When can I check in and check out of Ruby's Orchard?

On-site accommodation Arrive: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Depart by: 10:30 a.m. Read more

Ruby's Orchard

10 3 reviews

Yurt and kitchen tent (added by manager 17 Oct 2022)

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Exclusive-use woodland site between Dartmoor and the north Devon coast
Direct access to a national cycle route and close to the Tarka Trail
Right next to a two-acre wood for making dens and nature spotting

What a splendid setting this is. Hidden away in a lovely little orchard on the fringes of mature woodland between Dartmoor and the north Devon coast, this place is quiet, rural, wild and – above all – private. Exclusive use of a peaceful wildlife haven makes this a great spot for nature-filled holidays close to the Tarka Trail, the Taw-Torridge Estuary and heaps of other Devon attractions. The owners of Ruby's Orchard have created a cosy and comfortable site in a wild forest and orchard setting, all of which is carefully maintained as a natural habitat for wildlife. While pathways are maintained regularly to allow you to go about your daily business with ease, other grassy areas are allowed to grow in order to give butterflies and grasshoppers a place to breed, and bramble and gorse are kept to provide shelter for birds and small mammals. A small, shallow and unfenced pond provides a habitat to the likes of frogs, newts, damselflies and dragonflies. Wildlife safari, anyone? While the kids are off playing hide and seek, climbing trees and making dens in the two-and-a-bit acres of woodland next door, grownups can get on with the important business of hanging around in a hammock and cooking feasts on the barbecue; when the sun goes down, turn your attention to the firepit in readiness for spotting the stars that cover the dark Devon skies, and listen out for the soundtrack of resident tawny owls. The yurt can sleep up to four, and for bigger get-togethers there's the option of adding a nylon tent, which sleeps up to an additional four. Mattresses, bedding and futons are provided. For chillier times, throws, blankets and hot water bottles are provided for extra cosiness. Amenities consist of composting toilets and gas-fired showers, serviced daily, and a kitchen tent kitted out with a dining table, chairs and cooking equipment. For alfresco dining, there's a picnic table next to the tent. The remote rural setting of Ruby's Orchard means that there's no mains electricity on site, and all lighting is solar and battery powered; it's highly recommended that you bring your own torch for midnight toilet trips, as well as your own solar or car charging devices for phones and the like. Around 15 minutes' bike ride away there's the local pub and village shop in Sheepwash, as well as access to a short walk by the river Torridge and the traffic-free Tarka Trail.

Site type

Languages spoken

English

Features

No dogs allowed

Campfires allowed

Leisure on site

Bar or club house

Cycle hire

Evening entertainment

Fishing

Fitness centre

Games room

Indoor swimming pool

Kids' club

On-site restaurant/cafe

Outdoor swimming pool

Play area

TV room

Take away

Tennis

Watersports

Amenities on site

Bath available

Car parking by pitch/unit

Composting toilet

Disabled facilities

Dog park

Drying room

Food shop

Free wifi

Ice pack freezing

Internet access

Launderette

Parent & baby washroom

Pick-up from public transport

Portable toilet

Pub toilets

Public telephone

Shower available

Toilet block

Washing-up area

Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly

Motorcycle friendly

Single-sex groups welcome

Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue provided

Barbecues allowed

Campfires allowed

Commercial vehicles allowed

Dogs allowed

No dogs allowed

Themes

Forest

Peaceful

Remote location

Walkers' paradise

Wild camping

Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities

Chemical disposal

Electric car charging point(s)

Gas cylinders available

Recycling available

Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby

Dog walk nearby

Shop nearby

Type

Tiny (1-10 pitches)

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby

Cycle hire nearby

Cycling nearby

Fishing nearby

Golf nearby

Horse riding nearby

Leisure/theme park nearby

Sailing nearby

Surf school nearby

Watersports nearby

Location

Ruby's Orchard

Filleighmoor Gate

Near Sheepwash

Beaworthy

Devon

England

EX21 5PW

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London GMT (GMT+00:00)

GPS

50.86129°N
-4.15275°W

Route directions

Please note that the postcode provided is the nearest available postcode to the site, and that Ruby's Orchard is slightly north of this; when nearing the site you'll find it between the Filleighmoor Gate crossroads (signposted at the crossroads), and Hembury Gate Farm.

Nearest transport

Coach

10.7 mi Thomas Cook

11.1 mi Bideford Quay

Rail

10.9 mi Sampford Courtenay Rail Station

11 mi Portsmouth Arms Rail Station

11.2 mi Okehampton Rail Station

Ferry

11.1 mi Bideford Ferry Landing

13.2 mi Instow Ferry Landing

13.4 mi Appledore Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Ruby’s Orchard is right next to a lane that forms part of National Route 27 of the National Cycle Network, making it rather a handy spot indeed for cyclists and hikers. For more walking and cycling slightly further afield (but not too far), the Tarka Trail – a 30-mile traffic-free walking and cycling trail from Meeth to Braunton on the north coast – is around 15 minutes' bike ride away. The vast dune network of Braunton Burrows (the UK’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve) lies on the outskirts of the neighbouring Taw-Torridge Estuary, and you can cycle or walk along the trail towards Bideford, the estuary and the coast, or inland towards Meeth Quarry nature reserve. Hire kayaks in Bideford or take the kids to its award-winning Westward Ho! beach or The Big Sheep adventure park; north Devon is fab for swimming, surfing, coasteering, paddleboarding, windsurfing and kite surfing – heaps of great award-winning beaches lie along its coastline, and if you're new or just starting out then there are plenty of surf schools around the area too.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name	Distance	Type	2020	2019	2018	2017
Westward Ho!	13.1 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Summerleaze	17.5 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Good	Good
Crooklets	17.6 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Good	Good
Sandymouth	17.6 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	Excellent
Northcott Mouth	17.7 mi	Sea	N/A	Excellent	Excellent	N/A

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Rosemoor 5.7 mi

Castle Drogo 18.8 mi

Exeter Cathedral - Church of Saint Peter 28.8 mi

Tintagel Castle 29.8 mi

National Trust

Finch Foundry 13.4 mi

Lydford Gorge 15.2 mi

Lawrence House 18 mi

Castle Drogo 18.8 mi

Arlington Court and the National Trust Carriage Museum 21 mi

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

GREAT TORRINGTON CEMETERY 6.4 mi

SIMMONS PARK 11 mi

Meldon Reservoir - Brat Tor - Meldon Reservoir 11.7 mi

Eggesford Station - Eggesford Barton - Nethercott - Eggesford Station 12.3 mi

TAPELEY PARK 12.4 mi

Local events

GoldCoast Oceanfest (Friday 21 June 2024 – Friday 21 June 2024)
Croyde, Devon 19.2 mi

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Reviews

would recommend this site to a friend

would stay here again

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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

We stayed in the yurt at Ruby’s Orchard and had a wonderful…

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Charlie P. Jul 2023

Willow yurt

Liked: We stayed in the yurt at Ruby’s Orchard and had a wonderful time. It was a well thought out set up and great to have a separate tent with cooking facilities. There was loads of space there and brilliant to be the only people staying there. We certainly hope to stay again.

Disliked: None

Recommend to friends Visit again

We loved our time here.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	No rating
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Anonymous Jun 2023

Willow yurt

Liked: Beautiful place, exceeded all our expectations. Felt like a few days in paradise. The perfect place to escape and connect with nature. Absolutely everything thought of and provided. A really romantic, rustic retreat, ideal for couples. Wish we could have stayed longer.

Disliked: Nothing to dislike at all.

Recommend to friends Visit again

A beautiful little find, full of little hidden gems.

Overall	10/10
Location	10
Value for money	10
Accommodation	10
Facilities / Activities	10
Customer service	10
Child friendliness	10
Cleanliness	10
Wifi	No rating

Martin C. Aug 2022

Willow yurt

Liked: What a beautiful little find! We couldn’t have asked for a better stay with our 2 children. The owner was so friendly and had thought of absolutely everything. Not only were we greeted and shown around but little notes were everywhere making sure everything was easily accessible. The children were free to explore the woodlands, build dens, pond dipping and so much more. The yurt was beautifully laid out with a large double bed and two separate beds for the children. All cooking equipment was provided and we enjoyed a bbq and a fire pit to make s’mores with the children each evening. All the facilities were clean and we were all able to have a warm shower each day. Little touches like the vase of fresh flowers, table cloths, fairy lights and solar lighting, box of blankets and hot water bottles provided a real sense of luxury. We will certainly be back for many more visits where we were able to truly enjoy uninterrupted family time and the children were free to be children.

Disliked: Going home!

Recommend to friends Visit again

Does Ruby's Orchard have a swimming pool? No View all features
Is Ruby's Orchard dog friendly? No View all features
What attractions are near Ruby's Orchard? Ruby’s Orchard is right next to a lane that forms part of National Route 27 of the National Cycle Network, making it rather a handy spot indeed for cyclists and hikers. For … Read more
When can I check in and check out of Ruby's Orchard?

On-site accommodation

Arrive: 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Depart by: 10:30 a.m.

Read more