Winter cottage breaks in Devon are a great idea for so many reasons. Cosy weekends away, birthday celebrations, walking breaks, a chance to spend time close to nature, they all fit the bill, and for those of you who like to spend Christmas in your own home, a winter cottage break before or after the main festivities gives you an opportunity to unwind or to catch up with friends and family.
Autumn is well and truly in the air now. We’re waking up to misty mornings, enjoying afternoons of hazy September sunshine, seeing the apples ripening on the trees, the blackberries gleaming big and juicy in the hedgerows, and though the leaves have yet to turn you can just feel autumn slowly creeping in. Soon it’ll be winter; time for lighting the fire and settling down for snuggly lamplit evenings, for digging out those warm jumpers and woolly socks, for pulling on welly boots and getting out in the fields for a wholesome walk in the country.
Come to Stonehayes Farm for winter breaks in Devon and you can relish it all. Our family friendly holiday cottages in the West Country offer the perfect getaway, somewhere you can really unwind, somewhere to spend happy times whether it’s just the two of you (oh, yes, we do romantic breaks in the countryside too!), your own little family, or whether a bigger group of you fancy a pre-festive get together. Our smallest cottage sleeps 4, the biggest sleeps 18, so you can book the space you need to suit you, and the beauty of it is that you can book as many as you like. We had a huge family here recently – they booked all five cottages and had a whale of a time catching up, reconnecting, seeing people they hadn’t seen for so long they’d almost forgotten what they looked like!
There are advantages to winter cottage breaks in Devon, the obvious being that it’s a lot cheaper than in the main holiday season. You’ll be lovely and cosy, the cottage you choose is all yours and you don’t have to face strangers at breakfast time like you would in a hotel. What’s more, you can even bring the pet pooch because all of our Devon holiday cottages are pet friendly. What’s not to like? As we said, it’s perfect.
Another thing about winter cottage breaks in Devon is that it’s so much quieter down here this time of year; less traffic, less queuing, the pubs and cafes aren’t so busy, and there are far less people about. We’re out in the sticks here so it’s always peaceful at Stonehayes Farm, plus we’ve got 15 acres of private land where you can explore to your heart’s content. Wander down to the river, go for a stroll in the woods, clamber up to Dumpdon Hill and marvel at the incredible views across the Otter Valley. Just a mile and a half down the road is Honiton, our local town, where there are supermarkets, a weekly market, and some very good places to eat, like The Holt and Bella Pizza.
If you want to go out and see what’s about in this neck of the woods we’re confident you’ll find something you’ll like. If you’ve got little people with you take them to Wildwood Devon, Crealy Park, Ferne Animal Sanctuary or Axe Valley Wildlife Park; go and explore some of the beautiful historic houses and parkland nearby, like Killerton, Knightshayes, and Forde Abbey. Head for the Jurassic Coast to discover the beautiful beaches and peaceful fishing villages; Beer, Branscombe and Lyme Regis have such an air of charm; likewise Sidmouth with its wonderful Regency feel. Or there’s Exmouth where you can spend time spuddling about in the rock pools or sit back for a leisurely cruise on the calm waters of the Exe estuary and Lyme Bay.
Pull on your boots and set off for a good hike in the country; we’re in the glorious Blackdown Hills here so you can walk for miles on footpaths that take you up and down the hills and valleys of this beautiful landscape - our favourites are Culm Beacon, Staple Hill and Castle Neroche. Plan it well so you end up at a country pub for lunch – a great way to spend a day when you’re on your winter cottage break in Devon. Go up the road to Dunkeswell Airfield, watch the planes come and go, the parachutists drifting down; tuck into homemade food in The Aviator Coffee Bar and Restaurant. See the ruins of Dunkeswell Abbey, the tiny Baptist chapel (one of the oldest in the country) at Loughwood Meeting House, book up for an alpaca walk with Little Orchard Alpacas, have a blast go-karting at Mansell Raceway, see the sights on horseback with Devenish Pitt Farm Riding School, hire bikes and cycle along the Grand Western Canal at Tiverton. So much to see, so much to do.
Back at your Devon holiday cottage welcome the evening in with a hearty glass of red wine, pull the curtains across, light the wood-burner, get a hotpot bubbling on the stove, full of delicious local ingredients from one of the nearby farm shops, settle in for an evening of movie watching, board games or reading. Cosy, cosy, cosy, just what this time of year is all about. Give yourselves something to look forward to despite the shorter days, make memories to treasure. Book your winter cottage break in Devon today ❤️
