone circle in Dartmoor

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Shovel Down

Monument and historic site · 3.1 mi

Area in Dartmoor

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Gidleigh Castle

Monument and historic site · 2.0 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Kes Tor Round Pound

Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Meacombe burial chamber

Monument and historic site · 1.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Rushford Tower

Monument and historic site · 0.8 mi

Open in Google Maps

Scorhill Stone Circle

Monument and historic site · 2.9 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Shovel Down Stone

Monument and historic site · 2.8 mi

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

16 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds2

Miniature Pony Centre

Park · 2.1 mi

Permanently closed English farm tourist attraction

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia · +44 1647 432400

Bovey Castle Golf Course

Golf course · 2.6 mi

18 hole Par 70

Open in Google Maps · +44 844 474 0078

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes14

Fingle Bridge InnCC0

Fingle Bridge Inn

Bar and pub · 2.9 mi

Fingle Bridge, Exeter

Open in Google Maps · +44 1647 281287

The Drewe ArmsCC0

The Drewe Arms

Bar and pub · 2.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

The Post InnCC BY-SA 4.0

The Post Inn

Bar and pub · 3.0 mi

Exeter Road, Okehampton

Open in Google Maps

Chagford InnCC0

Chagford Inn

Bar and pub

Open in Google Maps

Sandy Park InnCC BY-SA 4.0

Sandy Park Inn

Bar and pub · 1.3 mi

Open in Google Maps

The Old InnCC0

The Old Inn

Restaurant · 2.9 mi

Open in Google Maps

Ring O' Bells

Bar and pub

44 The Square

Open in Google Maps

Northmore Arms

Bar and pub · 2.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

The Café at Castle Drogo

Cafe · 2.1 mi

Open in Google Maps

Ellis Bakery

Bakery

11 The Square

Open in Google Maps

The Birdcage

Cafe

11 The Square

Open in Google Maps

22 Mill St

Restaurant

Open in Google Maps

2 more on the map.

History

Archaeological remains confirm that a community has existed here for at least 4000 years. In historical times, Chagford grew due to the wool trade and from tin mining in the area. A weekly market was held here from before 1220, and a monthly livestock market in the town survived until the 1980s. In 1305 it was made a stannary town where tin was traded. Among the most prominent tin-mining families in the 16th century were the Endecotts, Knapmans, Whiddons and Lethbridges.

In an English Civil War skirmish Sidney Godolphin, the poet and Royalist MP for Helston, was shot and killed in the porch of the Three Crowns.

In 1987, the New Scientist reported that Chagford contained "the most radioactive loo in the world", a reference to the high levels of Radon gas in this granite area.

Whiddon, seat of the Whiddon family. Sir John Whiddon (d.1576), a Justice of the King's Bench under Queen Elizabeth I, purchased the manor of Chagford, built a new manor house at Whiddon, part of which survives today, and built a deer park, the massive granite block wall of which survives today.

From the History section of Chagford on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Notable people from Chagford

Born in Chagford, according to Wikidata (CC0). Each name links to its Wikipedia article.

Where to stay9

Churches and places of worship10

Advertisement

Shopping4

Schools, colleges and libraries2

Healthcare1

Advertisement

Map of Chagford

83 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Getting there and nearby towns

Exeter Airport (EXT) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.

  • Exeter 14 mi east, about 23 min by car
  • Newton Abbot 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
  • Kingsteignton 14 mi southeast, about 23 min by car
  • Tavistock 16 mi southwest, about 26 min by car
  • Kenton 16 mi east, about 26 min by car
  • Teignmouth 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
  • Dawlish 18 mi east, about 28 min by car
  • Torquay 20 mi southeast, about 32 min by car
  • Exmouth 20 mi east, about 31 min by car
  • Paignton 20 mi southeast, about 33 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Towns near Chagford

Exeter · pop. 130,709 14 mi east Newton Abbot · pop. 36,474 14 mi southeast Kingsteignton · pop. 11,360 14 mi southeast Tavistock · pop. 12,675 16 mi southwest Kenton · pop. 1,005 16 mi east Teignmouth · pop. 14,932 17 mi southeast

Keep exploring

More towns in United KingdomSurprise me

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built November 10, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.