Paths and bridleways spider out through lush West Devon countryside: find rural peace, birds and wildlife near Dartmoor and the Cornish coast. The old linhay (a type of West Country farm building) sits in the semi-wild garden of the family’s listed farmhouse. Pause on the terrace for morning sun and views to Dartmoor over woodland, ponds and open fields where roe deer wander; peace reigns. Step through glazed doors into a light, open-plan, L-shaped living space of oak floors, antiques, window seats, good art and smart wood-burner (plus geothermal heating and solar power). You get a vaulted kitchen swathed in flagstones and polished slate, and a large double room with a pretty iron bed and garden views. Kids can play ping-pong, laze in the hammock, make a camp fire… and, when night falls, scramble up to the attic room where velux windows look out to the stars. Justin and Mary escaped here from the city and welcome you warmly with organic milk, home-laid eggs and logs on the house. Ask about walks, golf, surfing, biking, pony-trekking, restaurants… there’s plenty of them all.
The setting of this cottage is ideal. While it seems far from everything, in reality it is only minutes from Dartmoor, the Lydford gorge, Brent Tor, and Tavistock. Only a bit further afield are Exmoor, Bodmin moor, Devon and Cornwall coastal walks and innumerable gardens. The cottage is meticulously kept and quite comfortable and provides something that is important to us and often lacking in other accommodations--excellent lighting for evening reading. Hosts Mary and Justin (and their two cats) were friendly and helpful, yet discreet. Their chickens were friendly as well and almost as discree