Blog

Large Cottages in Devon for Autumn Breaks

The summer holidays so quickly drew to a close (where did they go??), it’s time to look ahead to the coming months. Our large cottages in Devon for autumn breaks are perfect for so many things – for days away with friends and family, for walking holidays, refined ladies weekends, self-catering corporate stays and family celebrations.

If you’ve been to Stonehayes Farm before you’ll know that it’s a wonderful place to stay for holidays, mid-week breaks and weekends in the country any time of year. If you’re looking at large cottages in Devon for autumn breaks, this could well be where your search ends. Our self catering accommodation sleeps up to 16 and has hot tubs, games rooms, and play areas; it’s family friendly, dog friendly, and there are ground floor bedrooms for the less able bodied.

Sunset at Stonehayes Farm

Wasn’t that a good summer though? Scorching hot days and plenty of glorious sunshine – we just can’t believe it’s over for another year! The summer holidays whizzed by and it is now back to school time and to usual rotuines – which means less traffic on the roads and less people everywhere. All good reason to sneak off for an autumn break!

Playing football in the garden

Where better than here? Seriously – tucked away in the lanes in East Devon, easily reached from the A30, A303 and M5. Just down the road is the historic lace town of Honiton, a tad further is Exeter with its gloriously Gothic cathedral and its fascinating RAM Museum, its shops and restaurants.

The garden at Stonehayes Farm

When you get here it feels like you’ve arrived in another world, one where bad things never happen and it’s always lovely. We can’t explain it, we’ve tried and we can’t quite find the words for how it feels to be here at Stonehayes Farm; the air is so soft, so gentle, the charm is timeless, even though our holiday cottages have all the modern convenience you’d expect. Like we say, it’s like another world, a million miles away from the mad pace of life these days.

Kitchen at Stonhayes

Autum is such a fantastic time of year to take a break in the countryside, even if it’s just a couple of nights away for a family celebration or a catch up with the girls. You’ll miss the crowds so the pace of life is slower, there’s more time to browse, to look around a museum with no-one in the way, to stop for lunch in a country pub; those things matter. Most years, we still see good weather through the autumn – what you call Indian summers, when it’s warm enough to spend days on the beach and to sit outside til’ dark.

The cottage

If we had to pick our favourite thing about autumn, it would be the colours - the reds and the golds, the browns and the yellows, all tumbling together, spread out over the fields like a gorgeous patchwork quilt. We’re lucky here because there are 15 acres of private grounds for guests to explore – you can wander down over the fields, along the river, up the hill and through the woods. Feel the autumn sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, fill your lungs with that wholesome country air as you walk ankle deep in last years’ leaves.

Beautiful surroundings at Stonehayes Farm

Later on, when it starts to turn chilly, isn’t it nice to get snuggled up in thick jumpers and hats and scarves? To put a coat on for the first time in months and head out into the hills for a walk. We just love Autumn! We love it so much, with all its bounteousness, the chestnuts, the hazelnuts, the shiny conkers, and oh, coming back with purple stained hands after blackberrying! Then to light the wood-burner, and gather round with a tray of frothy hot chocolate and hot buttery crumpets! Oh, joy of joys!

Come on in

Some of the local attractions stay open year round, like Wildwood Devon, Crealy Theme Park & Resort, and The Donkey Sanctuary. The Jurassic Coast is less than 30 minutes away and you have to admit, there’s something very lovely about the seaside out of season. Go and explore Lyme Regis, walk along The Cobb and up through the town gardens, wander over the cliffs from Beer to Branscombe on the South West Coast Path, stroll along the shore at Sidmouth. Bracing coastal air, fish and chips, then back to the warmth of your autumn holiday cottage.

Stonehayes Farm Devon

There are so many reasons to have a large group stay here in the autumn, but most of all, it’s about the togetherness, catching up, sharing memories, making new ones. It’s about the love and the smiles. Make it happen, book a stay today.

See Our Holiday Cottages

HIDE