Penstone is a hamlet of some 21 houses in Devon

Devon

Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...

, England, about 1 miles (2 km) from the villages of Colebrooke and Coleford

Coleford, Devon

Coleford is a small hamlet in Mid-Devon, England. It includes a chapel and a pub, and also has a park and a full set of public conveniences ....

, close to the point where the Exeter

Exeter

Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...

-Barnstaple

Barnstaple

Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...

 and former Exeter-Okehampton

Okehampton

Okehampton is a town and civil parish in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It is situated at the northern edge of Dartmoor, and has an estimated population of 7,155.-History:...

 rail lines diverge; the latter is now a freight line but there has recently been talk of reopening it to passenger traffic and extending it to Plymouth

Plymouth

Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...

 in order to avoid the shoreline track at Dawlish Warren

Dawlish Warren

Dawlish Warren is a small seaside resort near the town of Dawlish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon in England. Dawlish Warren consists almost entirely of holiday accommodation and facilities for holiday-makers especially caravan sites....

 which has recently been washed away several times by winter storms. The nearest stations are Yeoford

Yeoford railway station

Yeoford railway station is a rural station on the Tarka Line serving the village of Yeoford in Devon, England. It is served by trains between and Exeter.- History :...

 and Copplestone

Copplestone railway station

Copplestone railway station is on the Tarka Line serving the village of Copplestone in Devon, England. It is operated by First Great Western.-Description:...

.

Penstone residents maintain the Penstone Glade, a community space for the hamlet in the angle of the tracks and adjacent to the River Yeo (one of many such in the southwest of England), and organise a variety of events there. Penstone is built on the south-facing slopes of the hills to the north of the river, with views to Colebrooke and Dartmoor

Dartmoor

Dartmoor is an area of moorland in south Devon, England. Protected by National Park status, it covers .The granite upland dates from the Carboniferous period of geological history. The moorland is capped with many exposed granite hilltops known as tors, providing habitats for Dartmoor wildlife. The...

in the distance.