Flear House

The 45-acre Flear Estate is a picture-perfect country idyll with the added benefits of a host of the region's best beaches on the doorstep, an acclaimed, and child-friendly, gastro-pub within a pleasant mile or so's walk and an indoor pool and play area that has mini guests grinning from ear to ear come rain or shine.

Flear does family rejuvenation to a tee. Whether rambling through the woods, splashing about in the pool, messing about on the trampoline or soaking in the views from the luxurious outdoor hot tub, the hectic pace of 'normal' daily life seems to melt away within a day or two of arrival, and that's before sampling the pre-bookable beauty and massage therapies, or taking advantage of the local chef-made meal deliveries.

Flear House is a picture perfect example of Georgian country luxury- formerly the owner’s home it is now available for exclusive hire and is the perfect retreat for those with little ones in tow, looking to celebrate a special occasion or family getaway in comfort and style with a whole host of baby gear and faultless facilities.

Guests enter the house through a pillared entrance and are taken in to the spacious dining hall with inglenook fire, a lovely place for entertaining in the evenings as there is plenty of room around the large, wooden antique table. The kitchen is well equipped with its own casual dining area ideal for breakfast and the country must have- an aga, as well as a gas cooker. From the kitchen guests can access the private and secure courtyard, with sun terrace which leads to the fantastic, private outdoor heated swimming pool with wave machine that is sure to be the whole family’s favourite spot during summer! Back inside there is an elegant drawing room, with marble fireplace, which like the rest of the house has been thoughtfully decorated to retain a classical, luxurious feel whilst retaining a sense of family comfort. The snug room is a cosy place for relaxing with its own fireplace, TV, DVD player and range of DVD’s (plenty to keep the little ones entertained) and can be used as a great den for children whilst the adults are next door.

Up the grand oak staircase, the galleried landing leads to the five spacious bedrooms. First is the master suite, an ideal haven for frazzled parents- elegantly styled complete with 6ft comfy bed, it's own dressing room and en suite with Jacuzzi bath, it will feel more like mums and dads private, luxury hotel suite rather than just a bedroom! Further down the landing are two pretty doubles both with en suites and two twin bedrooms, ideal for little ones with an additional shower room and WC. Flear House has got it all and will have mums, dads, grandparents and friends swooning over dreams of country living whilst little ones will never want to leave, what with their own private pool and the fun filled facilities onsite.

Reviews Show Location Map The pretty market town of Kingsbridge is within 10 minutes drive of Flear Cottages and has a great range of pubs, shops and bistros. Highly recommended are the Old Bakery for its rustic chic, family friendly interiors excellent brunch and fabulous Paella nights (Weds) with fine dining on Fri and Sat. Also, the Treehouse for pizza. For a baby-sitting worthy night out try the art deco glamour of the Burgh Island hotel, the Oyster Shack in Salcombe, the Whitehouse in Chillington, Mitch Tonks' (of Fishworks fame) Seahorse or Michelin-star winner John Burton-Race's New Angel in Dartmouth. For chic cocktails and contemporary bistro-fayre try the waterside Wildfire Bistro at Dart Marina, or try its neighbour the Floating Bridge Pub for, reportedly, the best beer-battered fish and chips in Devon!

Kingsbridge is centrally located for exploring South Devon and ideal for those watching their carbon footprint since there's an excellent bus service and a ferry from the quay to the bustling yachting town of Salcombe which, along with some good restaurants (Captain Flint's is recommended for families) and boutiques, has a good beach.

For a spot of true indulgence try a half-day spa session at the small but very luxurious Dart Marina Spa and don't miss Pennywell Farm Park or Paignton Zoological Park, both of which appear to be very well run and have dedicated play areas for pre-schoolers. Blackpool Sands, Conde Nast Traveller readers’ top rated UK family beach, is also nearby and boasts a toddler sandpit area and a quality licensed beach cafe serving healthy organic kids meals, along with local wines and snacks for adults.

testimonial scores:0:::

We had a fantastic time staying at Flear House and intend to return. The house w...

We had a fantastic time staying at Flear House and intend to return. The house was beautiful and while luxurious and quite grand - it had a very homely feel too. We were a party of 10 adults and 5 children, it never felt cramped and there were many rooms to find a quiet moment in if required! Cooking was a treat in the kitchen, all manner of ovens (including huge Aga) and griddles/ hobs with plenty of room for everyone to be sociable followed by dining in the hall - candlelit dinners by the fireplace were wonderful after long days with the children. The onsite facilities were fantastic, plenty of outdoor space to play in and walk around and a huge indoor play area. The indoor pool was lovely and we also made use of the outdoor pool for a 'refreshing' dip! We could easily have spent all our time on site, there was more than enough to entertain all of us, but then we would have missed some spectacular countryside and coast. The location is a great base to visit many beautiful spots - Blackpool Sands and Slapton Sands are wonderful and very family friendly. There are masses of attractions in the area that we just didn't have time for. The roads to and from Flear farm are a little narrow and winding but that just added to the experience and we loved feeling we were out in the middle of nowhere (though in reality Kingsbridge is a short drive away). We couldn't fault the place, and the staff were very friendly and helpful - they often checked we were OK without being invasive. Our only concern was that inside and outside the house were lots of steps for little ones to navigate but as long as we were around with them it was not a problem. There is a handy gate separating the courtyard areas from access to the outdoor pool which was brilliant, although it could have been reached from the front garden - but not a problem for us as the little ones weren't left unattended there. All in all, the house, grounds and facilities are superb and we had a wonderful stay. All the cots, highchairs and baby equipment we needed was provided - everything was very clean and ready for our arrival (they will even put away your shopping for you when you order it online in advance of arriving). We also took advantage of the cooked meals brought to the house on our first night and they were delicious, a brilliant idea. Overall Rating: 5 "Outstanding"

Owner Profile

Stephen and Teresa Dix parents of Georgina and Hannah and grandparents to Lily, Jack and "bump" (due July 2010) and owners of Flears beloved dartmoor ponies Gemma and Abbie own and manage Flear Country a beautiful 5 star 88 acre estate in the South Hams. Flear is a family run business for families looking to spend quality time with loved ones!

From the moment kids arrive they are enchanted by Flear Country, most are splashing about in the indoor pool within minutes of arriving!! There is a large indoor play barn equipped with large trampoline, wooden swing set and toys galore - perfect for a rainy day! There are acres of outdoor space for children to enjoy together with a Davis cup tennis court, picnic area and pitch and putt and a great BBQUE area which is perfect for balmy summer evening sausage sizzles following a day of building sandcastles on one of the local blue flag beaches! The resident Flear Dartmoor ponies - Gemma and Abbie are always more than happy to be fed a tasty tit-bit. Tennis lessons and swimming lessons can be arranged in advance with the Flear office. A selection of childrens DVD's are also available to rent when little legs just need some time to relax!