Farm Insights is a series of posts that enable you to get to know our farm B&B’s and Self-Catering accommodation sites that little bit better. You already see pictures of their accommodation, gardens and facilities but wouldn’t it be lovely to know who the people are behind the accommodation? Now with this series you can do exactly that, and decide whether it could be your next spot for a trip to Devon.
West Down Guest House – North Devon
To start us off on this series we have West Down Guest House in North Devon near South Molton, Great Torrington and Barnstaple. West Down is owned by Brenda and Roger who love running their bed and breakfast in the rural Devon countryside.
Their Accommodation
West Down B&B Guest House has three different rooms to choose from including;
Woodpecker – A two-bedroom suite detached from the main house, providing an abundance of room and privacy. The main bedroom includes a king-size bed and a comfy chair to sit back and relax in. The room also has an interconnecting door to the single bedroom which makes it the perfect suite for a family. There is also a bathroom which includes a bath with an overhead shower which can be accessed independently from both rooms. This room also has disability access.
Swallow – This room offers wheelchair friendly disability access, including a ramp directly from the carpark, a wet room shower with movable stools and frame over the sink. The bed is queen-sized but can be separated out to become two singles on request to facilitate wheelchair access.
Marwood – This beautiful airy room consists of a king-sized bed to rest in after a busy day of fun in Devon. The bedroom also includes an ensuite with a lovely shower, two comfy chairs to sit back and enjoy a cup of tea in and spectacular views from the window.
History on the owners
The owners of West Down Guest House B&B, Brenda and Roger have been working in hospitality for 50 years as of next year! When staying with them you can rest assured that they know what they are doing. In fact, Brenda and Roger won the North Devon Marketing Bureau Supper Service award for West Down B&B both in 1997 and 2008.
To give you a bit of insight into the history of Brenda and Roger’s lives and careers, Brenda came from Bristol and Roger from Gloucester. Roger owned and ran a construction business and Brenda was a secretary at Bristol University. This was before they went on to run a pub in Thornbury, Bristol. They then made the move down to Devon in 1986, where they bought a property which in 1987 became a B&B as well as a racing yard. This was called West Down WhiteChaple near South Molton.
In 2003 they moved again, however Devon was where they regarded home so stayed in the county. Wanting to keep the B&B going, they took the name West Down with them to where they are now near South Molton and Great Torrington. When we asked Brenda and Roger why they liked running a B&B they said ‘it has to be the people, we love meeting new people and welcoming back our regulars who have now become good friends’.
Brenda and Roger have truly become part of the Devon community with Roger becoming the president for North Devon Show next year and Brenda taking an active role in North Devon Farms and Devon Farms.
As for West Down B&B Guest House which is set in 25 acres (where they are now) it too has an interesting history with it being a market garden in the 60’s. It is also one of the few B&B’s that still do evening meals each night.
Favourite place or activity
We asked Brenda and Roger what their favourite place or activity was near them and they said;
‘Well it’s hard to choose just one so we didn’t! We narrowed it down to our three favourite places which are RHS Rosemoor Gardens, Clovelly and Lynton and Lynmouth. However we really just love all of Devon, there is something about the way of life, the people and of course the outstanding beauty of the natural scenery.’
Be sure to take a look at West Down B&B on our website to find out more details about their accommodation and even their availability.
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