Ruby Country Camping

Ruby Country Camping is a beautiful, natural, spacious meadow campsite. Named after this area of West Devon which takes its name from Devon’s Ruby Red cattle.

This is farming country and the evidence is everywhere. The five-acre camping field is one of the few that isn’t filled with cows, sheep or crops. Instead, it’s sparsely populated with campers. There are just seven camping pitches and three pre-pitched tents; one an empty bell tent, a Yurt and Lotus Belle Tent. These are fully furnished and the owners, Marc and Dinah, like to call them 'cosy camping'. They’re avoiding the G-word, as there’s no real glamour here, just good old-fashioned camping with natural surroundings and campfires, but the nearby hot showers and flushing toilets are very modern. The fact they’ve pitched the tents and made the beds for you is glampy enough for us but if you need a hot tub and hair straighteners, you’ll need to look elsewhere.

This West Devon hinterland feels far from the tourist trail but it is, in fact, incredibly well-connected. Cyclists on the 99-mile Devon Coast-to-Coast cycle trail pass on one side and the road to Bude passes on the other. That road is worth a mention here. It’s separated from the site by a thick and leafy hedgerow, but you will hear the sound of cars and tractors passing by. The upside, of course, is a direct link to the coast and an easy way to get out and explore. Dartmoor’s walking and wild swimming spots are 20 minutes’ drive with the beaches of Bude just half an hour away. In fact, from here, all of North Devon and North Cornwall is easy to explore. Closer by, there’s Hatherleigh; the definition of a rural Devon market town. Walk or cycle the back route there for a pint at the Tally Ho pub or a cream-first scone at one of its cafes.

If you are looking for a natural, spacious back to nature campsite but with flushing toilets (who wants to look down a compost loo) and lovely hot showers, Ruby Country Camping is the place for you and your family.