The village lies on the B3217 road, roughly central in its parish of around 2,900 acres (1,200 ha), about 8 miles (13 km) north of the town of Okehampton.

[9] Situated on a south-facing slope, the village has good views of northern Dartmoor, including its highest point, High Willhays.

A recumbent effigy of a knight with a plain shield, lying under an arch has been dated to c. 1250 and is believed to be of a squire of Iddesleigh, a member of the locally-notable Sully family.

[12] The listed village pub, the "Duke of York", is made of cob and thatch,[13] and is slightly hidden from the main road being along a side street behind some terraced cottages.

[22] The Tarka Trail, a series of footpaths and cycle routes radiating from Barnstaple, passes from north to south through the parish, taking in the village.

[5] In 1885, when Sir Stafford Northcote was raised to the peerage, he took the title of Earl of Iddesleigh, which was, according to W. G. Hoskins, a curious choice since his main estates were not here.

[5] The Scottish-born poet, Seán Rafferty lived in the parish from 1948 until his death in December 1993; he was landlord of the Duke of York pub until 1975.

[15] In 1976 Morpurgo and his wife, Clare, set up the Farms for City Children charity which is based at Nethercott House in the parish.

[25] Poet Ted Hughes, who lived nearby, was a close friend and regular visitor to the Morpurgos and became the first president of the charity.