East Anstey parish straddles the boundary of the National Park along its southern edge within the county of Devon. Its main settlement lies outside the boundary and within the National Park is no settlement - only moorland, farmland and the wooded valley of the Danes Brook.

The old part of the settlement lies around the church and Barton but the village is spread out and includes part that grew around the station on the former Barnstaple to Taunton railway line.

The parish has several hamlets, including Oldways End, which is split between parishes and counties.