Totnes is a rural constituency made up of small villages and towns. The main industries are agriculture and fishing along with tourism. A large part of the area comes under the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The seat includes all of the South Hams constituency except for the Erme Valley; it extends to the edge of Torbay to take in the fishing port and resort of Brixham. There is also the south eastern edge of Dartmoor, including Haytor and the small towns of Buckfastleigh and Ashburton.
In Ashburton there is the Golden Lion Hotel, which was the national headquarters of the Raving Loony Party; its then proprietor Alan Hope became the first self-proclaimed Loony to gain office in Britain when elected to Ashburton Town Council in 1989.
Totnes has been represented by a stream of Conservative MPs since 1945.