Spring has well and truly sprung here at Stonehayes Farm so now’s the time to book up for spring breaks in Devon, tucked away in our holiday cottages in the country. Come for a whole week, a midweek stay or a relaxing weekend – and remember, our Devon cottages are family friendly and dogs are welcome!
It seems that a lot of folk are heading off to warmer climes for their holidays right now, but you can beat the airport queues and the tedious flight with spring breaks in Devon. Our holiday cottages in the country are perfect anytime of year, but there’s something quite magical about spring time at Stonehayes Farm, especially when we’re enjoying such wonderful weather! Isn’t it gorgeous? We were strolling down across the field from the garden at Pippinsands the other day and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky; everything feels so fresh and clear, we had the warmth of the sun on our skin as we wandered down to the little river. The sound of our voices calling to our Jack Russell (the little rascal!) slipped out across the fields and down over the valley; it’s such a joy after weeks and weeks of dullness and grey skies and rain. Spring has indeed sprung!
We are so lucky to be out in the sticks. 1, because it’s so peaceful, and 2, because there is so much to notice, always something to make you smile. Like the spring flowers coming up in the hedgerows around the farm – stitchwort, violets, primroses, white deadnettle and celandines; daffodils nod their heads in the gentlest breeze and the birds are chirping all day long. The world is waking up after its winter slumber, even the butterflies are out on their forays; we saw a tortoiseshell sunning itself on the nettles yesterday, and a buttery yellow brimstone flitting across the garden. Taking the time to stop and stare is so good for the soul, it’s a huge helping of mindfulness and there’s plenty of it going for free at Stonehayes Farm. You come here, you take a deep breath of fresh country air and almost immediately, you start to feel the pace of life slow down. We think it’s bliss gift wrapped.
What’s also great this time of year is that things are opening up after the winter, the family attractions and so on. There’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained within a very short drive of our Devon holiday cottages – go and see the animals and ride the zip wire at Wildwood Escot, watch the happy donks in the fields at The Donkey Sanctuary, discover the enormous undergrounds caverns at Beer Quarry Caves, pootle around the landscaped gardens with views of the sea at Pecorama. Ferne Animal Sanctuary and Axe Valley Wildlife Park are good too, and don’t forget the National Trust houses where there’s always something for the whole family – Killerton, Knightshayes and A La Ronde are all fascinating.
The other thing is the beaches! The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is less than 30 minutes drive from Stonehayes Farm holiday cottages and honestly, you could go to a different beach every day if you wanted to. One of the most popular is Lyme Regis – go there and you’ll see why; the main street rolls gently down to the seafront where you can stroll along the promenade, stop for fish and chips on the beach and go out along the harbour wall (known as The Cobb) to the Marine Aquarium. Beer is just as charming and has such a peaceful air about it; walk over the cliffs to Branscombe on the South West Coast Path, have lunch in the clifftop garden of The Anchor Inn or down by the shore at Ducky’s Beach Café.
You’ll adore Branscombe, it’s like stepping back into yesteryear in some respects (ignore the traffic!); flower hung cottages line the hill that slopes down to the beach where you can grab a hearty bite at The Sea Shanty Beach Café; otherwise stop on the way down for lunch at The Masons Arm or for a pint in the sunshine outside The Fountain Head. Seaton isn’t so picturesque but it’s nice to stroll out along the beach to the Hideaway Café snucked between the cliffs; sit and watch the waves roll in and gently ebb away, climb up over the cliff and wander through the woods. Explore the rockpools on Axmouth Harbour Beach, stop for a bacon butty at Jean’s Tea Caddy Café, and if you dare, lace up your boots and walk the entire length of The Undercliff Nature Reserve to Lyme Regis. You’ll find a world of twisty-turny paths, ruined cottages long claimed by nature, and towering ivy clad cliffs; the contrast when you reach Goat Island and The Great Chasm is incredible – formed by a landslip on Christmas Day in 1839, this is an area of rich chalklands rich in flora and fauna.
So what have we got for you if you fancy treating yourselves to a spring break in Devon? Well, if you’re a bigger group and you’d like a holiday in the country, we have one mid-week break left at Pippinsands, which sleeps up to 14 guests. 4 nights from the 25th April is priced at just £1500, working out at a mere £26.78 per person per night assuming full occupancy! Got a birthday or an anniversary coming up? Get your nearest and dearest together and come on down – we have reliable wifi so anyone who has to work can do so but when it’s time to close the laptop you can get out in the hot tub and listen to the blackbirds singing.
We have 4 more holiday cottages in Devon sleeping 4-6 people; Siskins Nook is the smallest, with two bedrooms sleeping 4, plus room for a cot. Over the Easter holiday period a 7 night stay is £1000 (£35.71 per night per person); after that it’s just £650 (£23.21 per person per night) increasing slightly at May half term to £950 (£33.92 per person per night). So that gives you a good idea of what amazing value it is to stay at Stonehayes Farm – and don’t forget there are 15 acres of grounds to explore, a play area with swings and a trampoline, and a shared games room with table tennis, table football and a pool table. Take a look at the gallery pics on our website and you’ll see just how lovely it is here; it’s a place where you can come and unwind, let go, and make very special memories. Book today; we can’t wait to meet you ❤️