During the summer months, one of the nicest places to swim in Devon is Chagford’s Open Air Swimming Pool, on Dartmoor.
Continue reading “Chagford Open Air Swimming Pool”Chagford Open Air Swimming Pool
A Devon Solstice Run On Dartmoor
#30DaysWild no. 21. Ian joined the Okehampton Running Club’s solstice run, to see in the dawn.
Continue reading “A Devon Solstice Run On Dartmoor”#30DaysWild 29: A bicycle re-made for two
For #30DaysWild we’re renovating the tandem, and other bikes guests at the eco lodges can borrow this summer… and noting down some ideas for really local Devon excursions you can try (once the handlebars are back on).
Continue reading “#30DaysWild 29: A bicycle re-made for two”#30DaysWild 15: A Local 6km Run
#30DaysWild 15: Ian went running, starting from the eco lodges and heading down into Hollocombe. He has mapped out a simple 6km route with a section through the woods along a bridle path. Going down the road into Hollocombe and back up again gives it a bit of a gradient in it, but maybe that’s an excuse to have a bit of a walk…
Continue reading “#30DaysWild 15: A Local 6km Run”#30DaysWild 10: The Turbine Walk
Spring has sprung up on Wheatland Farm turbine walk, and it has got severely overgrown. So for today’s Random Act of Wildness we took the mower out and cut it back so it’s ready when our lovely guests return to the eco lodges in a few weeks.
Read moreStretching our legs on Dartmoor
After all that Christmas cheer it’s time to take in a bit of late afternoon sun and stretch our legs on Dartmoor.
Continue reading “Stretching our legs on Dartmoor”Rosemoor’s Winter Sculpture Exhibition
Devon’s RHS Rosemoor, 11 miles from Wheatland Farm, usually has as winter sculpture exhibition, running until the end of January.
Continue reading “Rosemoor’s Winter Sculpture Exhibition”Wheatland Farm 5km Running Route
People quite often ask us where they can go running from Wheatland Farm. Well, there’s round the fields on the mown paths of course. But if you want a 5km run along Devon lanes, this is it. We thought we’d put it up for #NaturallyHealthyMonth 2019.
Continue reading “Wheatland Farm 5km Running Route”The Railway Inn at North Tawton
This is a genuine local Devon pub – the perfect antidote to manufactured shabby-chic. The scuffs and scratches on the bar stools at North Tawton’s Railway Inn are testament to their long use, and the worn menu covers tell you people have been choosing to eat here for years.
Try here for lunches Friday-Sunday, or an evening meal any night but Thursdays. The Railway Inn is about 10 miles from Wheatland Farm.
Continue reading “The Railway Inn at North Tawton”Don’t miss the Pottery if you’re in Hatherleigh
In Hatherleigh, maybe for those famous brownies and coffee? Don’t forget to check out the Hatherleigh Pottery, in its charming courtyard. You’ll find lovely hand thrown ceramics and a friendly welcome. You might come away with a treat! Continue reading “Don’t miss the Pottery if you’re in Hatherleigh”
Wild swimming near the lodges
Want to get in the water? Wheatland Farm isn’t really near the beach – the closest is Westward Ho, about 40 minutes away. But there are other options…. Continue reading “Wild swimming near the lodges”
Belstone Tor: A Taste Of The Wild North Moor
Belstone Tor, just outside the Dartmoor village of Belstone, is one of the easiest Tors to ‘bag’. It’ll give you feel for the wild nature of Northern Dartmoor. OK, it’s not often snowy, as it is in this image, but it’s fabulous at any time of year, and in clear weather you get an amazing view of North Devon. If you’ve got binoculars with you you might pick out the turbine at Wheatland Farm Eco Lodges. Continue reading “Belstone Tor: A Taste Of The Wild North Moor”
One Market Street in Hatherleigh – Fab For Coffee
If you’re looking for a treat, One Market Street, also known as Cafe du Ville, in Hatherleigh, should be high on your list. They serve one of the best coffee we’ve found anywhere in Devon, and the cake is high up the ranking too. Continue reading “One Market Street in Hatherleigh – Fab For Coffee”
The George Inn in Hatherleigh
The George Inn in Hatherleigh is another lovely local pub, serving traditional pub food attentively made. Continue reading “The George Inn in Hatherleigh”
The Grove at Kings Nympton
Lunch at the Grove at Kings Nympton! Yay, we reached escape velocity and got out for a lovely Devon pub lunch. Continue reading “The Grove at Kings Nympton”
Big bike out: To North Tawton Sylvia Plath’s Yew Tree
Here’s a lovely and moderately strenuous ride that takes you to the one time home town of Silvia Plath, complete with a cafe, a couple of pubs and a fish and chip shop. Continue reading “Big bike out: To North Tawton Sylvia Plath’s Yew Tree”
Go cart joins the eco lodge bike fleet
Here comes the new go cart! Everyone should have a go cart hill in their childhood. George is the main technician on this one with a bit of help from Ian and some additions from Euan. Continue reading “Go cart joins the eco lodge bike fleet”
The turbine room – great for a rainy Devon day!
After some lovely sunny weather it’s now turned to ‘soft rain’. So it could be a good day to take a coffee to the new ‘turbine room’. Once the farm’s dairy (back in the 1940s – you can still see the date on the trough) it went through a storage phase and has re-emerged as a dry garden, with succulents ferns and even herbs. Continue reading “The turbine room – great for a rainy Devon day!”
Outdoor chess
Draughts and chess in the lodge field! (April through to the end of October, then in the Party Shed). The draughts, made out of sliced-up branches, will be in a box under the board but the chess pieces will be in the Party Shed in the lodge field. Feel free to borrow them, but please return the chess set after use. (That way hard to replace pieces are less likely to get lost in the long grass.) Continue reading “Outdoor chess”
Real Devon icecream!
Even on a grey day you can’t beat a Hocking’s Ice Cream! Made in Appledore, they are an integral part of a Devon holiday. There are almost always vans on the Torrington Commons, on Bideford Quay (car park end) and at Northam Burrows Country Park, among many other places.
Go small game hunting!
From spring to autumn you can go ‘small game hunting’ in our wildlife pond. Voyage out across the pond in the good ship Tender and collect armfuls of invasive Canadian pondweed, which Maggie or Ian will help you search for invertebrates (and the odd newt). Continue reading “Go small game hunting!”
The Copper Key Pub, North Tawton
Here’s another local pub: the Copper Key in North Tawton. The pub does Sunday lunches and sandwiches in a traditional setting. There’s a beer garden out the back, and a pool table. Continue reading “The Copper Key Pub, North Tawton”
Paddle the boat on the wildlife pond
We know we’ve got it right when you stay on the farm to have fun. The wildlife pond is perfect for a calm moment of reflection… or maybe you’d rather make a splash? In summer we usually have a boat or paddle board available for you to use – just ask for a quick induction first! Continue reading “Paddle the boat on the wildlife pond”
Cycle to the New Inn, Sampford Courtney, for lunch
This post is mainly about another of our ‘big bike out’ videos – from Wheatland Farm to Sampford Courtney for lunch at the New Inn. But of course you could drive too – the New Inn is a lovely traditional Devon pub serving good food.
Continue reading “Cycle to the New Inn, Sampford Courtney, for lunch”Belstone Cleave and the Tors Pub
Belstone Cleave, on the edge of Dartmoor, is beautiful even when it’s raining or cold. And unlike the moor itself, is sheltered from the worst of the wind. Belstone also boasts a welcoming pub serving 50 kinds of whiskeys – should you need re-warming after your walk.
Continue reading “Belstone Cleave and the Tors Pub”Borrow a bike
Click here for updated info on borrowing a Wheatland Farm bike
At Wheatland Farm eco lodges we have a sizeable and growing collection of ‘farm bikes’, which are all free for you to use on your holiday. We have kids’ and adults’ sizes. They’ve all been rescued from the local recycling centre and refurbished. So they may not be sparkly new, but they are serviceable and fun.
Continue reading “Borrow a bike”Winkleigh Cider Factory
If you want a really local brew, and a taste of Devon, try the cider made at the Winkleigh Cider Factory. You’ll find it in the local pubs, and the factory has a shop too, where you can try the different varieties and buy some to take home. Continue reading “Winkleigh Cider Factory”
Climb the hill to Torrington for tea and cakes
Climb the hill to Torrington and reward yourself with a coffee at the Plough Arts Centre or perhaps a cake from our favourite bakery, Sandford’s in the square.. Continue reading “Climb the hill to Torrington for tea and cakes”
Meeth Quary Nature Reserve
The Devon Wildlife Trust bought the old clay pits at Meeth and turned them into a massive nature reserve, which it opened in 2013. It makes a lovely day out with a real feel of space – 150 ha! Continue reading “Meeth Quary Nature Reserve”
Devon’s Halsdon Nature reserve via the Duke of York
Here’s another lovely ride from Wheatland Farm. It’s a 17 miles round trip down quiet lanes, through friendly villages to the River Torridge and the Devon Wildlife Trust’s nature reserve at Halsdon. Continue reading “Devon’s Halsdon Nature reserve via the Duke of York”