The Farmhouse

BFB's Overview

Red Doors Farm isn’t just family friendly its family fantastic! From the heated indoor pool to games room, play room, play barn, play areas and chick-chick chickens, this boutique cluster of 5-star Gold cottages in Devon will keep children happy from brekkie to bedtime, so grown-ups can get on with having a great time too.

A 500-year old, Grade II listed Devon long house, along with a group of traditional flint and thatch cottages, have been beautifully transformed into a private hamlet of 6 luxury cottages, sleeping 2 to 8 people, set in 2 acres of well kept, lawned garden. The main thatched roof farmhouse also has a dining room that seats up to 14 which makes

The owners are always being told ‘You’ve thought of everything’ and they pride themselves on being particularly well-equipped for parents with pre-schoolers, providing all the essential equipment and baby-sitting by qualified, CRB checked nurses and teachers. A welcome pack of West Country goodies awaits families on arrival and all the basics are provided, from cling film to dishwasher tablets . A supply of gourmet, frozen meals are available for an easy, delicious supper and the Games Room is stocked up with award-winning Otter Valley ice-cream which boasts, ‘from cow to cone in 24 hours’.

All the cottages have been fabulously finished and furnished to 5-star Gold standards and make the most of original rustic features such as beamed ceilings, stone fireplaces, wood panelling and flagstone floors. Log burners and comfy sofas make the living rooms lovely and cosy, the bespoke wood kitchens are fitted with all mod cons including Nespresso machine, bathrooms are gleaming and modern with power showers and the luxurious bedrooms have Vi-Spring mattresses and cool Egyptian linen for a good night’s sleep.

What really makes Red Doors Farm so fab for families, of course is all the places to play and things to do, both indoors and out. The 11x5.5 metre indoor pool is a big plus, heated to a toasty 30°c, surrounded by steamer chairs and with wall of glass doors offering panoramic views over the Otter Valley. A covered play area is particularly geared up for under 6’s, featuring a play house, small climbing frame, slide, see-saw and ride ons, including tractors, while all ages will have fun on the giant, netted trampoline and in another play area with a wooden fort and slides. A thatched play barn promises more fun and games including table tennis and table football, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4, while elsewhere in the garden, families can play giant chess, a game of croquet, putting, boules and football. Little ones will also enjoy making friends with the chickens, ducks, pygmy goats and guinea pigs. Indoors, the Games room includes a pool table and computer games for the PS2’s. A play room will keep little ones amused with a play kitchen, train and farm tables, garage and cars, colouring table and cuddly toys. The only challenge will be tearing children away for days out exploring the East Devon ‘countryside-by-the-sea’ and when it’s finally time for home.

Accommodation overview

Red Doors Farm comprises 6 cottages, sleeping from 2 to 8 people, plus babies in cots. The cottages are also suitable for group bookings, with a dining room for up to 14 people in the main Farmhouse.

The Farmhouse (sleeps 8 plus a baby in a cot) is a 500-year old, listed thatched Devon long house, featuring original beams, oak panelling and flagstone floor. A large inglenook fireplace with wood burning stove provides an impressive focal point in the comfy sitting room while an Aga and bread oven in the bespoke wood kitchen maintain the traditional farmhouse feel, with the mod cons including a Nespresso machine, electric oven, dishwasher, fridge freezer etc. The farmhouse kitchen also has a breakfast table and the dining room seats up to 14 for family gatherings. On the first floor, the farmhouse has 1 king-size bedroom, 1 double bedroom and two twin rooms; a family bathroom with whirlpool bath, overhead shower and WC; and a separate shower room with WC.

Location Information

Red Doors is surrounded by the idyllic rolling scenery of East Devon, known as the countryside-by-the-sea, due to its close proximity to the smugglers coves, beaches and fishing villages of the Devon and Dorset coasts. Incredibly, the A30 is only 1.5 miles away, making Red Doors quick and easy to get to from the major routes whilst still being in relaxing, peaceful seclusion. The market town of Honiton is also only 3 miles away, with frequent, direct train services from London Waterloo (3 hours).

Honiton has all the services families really need, including Tesco, Co-op, Aldi and Lidl, a good range of local shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants, as well as a farmers market twice a week. Exeter also has Sainsburys and Waitrose (both a 20 minute drive) and all the main supermarkets deliver to Red Doors.

The nearest pub, the Luppitt Arms is only 1 mile away but doesn’t serve food and the Monkton Court Inn is only 1.5 miles. After this, the choice is endless for eating out and enjoying all the mouth-watering delicacies the South West has to offer, from calorific cream teas and luxury ice creams to succulent crab sandwiches, local cheeses and home-reared meats, all washed down with farm pressed ciders and quirky named real ales.

The Devon and Dorset coast is as little as 12 miles away, strung with the quintessentially English seaside towns, fishing villages and beaches that have kept families flocking here for generations. Dinosaur fanatics will have fun hunting for fossils along the Jurassic Coast and Lyme Regis makes an ideal place to take a guided walk or simply build sandcastles on the beaches, dangle crab lines off the harbour and enjoy the bustling, bucket and spade frivolity.

Within easy reach of Red Doors, there are all kinds of attractions for children of all ages from castles, to wildlife parks, to theme parks, to steam railways. Just mentioning Diggerland will have little boys bouncing up and down with glee while Woodlands is the largest family theme park in Devon, including fab indoor play centres, outdoor adventures, Zoo-Farm and Falconry Centre.For real animal lovers, Paignton Zoo and the Donkey Sanctuary are always a winner. Bicton Park is a real favourite for the whole family to enjoy.

Nearest Medical Services (GP & A&E): There is a GP practice, Minor A & E and dentist in Honiton (3 miles). Full A & E services are available in both Taunton and Exeter (30 minutes).