Eric Heard
Farmer
Second generation at Higher Cheristow; moves the cattle daily through the paddock rotation.
Higher Cheristow Farm
Higher Cheristow Farm is a working organic beef farm at Hartland, Devon with native Devon cattle grazing herbal leys, run by the Heard family, with a small adult only campsite.
Higher Cheristow Farm sits at Hartland on the North Devon coast and has been run by the Heard family since Eric's father moved there in the 1950s.
Today Eric and his wife Shelly farm it as a working organic beef farm with native Devon cattle, using traditional methods without artificial fertilisers. The cows graze herbal leys full of deep rooting plants like plantain, chicory and bird's foot trefoil, moved daily through one acre paddocks in a rotational system that builds soil and captures carbon. Homeopathy, homemade bioferments and biodynamic formulations are used on the land and the herd.
The farm's public face is a quiet, adult only campsite for no more than 16 people, with pitches for caravans, motorhomes and tents beside the hay barns. Guests walk through the working farmyard, and Eric's two milking cows pass through it daily. There is currently no farm shop and no meat sold from the site.
What they sell
- Organic beef
Plan your visit
- You can visit in person
- No delivery
Meet the farm team
From the community
5.0
From 10 Google reviews
2 August 2025
Lovely quiet and clean adults only site. Owners very welcoming. Our stay was brief but enjoyable. Would highly recommend.
23 August 2024
We spent a night at the farm campsite and it was quite an adventure. Eric and his wife are very nice. They have a kitchen and bathrooms in a shared space where you can shelter from the rain and wind while enjoying a cup of tea.
2 August 2023
We have had a wonderful week, staying at Higher Cheristow farm. We had a very warm welcome from the owners, Shelly and Eric. We especially love all the animals, particularly the ducks who came and visited us at our tent. It is such a wonderful base to exploring Hartland. The Campsite has amazing facilities with a brilliant kitchen with a fridge kettle microwave etc, place to sit at a table and hot private showers and toilets. This is an adult only campsite which is very refreshing, especially during the school holidays as we had so much space and it was so peaceful. We’ve had a really restful holiday and we will definitely be returning again next year. A real gem- thoroughly recommend.
