Stoke Gabriel in 360º

A 360 virtual tour of Stoke Gabriel situated on a creek of the River Dart steeped in history and surrounded by beautiful countryside, nestled in the green hills of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Famous for its mill pond, crab fishing (aka crabbing) and a 1,000-year-old yew tree in the churchyard.

Location/Facts History Things To Do Where to Eat & Drink Events Getting There Helpful Tips Weather Sunrise & Sunset Nearby Destinations

Updated: 6th August 2023

Added 360 images Sandridge Barton

Stoke Gabriel can be found on the Eastern River Dart creek. A quintessentially English village surrounded by rolling countryside and abundant wildlife, If you’re lucky you may even catch sight of a kingfisher. The Mill Pond is where many people descend to enjoy a drink at the River Shack Café. Expect a constant flow of sailors, kayakers, paddle boarders, wild swimmers and many kids doing there best to catch a crab or two. The café do sell squid for bait, although I would suggest buying some cheap bacon from the supermarket, crabs aren’t that fussy.

If you like a good wine then Sandridge Barton is the place to be, with lots of different amazing wines to choose from. The food there is very nice, but also it comes at a price I would expect to see a Michelin star award. I’d advise eating before you go and just go for drinks.

Nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Stoke Gabriel is the perfect place for a peaceful River Dart retreat that is within close proximity to Paignton, Brixham, Totnes, Dartmouth and Salcombe.

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Location/Facts

Stoke Gabriel is a parish in the district of the South Hams, Devon with two pubs, a post office, village stores, gift shop, tea room / restaurant and a café. There are several bed & breakfasts in the village itself and many campsites nearby.

A church was mentioned at Stoke Gabriel in the Domesday Book 1073, the earliest official record of any life in the village.
The church building was originally constructed in the early 13^th century, of which only the Norman tower survives today. In 1268, Bishop Bronescombe of Exeter dedicated the church to St Gabriel, resulting in the name change of the parish from “Stoke” to the more distinctive “Stoke Gabriel”.
One of the oldest buildings in the village is the Church House Inn which dates back to 1152.
The church yew tree is reckoned to be about a thousand years old. Yews are generally measured in girth at 1.5m above the ground to give a very rough idea about their age. The yew girth was 5.65m in 2016 which gave an age of anywhere between 1000-2000 years.
Legend states that if you walk around the old yew tree backwards 7 times you will have a wish granted.
There is an orchard alongside the churchyard that is reported to be one of the oldest apple orchards in the county.
It is equidistant from Paignton, Dartmouth and Totnes.
There was a pedestrian ferry service between Duncannon and Ashprington Point on the opposite side of the river but it ceased operations over 50 years ago.
The birthplace of the Great Western Railway Chief Mechanical Engineer George Jackson Churchward.
Stoke Gabriel is the template for the fictional village of Thornford Regis in C. C. Benison’s crime novels Twelve Drummers Drumming and Eleven Pipers Piping

History

Things To Do

Crabbing
Hunts Cider
Sandridge Barton (Vineyard Tour)
Walk the river and mill pond
Woodland walks
Yew Tree

Where to Eat & Drink

Castle Inn
Church House Inn
Circa (Sandridge Barton)
Emma’s (Next door to the stores)
River Shack Cafe

Events

10k(ish) Run & ‘The Prusty Plod’
Hunt Cider Fest (Early October)
Stoke Gabriel Carnival (July)
Stoke Fest (August)
Stoke Gabriel Wassail
Village Show (August)

Getting There

The Quay, Stoke Gabriel TQ9 6RD.

Car, there is a small fee at the River shack car park. If drinking in the Church House Inn, then parking is free in the car park opposite the Castle Inn.
Bus, catch the 125 from Paignton bus station (every 2 hours).
Train, There are no trains here.

Helpful Tips

If you plan on crabbing I would suggest buying some cheap bacon from the supermarket, crabs aren’t that fussy and the squid sold for bait at the café could get expensive for what you get.
If going to Sandridge Barton, I’d advise eating before you go and just go for the drinks. The food there maybe very nice, but also it comes at a hefty price of which I would expect to see a Michelin star award.
Find out more at stokegabriel.co.uk

Weather