Culmstock is both a village and a parish and is located in Mid Devon on the border with Somerset just 7 miles NE of Cullompton and 6 miles SW of the Somerset town of Wellington. The parish comprises of the village Culmstock and the hamlets of Nicholashayne, Prescott and Woodgate.
Historically it fell within the boundaries of the Hemyock Hundred. It was at one time prosperous as a centre of weaving and the wool trade, but this prosperity, and the population of the village, declined considerably with the onset of the Industrial Revolution.
Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
A large part of the parish now lies within the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It has one public house, The Culm Valley Inn and one shop called The Strand Stores located in Culmstock village next to the river Culm . There are two churches, a village shop/cafe and a garage.