Soft play barn at Waie to Play, Zeal Monachorum, Devon

If your young kids need to burn off some energy and it's raining, you might want to take them to the Waie Inn in Zeal Monochorum, where there's a 'soft play' centre



- the kind with big slides and tunnels, rope bridges etc. It's usually open from 10 until 18:00 and costs £3.50 for a 2 hour session (under ones and adults go free). There's a cafe and plenty of seating. Our kids like the cannons that shoot foam balls at your opponent, and the youngest likes the air machine that suspends balls on a jet of air...

There's also a small swimming pool there, 2 squash courts and an outdoor adventure playground for better weather!


There are some more images on their own website You can ring 01363 82348 to check they are open.

Zeal Monachorum is nine miles from our cottage and ecolodges.



The Waie Inn, Zeal Monachorum, Crediton, Devon. EX17 6DF / 01363 82348

A dose of history at Cobbaton Combat collection

Not just war toys for boys, this collection of military equipment, some of which is still used in films today, focusses on the second world war and is dedicated to the memory of those who fought in it. The collection ranges from military surplus tanks, guns, helmets, artillery, grenades, and bombs, to Home Front ration books, gas masks, ARP and Home Guard uniforms, and blackout lamps.

This is real equipment that people used - the sherman tank in the car park has genuine shell holes in it - all food for thought. The main collection is housed in 2 large hangers, so it's good for a rainy day. Best to ring ahead (01769 540740) to check opening hours. In the winter the collection opens on some weekends. In the summer opening hours are broader.


Costs: Adults £6, senior citizens £5, schoolchildren £4, under fives go free.
Check out their website for up to date information.

Chittlehampton is about 15 miles from our cottage and ecolodges.

Cobbaton Combat Collection, Chittlehampton, Umberleigh, North Devon, EX37 9RZ,
Phone 01769 540740

Exeter galleries, cathedral and tours

In the city of Exeter you can visit galleries, take a guided tour, admire the Cathedral or just relax in a coffee bar.






If you feel the need to return to urban life for a day, Exeter is a good bet for a spot of culture. And if you want to be green you can take the train on the picturesque Tarka Line - Eggesford Station is only about 4 miles away. All the trains have to stop here - a condition imposed when the land for the station was originally sold by the Earl of Portsmouth's estate.

Stay on the train until you get to Exeter Central (not Exeter St David's). Coming out of the station turn left, and almost immediately you'll pass the Royal Albert Memorial Museum's main building. It's closed for redevelopment until March 2010, but much of its offerings have been rehoused in the library and around the city. To get to RAMM in the library, take the 3rd left after the station, walk about 100m until you see the library / council buildings. You won't miss them - they look just like council buildings! Check their website or ring 01392 421252 for more about what's on...

But if you take the second left, just up from the end of Gandy Street you'll come across the Exeter Phoenix gallery.
Entrance to the gallery is free, and there are regular workshops - check their website or ring 01392 667080 to find out what's on. You never know who you might meet....











If you've got kids and it's wet, the gallery may be a welcome distraction, and there should be something to occupy them. The cafe is also family friendly, and does local food.



Coming back out of the gallery, go down the hill and turn left into Gandy Street - lots of boutiques, cafes etc, and if you keep going you'll hit the high street. If you want to see the Cathedral, turn right in the high street, then turn left when you see the signposts.

You can also join a guided tour of historial Exeter. The Exeter City Council run several, covering, ghosts, murder and mayhem, the Cathedral, the custom's house and many more. Check out their website a full list and timetables.






Exeter is about 35 miles from our ecolodges and cottage - but it's perfectly green if you go on the train or bus!

These venues sometimes have events that we list on our diary pages.

Finch Foundry

The National Trust's Finch Foundry is the last working water-powered forge in the country. On one of their regular guided tours you can find out what it really means to have your nose to the grind stone or to be pole axed ...



Finch Foundry is in the village of Sticklepath, on the edge of Dartmoor. When it's raining, this will show you what all that water was used for! The leat would originally have driven up to 10 water mills.
The forge made argricultural tools right up until the 1960s and is a sight to behold. They say the vibrations were powerful enough to shake glasses off the shelves in the next door pub. If you catch one of the guided tours you'll see one of the hammers in action.




This is a small National Trust property, but well worth a visit. There's a tea room in the grounds, and also Thomas Pearse's summer house. That's the Tom Pearse from the Widdecombe Fair song (plus Old Uncle Tom Cobley and all). He was a local serge maker, making the red material used to dress the British army.



There are also lovely woodland walks from the Forge. One takes you to Okehampton, where you can visit the Museum of Dartmoor Life. Or you can follow the river valley along to the village of Belstone (where there's a pub that does food).



Every November the Forge hosts the Sticklepath Fire show - a performance on a huge set which is burnt at the end of a fabulous fireworks display.

The Foundry is usually open from mid-March until early November between 11:00 and 17:00 every day except Tuesday. There are tours about once an hour.

Finch Foundry is about 13 miles from our cottage and lodges. This National Trust property sometimes puts on events - check out our diary pages for details...

Finch Foundry
Sticklepath, Okehampton, Devon EX20 2NW
Telephone: 01837 840046
Find out more, check opening times etc...

Relax at the Kings Arms pub, Winkleigh

The Kings Arms pub in Winkleigh offers a warm welcome whether you want a cream tea, a quiet pint, or a great meal.





You can take your dog. There are newspapers to browse and some board games. It's a pub with a traditional rural feel but which welcomes families. Our guests always seem to come back with rave reviews.


The Kings Arms is only a mile and a half from the farm. You can borrow bikes to get there (please bring your own lights, helmet and a decent padlock) or many people walk - it would take about 30 mins.

The pub recently had a good write up in the Telegraph.

If you want to book a table to eat, the phone number is 01837 83384.