Ruby Country Camping The Greener Camping Club

There’s a temptation to put on an American accent when you say you’re off to Ruby Country Camping. The name has a ring of the wild, wild west about it. And while it’s actually located in the wild west of Devon, there are a few things here that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of a cowboy film. There’s the long grass, the vast fields of cattle, the canvas bell tents and the rustic compost loos. The difference is that the grass in the camping field is a very English green and the cattle in the surrounding ones are a Devon-specific ruby red.

It is, of course, the cattle that gives both the area and this campsite its name. 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 and two for what owners, Marc and Dinah, call 'cosy camping'. They’re avoiding the G-word, as there’s no real glamour here, just good old-fashioned camping with natural surroundings, campfires and simple facilities. 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 seaside Bude 20 miles 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. On reflection, perhaps a strong Devonshire accent is more appropriate after all.