We are back again this week with our Farm Insights series. This time with Pickwell Barton a beautiful self-catering accommodation site located near Croyde and Woolacombe. North Devon is the perfect destination for a countryside and beach holiday escape.
Their Accommodation
Pickwell Barton Farm Holiday Cottages is a working farm that has been in the family for generations. The farm and cottages have breathtaking coastal and countryside views. Pickwell Barton self-catering cottages have been awarded 4* gold. Each cottage has two or three bedrooms and sleeps between two and eight people.
There is plenty of room at Pickwell Barton including space for three cars to park. Furthermore, Pickwell Barton is a fantastic location for a holiday due to it’s close proximity to the beaches. Putsborough is the closest and you can park for free at Putsborough when you stay at Pickwell Barton. You can also access Woolacombe beach through Pickwell Bartons very own fields! In addition to Putsborough and Woolacombe, you also have other beaches nearby including Croyde and Saunton. As well as the beautiful, sandy beaches, Pickwell Barton is close to amenities with the likes of pubs, cafes, restaurants and other shops only 1.5 miles away at either Georgham or Croyde.
History on the owners
Pickwell Barton is owned and run by Jane and Andrew Cook. The working farm has been in the Cook family for nearly 100 years and is now on its 5th generation working on the land! The farm consists of 600 acres on the North Devon Coast. The farmland extending from 600ft above sea level down to sea level. The farmhouse and holiday cottages are situated at around 300ft, centered in the middle of the farm. The farm contains approximately 300 acres of arable land and the rest is grassland for sheep and cattle. The farm has 550 ewes that the Cook lamb in March, making for a very busy month, followed by the harvesting months of July and August.
The holiday cottages were started by Shelia Cook (Andrew’s mum) after the workman retired from working on the farm after 50 years. This left the workman’s cottage empty which they converted to holiday accommodation. Jane her daughter-in-law helped and took over the running of the business in the 90’s. When we asked Jane why she liked doing holiday accommodation she said:
“I absolutely love meeting my guests, we have made many friends over the years. It’s my pleasure to have the cottages sparkling by the time my guests arrive with fresh flowers, wine chilling, tea, coffee, sugar, milk, cream and eggs fresh from my hens, providing they are laying – they oblige most weeks!
Beautiful, clean crisp linen and fluffy towels, wood burners lit (logs included), heating on (all included), and a very warm welcome to our beautiful luxury cottages. Our guests are surprised to have found such an amazing place, charming and so peaceful in a stunning location, a friendly family who warmly welcome their guests to beautiful holiday cottages where memories are made.
They come back year after year, with many guests booking more than one week and often a short break too. The cottages are great for the extended family and Jane’s “Pop Up Games Room” is a fabulous idea for families to have their very own Olympic challenge, for when we are surfed out or it’s a little damp!”
Favourite place or activity
We asked Jane what her favourite place or activity is here in Devon and she told us, “This has to be Putsborough and Woolacombe beach, just a short stroll from the cottage door! Private access through our fields to this fabulous beach. To us, the ‘Best Beach in the World’, to many (UK TripAdvisor) No1 in the UK! The perfect family day out with a picnic, swim or the only place to surf if it’s a south-westerly! Award-winning toilets, surf hire, a fabulous shop selling everything from a bucket and spade to a delicious homemade cake, the best breakfast and loads more different foods, oh and ice-creams too of course! A beach that is accessible to all, with ramps and a Trampas for hire’. As Putsborough is our favourite beach, you can park there for FREE! – while staying with us!
The National Trust also plays a huge part in this area of outstanding natural beauty. Jane loves to walk and enjoys visiting the many historical NT houses and parks in North Devon, Arlington Court near Barnstaple, famous for its carriage museum, Knight Hayes, Tiverton and Killerton House near Exeter, all very accessible from Pickwell Barton. For stunning scenery walks they don’t get much better than Baggy and Morte Points and both can be seen from the farm”
For more information about Pickwell Barton be sure to check out their page on our website.