Ewe must delight at this

The sight of Spring lambs gambolling across the North Devon farms is a joy to see. The lambing season runs between February and April – these two Pol Dorset lambs were among the first to be seen at Widmouth Farm Cottages on the North Devon coast.  The warming weather in the region will help them build up strength – amazing how they leap about eh? Cant see how counting them sends you to sleep they are such a joy to watch.  www.widmouthfarmcottages.co.uk

North Devon lambing – visiting time for guests

 

North Devon calf now the new guest for bed and breakfast

Ayrshire calf born 12 days early surprised northdevon farmer Richard Martin who feared the premature calf would not survive – quick thinking he brought the calf into the farm kitchen next to the AGA to help increase its chances of survival.  His dogs vacated their basket for the new guest.  The little calf is hand fed every two hours and seems to be enjoying life as a quest in the farmhouse. www.locksbeamfarm.co.uk

Enjoying life in a North Devon farmhouse

 

Olympic Torch to travel through North Devon

The eyes of the world will be following the Olympic Torch on its prestigious torch relay through the Westcountry in May 2012 before arriving in London for the 2012 Olympics.  Towns expecting to find streets lined with visitors will be Minehead, Lynton, Ilfracombe, Braunton, Barnstaple, Bideford, Great Torrington, Okehampton then across Dartmoor before winding its way to Taunton. www.huxtablefarm.co.uk

 

North Devon- get more for your money

The North Devon bed and breakfast owners together with the self-catering cottages picked up the gauntlet laid down by Thomas Cook who claimed that a holiday in Majorca was cheaper for a family of 4 than if they chose a holiday in North Devon. Laura Holt from the North Devon marketing board was quickly onto the challenge. She researched every penny that could be spent on travel, food and drink, self-catering, entertainments and family passes to all the action and adventure parks.  Compared to the euro equivalent in Majorca, North Devon came out £240 cheaper.   The south west coastal path is visited by many thousands every year and its free , its free to surf our clean beaches, free to watch the Dark Skiies, free to cycle the many sustrans trails.  Just goes to show that the best things in life are free.

 

 

North Devon beaches free for all visitors

Valentine’s Day in North Devon

Struggling what to think of as a surprise on Valentine’s Day – run off to a romantic spot around the North Devon coastal path.  Some of the cottages listed in the North Devon farm accommodation site are offering special short breaks some with speciality food for your arrival.   Valentine’s Day is in the middle of the week so offers the choice of two weekends that  of the 11th or the weekend of the 18th February.  A most affordable Valentine Treat for all. 

North Devon Sunset for Valentine Lovers

 

North Devon and Exmoor farmers launch the Snow Drop express.

North Devon and Exmoor farmers will launch a Park and Ride scheme starting the 4th February enabling visitors to travel to Snow Drop Valley without having to take their cars down the narrow lanes that lead to this beauty spot. Buses start at Wheddon Down in Exmoor National Park tickets cost £4 adults and £2 for children. The area is designated ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) on the River Anvill. This is a positive ‘green’ initiative to help control the impact of tourism in the area. Such green tourism ideas are at the heart of the farmers actions who do so much to maintain the countryside for its visitors. www.kimblandfarmholidays.co.uk

 

War Horse – Dartmoor North Devon

The site of Director Steven Spielberg standing at the counter of the Coop took locals by surprize when he  popped in for a pint of milk when on his film location in Dartmoor.  You’d think he would have staff for this – but no… its his attention to detail that has made War Horse a great film and now a great location to visit.  Some of the filming took place on Ditsworthy Farm Hose near Gutter Tor and nearby Holwell Farm at Widecombe, Meavy, Sheeptor and Ringmoor Down.  The Dartmoor National Park Assoc. are holding 3 hour strolls across these regions.  Dartmoor stretches across the regions of northdevon ,south,east and the west of Devon.

www.holidaycottages-devon.co.uk for a cottage with views of Dartmoor. North Devon

Bude Jazz festival 2012

Start the New Year with entering this into your diary..North Devon’s annual festival is on the 28th August to 31 August.  Traditional and New Orleans Jazz for swingers of all ages.  Great venues around the area and special this year is the Jazz Picnic at Wooda Farm for tickets to Jazz festival see www.budejazz2012.co.uk and for nearby bed and breakfast see

www.langaton-farm-holidays.co.uk  or ring 01288 341215 for more information.

CHAMPAGNE CIDER now made on a North Devon farm

Now lets put history straight it was the westcountrymen not the french who first made champagne.  The traditional method or ‘methode champenoise’ of bottle fermentation was first perfected in the West Country by aristocratic cidermen using coal- fired heavy glass bottles that could withstand pressure and the process recorded in 1662,  six years before Dom Perignon (Brother Pierre) even arrived at Hautvilliers Abbey. 

 Guests at Orchard Keepers Cottage may be the first to sample the 2010 Vintage.  Bottles are already corked and muzzled building up pressure to give that final ‘POP’   www.orchardkeeperscottage.co.uk

North Devon farm makes Champagne

Barn Owl fledgling saved in North Devon

BBC’s Autumnwatch last night saw Chris Packham examine a young tawny owl abandoned by its parents and not yet ready to fend for itself.  Over at Bamfield Farm in Goodleigh young Josh Thorne rescued this owl after it fell from the nest only a week ago.  The Devon Barn Owl Trust advised how to handle the bird, how to feed and what to do.  Will the owl be fully feathered and strong enough to make it through the winter? At Bamfield Farm owl boxes have been in place for 5 years and and are regularly visited by breeding pairs.  Well done Josh.  (www.bamfieldfarm.co.uk)

 

Josh saves young owl on North Devon farm