The Old Shippen, Kerswell Farm
Bideford,
Devon
Self-catering
+44 (0)1237 452352
Visit owner's website
£111 - £260
per night
£781 - £1820
per week
A sunny cottage for comfort and country-lovers with caring hosts, acres of wildlife-rich meadows, woodland and lakes – close to the coast
3 beds
2 bedrooms
Sleeps 4
Pets welcome
Your dates are available!
2 Guests 11 Oct 24 - 11 Oct 24
Direct with the owner
Visit the owner’s chosen website for availability, online booking or contact details.
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What part does Sawday’s play?
£111 - £260 per night
£781 - £1820 per week
The Experience
Bird-watchers, walkers, star-gazers and downright lazers will surely love this smartly, characterfully converted cowshed down narrow Devon lanes. You’ve your own lawned and shrubbed garden to unwind in. For a coastal stomp the nearby stretch of the South West Coast Path is one of the most dramatic; porpoises come in close to Clovelly harbour.
The Shippen’s living space is upstairs, making the most of great views. You can’t see another building, though your hosts live in the farmhouse. They leave a generous welcome pack and can tell you about good places to eat out; they’re seriously dog-friendly too – there’s even a warm dog shower.
Come as a larger group and take the other self-catering conversion – The Old Piggery – as well. There’s plenty of space for everyone – beyond the private garden there are 20 acres to explore with two lakes, two ponds, a broadleaf plantation, some rare culm grassland and woodland – and the owners have prepared a trail map with footpaths marked to help you. Keep an eye out for owls and bats.
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We think you'll love
- The remote, tranquil feel of Kerswell Farm
- Curling up on the tweedy sofa by the wood-burner
- Quiet walks around the farm yet having lots to do within easy distance
You should know
- The local Parkham pub – though only 1.5 miles away – isn’t an easy walk
- Not for children, nor those with limited mobility
- Approach roads are narrow and winding
Essentials
- EV charger
- Self check-in
- Swimming pool
- Hot tub
- Garden
- Open fire / woodburner
- Breakfast included
- Breakfast available
- Meals available
- Vegetarian meals
- Oven
- Parking on premises
- Free parking nearby
- Accessible by public transport
- WiFi
- Television
- Central heating
- Limited mobility
- Wheelchair access
- Mobile reception
- Hob
- Barbecue
- Paid parking nearby
- Air conditioning
- Relaxation areas
- Washing machine
- Tennis court
- Microwave oven
- No smoking
- Credit cards
- Working farm
- Owner has pets
- Electricity included
- Dishwasher
- Pets welcome
Family friendly
- Baby monitor
- Books and toys
- Children welcome
- Babies welcome
- Stair gates
- High chair
- Fire guard
- Cot available
Nearby
- Pub/bar within 3 miles
- Restaurant within 3 miles
- Shop within 3 miles
Activities
- Bikes available
- Food courses
- Kayaking
- Other courses
- Sailing
- Surfing
- Wild swimming
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Pricing
- Nightly price
- from £111
- Weekly price
- from £781
- 1 House for 4
- From £1113 beds2 bedrooms
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Information
Booking information
- Check in
- From 4pm
- Check out
- By 10am
- Other details
- Minimum stay: 4 nights.
- Closed
- Rarely.
- No smoking
- Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
- Owner has pets
- Animals living on the property
- Meals
- Pubs/restaurants 2 miles.
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Reviews
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We came in June and just couldn't wait to come back. Another recharge for body and soul. Beautiful to see everywhere in a different season. Elaine, Adrian and Ralph are perfect hosts - the apple cake and juice were wonderful. This really is a piece of heaven here in Devon, a five-star holiday.
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What a fabulous welcome - from fresh flowers and welcome card to endless delicious treats from home made bread (gone in flash), marmalade and eggs ..and every little detail thought of to make the very best stay anyone could ever wish for. Thank you Elaine and Adrian - amazing and the cottage is absolutely perfect in every way. Crisp white sheets and fire ready laid, spotless but so homey - we could have stayed forever. Large enclosed garden for our dog to play and warm doggy shower to rinse off muddy paws.. and fabulous stunning places to explore from beaches to woodland walks - divine!
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This has been a wonderfully relaxing week, full of lovely walks, coastal beach trips and plenty of peace and quiet. Kerswell Farm is a stunning, picturesque place that is home to the fantastic cottage. It's comfortable and warm, with everything you could need for a stress-free restful holiday. The enclosed garden went down a storm with our dog Obi and the outdoor pup shower is a real plus after long mucky walks. Thank you, Elaine, Adrian and Ralph, for your warm welcome and hospitality, and kind touches around the cottage. We'd highly recommend to anyone wanting a dog holiday with peace.
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Kerswell Farm is a beautiful place to stay. We and our dog particularly enjoy the large enclosed, private garden, being able to walk around their 22 acres of beautifully kept wildlife areas, lakes and woods and the location in North Devon. The Old Shippen is as near perfect as a holiday home can get, very clean and tidy and tastefully furnished, but it still feels like a home. Elaine and Adrian are marvellous hosts, leaving lots of delicious goodies and providing homely touches like blankets and garden furniture. This was our second stay of the year and won't be our last.
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This was probably the best standard holiday cottage we have ever stayed at. Beautifully presented, clean, high quality fixtures and fittings. Elaine made us very welcome by providing fresh scones, cream and jam on arrival along with fresh milk, local eggs and butter. The view from the cottage is wonderful and walking around the farm an absolute delight.
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A great spot to be based for an exploration of the North Devon Coast. Elaine and Adrian are perfect hosts and Kerswell Farm a quiet, natural environment they nurture with care . The cottage offers all one would need, spotlessly, and you have as much privacy as you need. Elaine's bread is wonderful, her marmalade sublime and the advice notes really helpful. Very helpful large and fenced garden if you have exuberant dogs.
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We shall be returning, The Old Shippen is a haven of peace and tranquility in a beautiful part of Devon. All the thoughtful touches in the cottage and attention to detail made our stay a stress free delight and the home cooked goodies were absolutely delicious. A hidden gem we shall treasure and look forward to returning.
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The Old Shippen is such a delight. An extremely comfortable stay from the amazing welcome goodies to the style and comfort of the furnishings. The kitchen is very well equipped if, like us you enjoy cooking. The owners are so helpful in providing useful tips about the area and local shops and restaurants. A must to stay here if you are visiting North Devon.
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The Old Shippen is quite simply the best self catering cottage we have stayed in. The accommodation is immaculate, comfortable and charming, and we wanted for nothing. The extra "goodies" far exceeded our expectations, i.e. cream teas, handmade bread and biscuit bone for our JRT, locally sourced milk and eggs etc. etc. The hostess, Elaine, will even cook you an evening meal if required, and on top of all this it is hugely dog-friendly. We are so very glad we had the lovely experience of the Old Shippen just prior to the second lock-down!
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The Old Shippen exceeded our expectations and everything about it oozed quality. A lot of thought has clearly gone into providing absolutely everything that guests could want for a perfect stay. It is in a lovely spot, tucked away in peaceful countryside yet with easy access to a spectacular part of the Devon coast. Our hosts could not have been more welcoming and helpful, yet totally respected our privacy. We had a great week, from the cream tea waiting for us when we arrived, to the starry night sky and hooting owls on our last evening.
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Beautiful cottage in a stunning peaceful location! Every detail has been thoughtfully chosen - fabulous hand-made soaps, delicious home-made scones, jam and clotted cream on arrival, the most comfortable Egyptian cotton sheets ever, warm dog shower and totally dog-safe garden. Loads of wonderful walks to explore (Elaine gives great hints and tips!) - not enough time to do everything!! Just fabulous! Thank you!!
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Post-COVID-lockdown delight! We booked in for a week and have to say it was delightful. Scones and clotted cream for tea when we arrived after a hideous drive! The attention to detail in the cottage was fantastic - such a well equipped kitchen - lovely bedding and towels - home-made soap. Everything such good quality. Elaine cooked a meal for us one night - again excellent (sorry - running out of superlatives!) We pretty well did all the walks suggested and are hoping to return.
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Our stay at Kerswell Farm cottages was absolutely delightful. The accommodation was superb, tasteful, comfortable and incredibly well equipped. The hosts perfectly balanced their support by being available but unobtrusive. Elaine’s cooking was such a welcome treat along with the cream tea that greeted us on arrival. We will definitely like to return.
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Our second stay here this year. We’ve had a relaxing week with our two dogs; lovely beach walks then back to this beautiful, comfortable cottage with Elaine’s delicious food to round off the day- thank you Elaine, Adrian and of course, a Ralph!
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I can't recommend this place highly enough. The care and attention to detail from Elaine and Adrian is mindblowing. The kitchen was the best equipped we've ever had in a self-catering stay and everything throughout was spotlessly clean. Elaine and Adrian are warm, welcoming and fascinating to chat with - and Ralph the lurcher is just gorgeous. We arrived to fresh scones with cream and jam - a perfect accompaniment for the fruit cake I'd ordered! Lots to see a short drive away, when you can drag yourselves away from the tranquil farm location. We'll be going back.
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A beautifully furnished cottage. Elaine and Adrian are brilliant hosts. The highpoint was Elaine‘s wonderful cooking. We had three meals prepared for us while we were staying there. This was on top of arriving to scones and cream home-made bread and home-made cake . Nothing seemed to be too much trouble. It’s fortunate there are some stunning coastal walks to work off some of the good food. We were thoroughly spoilt and had a wonderful break. We would highly recommend. Amazing!
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What an amazing experience from start to finish. The beautiful cottages of Kerswell farm and not only been beautifully finished with every detail thought of but they are set in some stunning countryside topped off with the most attentive and friendly hosting of Elaine, Adrian and their very friendly dog Ralph! We stayed in the Old Shippen with our two French Bulldogs which is equipped with everything you need to enjoy a dog-friendly weekend away. We have fallen in love with the area after visiting Kerswell farm and will definitely be back to Kerswell Farm again! Ashton, Jonathan, and Frenchies
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A superb place. We (couple & dog) had a truly wonderful week in the Old Shippen. Elaine and Adrian couldn’t have been better hosts. The cottage is delightful, peaceful and furnished to a very high standard all over. The location is unique, and a sun trap even in winter. Nearby are loads of stunning walks and beaches/coastal paths, and plenty of good pubs. Elaine’s cooking is both generous and excellent - we enjoyed four tremendous suppers of hers, really a special treat indeed. Everything that one would hope for from a Sawday’s cottage, and of the ten or so that we’ve enjoyed so far, No1.
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Such a lovely, peaceful setting. The cottage is beautifully done yet cosy and homely. Ideal for our 4 legged friends and lots of great walks. Elaine and Adrian are such friendly hosts and Elaine is a great cook. We hope to return soon.
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Location
The neighbourhood
In green Devon folds, Kerswell Farm is all about hospitality and conservation. 20 peaceful, sustainably managed acres of woodland, meadows and lakes are yours to roam. It’s 2.5 miles to the SW Coast Path with wildly craggy and sandy stretches like Northam and Sandymouth; steeply cobbled Clovelly is 6 miles. Garden fans have RHS Rosemoor, Marwood Hill and Tapeley Park within 40 minutes’ drive. Smart pub food at The Farmers Arms, Woolsery: 2 miles.
Local points of interest from Elaine & Adrian Arnold
- Explore the 20 beautiful acres at Kerswell Farm. Lakes, woodland, culm meadow and a big field for letting dogs run free. The lakes are so peaceful and the wildlife is amazing! Just sit, enjoy the dragonflies over the waterlilies and feel yourself unwind.
- The variety and numbers of birds around the land is astonishing - every type of tit imaginable, finches galore, woodpeckers, waterfowl, jays and of course our resident owls never fail to entertain. Plenty of good spots to watch from.
- Some of the very best North Devon beaches are close by; spectacular Bucks Mills, Sandymouth, Welcombe Mouth, Northam Burrows and Peppercombe to name just a few. Fabulous for walks, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, beachcombing and rock-pooling!
- Quaint Clovelly is just 10 minutes away with its steep cobbled streets leading down to the ancient harbour. Festivals like crab and lobster and herring are regularly held and it's a great place to spend a day. Visit the walled garden at Clovelly Court too.
- Spectacular gardens abound in the area, RHS Rosemoor, Docton Mill, Hartland Abbey and Marwood Hill gardens are all wonderful and full of ideas to inspire you. Discover the great variety of local cafes and pubs along the way for a sustaining break!
- The skies here are truly dark, and stargazing is a real treat on a clear night. Lie back with a blanket and a warming drink and just marvel at what is above you (so romantic). Use our binoculars to bring the stars and moon even closer…
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Introducing
Elaine & Adrian Arnold
Exchanging globetrotting careers in medical industries to follow their passion for rural living and conservation, the Arnolds chose the farm as their home, and project, carefully converting two detached farm buildings. They are a part of the community, a great source of local info, have won a gold Green Tourism award and been accepted to partner with the North Devon UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
The old Shippen is more than an extraordinary cottage: very well provided with so many comfortable features, a very fine style and lovely details of furniture and best equipement. And there is still its own big garden and terrasse. - Kerswell Farm is a wonderful place in a green surrounding and landscape, 10 minutes to the next beach to swim. It is an ideal and quiet location to explore easily the beautyful countryside and coast of Devon. - Elaine and Adrian are so friendly and helpful. Two wounderful weeks on Kerswell farm. Thanks!- Absolutely recomandable!