As summer draws to an end we’re looking forward to welcoming guests for autumn breaks in the countryside. This is such a special time of year, especially here at Stonehayes Farm where the pace of life is very relaxed and it’s SO peaceful – a world away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Stonehayes Farm is such a wonderful place for autumn breaks in the countryside; we are fortunate to be surrounded by the Blackdown Hills AONB, and the views we have across the Otter Valley are incredible – you can see for miles and miles, a patchwork of fields and woods and gentle slopes, unspoilt, rolling on forever.
Our Devon holiday cottages are tucked away in the winding lanes just a short drive from Honiton, so even though it’s nice and secluded here, if you want to go out to eat or to shop for essentials it’s no bother. It’s the best of both worlds because you’ll have peace and quiet and a cosy country cottage to nestle in, but if you want to explore the local area it’s not an inconvenience because the A303/A30 are only a couple of miles away.
But you probably won’t want to go out because you’ll be so content here, away from the hubbub, with birds happily twittering all day and owls softly hooting at night. There’s no better place to be than the countryside in autumn, with all its glorious colours and hazy sunlight; pull on your boots, maybe a warm jumper and a scarf and amble around the fields. Wander down to the river or up to Dumpdon Hill, catch the turning leaves as they drift down on the breeze, take some home to press and keep forever.
Back at your dog friendly Devon holiday cottage you can put a pan of homemade soup on, light the fire and spend a cosy evening, snug as bugs. Stay at one of our cottages with a hot tub and you can slip into the warm water for a soak day or night; it’s actually an invigorating way to start the day, and if you’ve been out hiking for miles in the hills, well, what better way to ease your aches and pains.
You might be here to catch one of the autumn events nearby, bonfires and firework displays and a custom that’s observed in towns throughout the West Country – a carnival. The streets are lined with a happy throng as illuminated floats wend their way to much applause, there are balloons and candy floss, hot dogs and whistles, it’s quite an atmosphere. The biggest event round here is the world famous Tar Barrels held at Ottery St Mary on November 5th each year – teams race through the streets with blazing tar barrels held aloft on their shoulders and the evening is rounded off with a funfair and bonfire on the banks of the River Otter.
Autumn breaks in the countryside are all about making memories to hold onto, easing gently into winter; be kind to yourselves, treat yourselves to a stay at Stonehayes Farm. There’s something very special in the air here, we call it autumn magic 🍂