Blackawton International Festival of Wormcharming

What to expect

Earlier programmes described a day running from mid-morning until evening, with teams of three, a Charmerer, a Pickerer and a Counterer, registering at Worm HQ by the George Inn before midday. They included an ode and toast to the worm, a procession to the Secret Field and a competition at about 1.30pm. These are past arrangements: confirm the next programme, registration point and timing. Teams have around 20 minutes to bring up as many worms as they can using vibration, sound and ingenuity, but no digging. Past programmes also included a dog show, tug-of-war, music and a charity auction. The village visitor page currently lists the George Inn as closed, so do not assume its bar, kitchen or rooms are available; check the next festival’s venues and refreshments.

The story behind it

The festival was first held in 1984 and has become one of Devon's best-loved oddities. Over the years charmers have tried everything from music to tea and costumes, with competitors keen to prove their own technique. Underneath the silliness it is a charity day, raising money for Devon Air Ambulance and other good causes. Organisers take worm welfare seriously: worms are handled gently, counted and returned to the soil afterwards. The festival has grown well beyond the village, drawing visitors and the odd television crew, yet it still feels like a parish fete with a peculiar centrepiece.

Getting there and home

Blackawton lies in the hills between Totnes and Dartmouth. Totnes station, on the main line from London Paddington to Plymouth, is about nine miles away; buses to the village are infrequent, so a taxi, lift or car is easiest. The lanes are narrow and the village is small, so arrive early, follow any stewards and parking signs, and be patient leaving in the evening.

Watching, taking part and tips

Anyone can enter a team on the day, with separate categories for adults and under-11s, which makes it a good family outing. Spectators are welcome to watch from the edge of the field. Bring wellies or boots, as the ground can be soft, and a waterproof just in case. Fancy dress is part of the fun. Please handle any worms gently and leave them where they can burrow back down.

Taking part

In 2026 the local listing split the competition in two: five minutes of warming up, then fifteen minutes of charming. Each plot is measured, with fitting village eccentricity, as one yard by one metre. That's a snug workspace for three people, so agree who does what before you kneel down with some elaborate contraption.

The same listing bans digging, forking and harmful potions, and judges check entrants' concoctions. A daft title and an Official Cheat don't mean the welfare rules go out of the window. If your technique needs explaining, run it past an official first; the only argument your team should have is over the worm count. All of this comes from the 2026 edition, so for the next festival, check the registration procedure, age categories and rules again. Bring a method that leaves the ground and everything living in it unharmed, and be ready for a patch of soil that simply refuses to cooperate.

Make a day of it nearby

On a longer South Devon trip, you can swap the secret field for the Dart. Greenway, looked after by the National Trust, was Agatha Christie's holiday home. The house keeps the family collections and a 1950s setting, and the garden has woodland and riverside paths. Its boathouse is linked with Dead Man's Folly. Decide whether the house or the garden is your priority, and use the Trust's current information to check admission, access and how to get there.

Dartmouth Castle is the other idea. English Heritage describes a fortress that has guarded the narrow entrance to the Dart Estuary for more than six centuries, with views across the water. Its own facilities and visiting pages will tell you which parts suit your group. Neither is part of the wormcharming festival: each needs its own travel plan and opening check. Put one on a different day so you can enjoy the village celebration without one eye on the clock, and so the festival's unconfirmed next programme isn't left trying to fit around a pre-booked slot.

Eating and drinking

Here's a good reason to rethink refreshment plans. Blackawton's community visitor page currently lists the George Inn as closed, and a separate local campaign is working towards a community future for the pub. Older festival write-ups still make the George a handy landmark, but that doesn't mean its bar or kitchen is open. Don't build your trip around a meal, a room for the night or a post-festival pint there unless you've had it confirmed directly.

The community website also mentions the village's community shop. Check its current opening if you plan to buy supplies there rather than bringing your own. For the festival itself, wait for a fresh programme to find out about any café, stalls and food. If someone in your group needs a particular meal or has an allergy, ask whoever is actually serving; an old list of refreshments can't tell you. Keep plans loose enough to enjoy the day even if the catering isn't what it was in previous years, and bring a drink for your time in the field.

Questions people ask

Where it is

Map pin shows the approximate area where the event happens. Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

Go straight to the source

Independent research. The organiser’s own information always wins — we have not visited or tested the journeys.

• Totnes Times: 39th festival ↗
• Euronews video, May 2026 ↗
• South Hams: detailed 2026 festival listing ↗
• National Trust: Greenway ↗
• English Heritage: Dartmouth Castle ↗
• Blackawton Community: visitor information ↗
• Save Our Pub Blackawton campaign ↗
• Totnes Times: 2026 anniversary announcement ↗