Surroundings & Setting
The
Cottage is set right on the edge of Exmoor with the National Park beginning just
a mile up the road. It is surrounded by fields and the little lane in
front of the cottage continues down the road to a small hamlet with farms and
cottages but goes no further. There are beautiful views down the valley
with the sun setting over horizons that can be seen into the distance.
There is one farm 300 yards up the road and a couple of cottages. A couple
of miles to the south is the village of Bratton Flemming and a couple of miles
in the other direction to the east is the village of Challacombe. Bratton
Flemming has a small shop attached to the petrol station as Challacombe has a
post office stores. Within 1 mile is the Exmoor zoological gardens with
excellent attractions for the whole family and then 5 miles in the other
direction is the Woody Bay station and section of steam railway which draws people from all around the
area. Both of these attractions provide excellent cream teas!
The cottage is strategically placed with amazing natural country to explore and enjoy on all 3 sides. To the east within a mile, is the Exmoor National Park stretching for 20 miles. To the North and West is a stretch of 20 miles of coast designated as of outstanding natural beauty... and the crescent ends with the Braunton Burrows, which are a "Biosphere Reserve". This all gives exceptional variety and of course Barnstaple is to the South - don't miss the Pannier Market - special days Wednesday and Friday.
Spring at the cottage
The most beautiful time at the cottage. Spring flowers abound with primrose banks, violets and daffodils. The beech hedges and trees bursting into fresh green leaf. The birds nesting all around and the cattle and sheep in the fields of lush grass after the winter.
Summer at the cottage
Exmoor summer sunshine bringing that still heat and all the doors and windows open to let the draught through! Then the heavy rains and mist coming up the valley... but often 6 miles away down at the cost, the clouds lift and break for the sun to come through again. The swallows dip and dive round the garden and up and down the lane. In the evening twilight the bats circle round as you return from a days walking over the moor with views across fading horizons into distant Dartmoor and Cornwall.
Autumn & Winter at the cottage
In the Autumn all the beech trees and hedges come aflame with yellows, browns and golds. Then through the winter with the leaves off the trees everything is open, views wide and the countryside neat and tidy. On cold days there are plenty of pubs with log fires and you can keep cosy at home in the cottage with the woodburner.