[3] Historically the parish consisted of a number of farmsteads and associated cottages scattered around the focal point of Holy Trinity church (late C15-early C16, with some C17 windows and C19 additions[4]) and the adjacent Gidleigh Castle, which is now in private hands.

The 20th century saw the development of some substantial gentleman's residences - notably Gidleigh Park, which subsequently became a country house hotel - and the building of a village hall.

Gidleigh lies on the Mariners' Way and there was a YHA Youth Hostel in the village from 1932 to 1988.

[5] A Methodist elementary school established in 1877 at Providence in Throwleigh parish, little more than a mile from Gidleigh, provided what became the Throwleigh and Gidleigh County Primary School, which closed in 1971 when the pupils were transferred to Chagford.

Scorhill, one of the largest and best preserved stone circles in Devon, is near the village on Gidleigh Common.