Christmas retreat at Sharpham House: a gift to yourself

Sharpham Estate is three miles outside Totnes on the edge of Ashprington village.

From the A38/Devon Expressway take the Totnes/Buckfastleigh exit.

On arriving in Totnes, at the first traffic lights, turn right onto the A381 towards Kingsbridge. Half a mile outside Totnes turn left to Ashprington (about two miles).

On reaching Ashprington village turn left up the hill and onto the Sharpham Estate. Follow the road downhill until you get to three way junction, take the middle road straight to the front of the House.

When you get here, unload your luggage at the front of the House before moving your vehicle to our car parking areas - currently at Home Farm, below Sharpham House.

Please note and observe the 20mph speed limit through Ashprington village and on the Estate.

Frequent direct trains run from London, Birmingham, and the North. The journey time by train is less than three hours from London Paddington via GWR (www.GWR.com) and under four hours from London Waterloo.

Find train times and buy tickets from www.thetrainline.com

Trains to Totnes are on the Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance lines. Totnes railway station is a 5-10 minute walk from the town.

Click here to see how to book a single or shared taxi to The Sharpham Estate.

From Totnes railway station, walking takes 45-60 minutes and cycling takes about 25 minutes.

Out of Station Drive, turn left at the main road, crossing over at the pedestrian lights. At Morrisons petrol station take the road straight on-ish into town (you'll soon walk past Morrisons supermarket on left). Keep going straight on over the mini-roundabout. At the Doctors' Surgery the road swings right. You go straight on, passing the Doctors' Surgery to your right.

When the road bears left around the back of the Steam Packet Inn on your left, you turn right (signposted National Cycle Network 28), up the hill for 30 metres to a sign for footpath/cycle route to Ashprington. Follow this, taking the right hand route at the first fork, continue up a long hill, and through woodland.

Go through a gate at the top, then continue downhill along this path. You will reach another gate with the Sharpham compass logo on its post, and go through that gate. Continue on about 200 metres through a third gate and soon after you’ll pass a striking bench on your left commissioned by the Sharpham Trust as a wonderful sit-spot facing down the River Dart Valley towards Sharpham House. Follow the path down and through a fourth gate. Continue down and round and you’ll go through another gate.

Straight after that gate, you’ll reach a split in the path with a sign pointing toward Ashprington. Choose the left to take a more level route to Sharpham House. Take the right to climb (sometimes steeply), eventually reaching the pillars at the entrance to Sharpham Estate.

If you’re going to the Woodland Retreat parking and luggage drop-off, look out for signs directing you there. If you’re continuing to Sharpham House, walk or ride down the road or footpath beside until you reach the 3-way junction, where you’ll see signs to Sharpham House.

The journey time by National Express coach is just over six hours from London, (Victoria Coach Station, Departures Hall) and the route travels via Heathrow Airport, (Central Bus Station). The coach is the 501 - Route Exeter, Torbay to Heathrow Airport and London.

Community transport provider Bob The Bus goes between Totnes, Ashprington, Cornworthy, Tuckenhay and back on Wednesdays and Fridays only. Click here to see more information and to find timetables