South Tawton is the smaller of the villages, although containing the largest church. The community here has always lived by farming the land north of Dartmoor. In the past, wool made the village rich and this wealth paid for the impressive church with its slab-sided tower, which now serves one of the most extensive parishes in the county.

You can approach South Tawton from three directions, the smallest being the country lane that cuts through from both the north of the parish and from Oxenham Manor and the south. The main approaches are on the single road that runs from South Zeal, over the A30 Trunk Road and on to North Tawton. From Zeal, it is a pleasant walk past the school to Moons Cross (see the cows below) and then on past Dibbe. The church can be seen for most of your walk.

This road brings you into the village past typical Devon thatched cottages, In the centre of South Tawton is the magnificent parish church of St Andrew, dating from the I4C, with a 75 ft tower dating from the 15C. The Church House, one of the best examples of its kind, stands to the left of the Lych Gate. It was originally used to brew beer and bake bread to be sold at festive gatherings known as Church Ales.

Outside of the Church House is the Cross Tree. A tree has grown here since the time of Elizabeth 1 and the tradition is continued today. The present oak replaced a diseased elm in 1984. Beneath the tree is an iron plaque from the town of Okehampton and opposite is the English village's perfect partner to the village church, the village pub. More of a hostelry, the Seven Stars is rightly famed for its good eating and is very popular for Xmas parties, leaving 'dos' and the like.
If you do happen to make a quick visit there, be careful if you go on a bit further to visit the Quarry (or quarries) for, as beautiful as they are, they are also very deep. Legend tells of the death here by drowning of 'The Wren', that magical, sacrificial figure in folklore.