Possession, they say, is nine tenths of the law, and that is certainly true for a dog and its bone.

Our young Clumber spaniel, Holly, found a really delicious bone in one of our fields. It was long and straight, probably a red deer shin bone, and Holly carried it around everywhere. Sometimes she parked it in a special place, in one of the farm buildings or a corner of a field, but she always knew exactly where it was. If one of the other dogs went anywhere near it she was there in an instant, growling furiously.

This happened when I was checking the sheep that were grazing a field on the other side of the valley. Holly suddenly came pounding passed me, shooting down the field at breakneck speed going faster than I had ever seen her run. The reason soon became obvious. From 200 yards up the hill she had spotted Teazal getting just that bit too close to where she had left her bone. She landed on the bone in a sort of somersault, and managed to growl at the same time.

Sadly for Holly, though, possession is just nine tenths of the law, and when senior dog Jessie, our old Springer spaniel, decided it was time she had the bone, that was it. A very dejected Holly sat in the middle of the yard watching Jessie devour the bone at her leisure.

Eventually, by way of compensation, Holly went and helped herself to a very large courgette from the garden. This she also carried around for a few days, but it wasn’t quite the same.

Bruce, our sheepdog, really earned his keep today!

I was checking the fields where the lambs are currently grazing, Higher and Lower Cleave, and the whole flock seemed to be happily munching away in the lower field. However, since lambs are notoriously good at getting their heads stuck through the gaps in the wire fencing because they are trying to eat the hedge, it is always worth walking around all their pasture to check that there is no white bum sticking out from a fence somewhere, with the front end giving out some pretty annoyed baaing.

Higher Cleave seemed completely empty, and I was on my way to another small field the lambs had access to, when I saw Bruce lying down watching a bit of hedge in the far corner, a good 200 yards away. Under the hedge it was pretty dark and there was no sign of a white bum, or any bleating, so I called Bruce several times, which he completely ignored, causing me to stomp across to him followed by several of the spaniels who started to get quite excited as they thought they were going to see Bruce told off. Only when I got to within a few yards of him could I make out the shape of a lamb well and truly stuck in the blackthorn on the hedge side of the fence. Not satisfied with that it had also shoved its head back through the fence and got that stuck.

Half an hour later, after hacking through several branches of blackthorn with a blunt penknife, I managed to get into the hedge and drag the lamb out, at which point Bruce took over and had great fun in driving it all the way back to its mates in Lower Cleave.

Given that lamb’s predicament it is very unlikely it would have survived the night, so in an unprecedented fit of generosity, Brucey was given an extra biscuit for his supper!

We had a great reaction to our last blog post about our beautiful dogs and so we thought we would share one of our most recent anecdotes with you here…

My plan of lifting our main crop spuds in September seems to have been superseded by a couple of Clumber spaniels with very large digging paws.

We grow three 20 yard rows of potatoes in a different part of a field every year, and the other day, when I went to check them for blight, I found a scene of total desolation right in the middle of the patch.

The neat rows had been replaced by a sort of mini tank training ground with potato haulms and half eaten spuds liberally scattered everywhere! The culprits, Barley and Holly, were laid up in the shippon busily licking the evidence of their extremely muddy paws. Shouting at them had little effect, as by clumber standards, that was a good day’s work.

Speaking of paws, clumber spaniels have paws that must be at least three times bigger than a springer spaniel’s dainty little feet.

Barley’s paws are particularly large, with great tufts of hair growing between his toes. Follow his tracks in the snow and you could be forgiven for thinking you were following a small bear. When Barley puts a paw in your hand, it fills your hand. When either Jessie or Teazel offer a paw, you wonder how they can work beating all day in challenging conditions on such neat little feet.

No doubt there will be many more stories to come!

Welcome to the world of farm dogs, or at least that of five dogs that live on a small farm in deepest rural Devon.

We have two Springer spaniels, two Clumber spaniels and a sheepdog called Bruce. The spaniels go beating with the Missus at a couple of local farmer shoots, and Bruce, who considers himself the only working dog, helps us with the sheep. They all live outside and sleep each night in their own cosy dog box.

Jessie, one of the Springers, is the oldest at around 12 years of age and is the matriarch, or senior dog.

The other dogs treat her with great respect. During the day she holds sway in the log shed area outside the back door where a variety of doggy baskets are scattered, and she will decide which dog, if any, can have one of the other baskets! She has a well-worn look, with a tousle top head and one blind eye due to a bramble catching her years ago. She is also missing a toe and has a touch of arthritis but none of this has curbed her sheer enthusiasm for a day’s beating with the Missus.

The other Springer is Teazel, a three year old that is overflowing with energy and just seems to love every second of her life.

It is always Teazel that will come and plonk herself in our laps should we sit down outside, and she is very adept at getting in and out of deckchairs. As a puppy she was into everything, but sometimes not quite so good at getting out of things. On several occasions we had to pull her out of one of the feed bins by her back legs, only for her to jump straight back in again.

The older Clumber is called Barley.

Jessie is the light of his life and he hates going anywhere without her. He is normally allowed in the basket that is next to Jessie. Whereas Springer spaniels are the pocket rockets of the spaniel world, Clumbers are at the other end of the scale, and Barley is probably off the scale. He will spend ages sitting just contemplating life. Once I overheard a guest telling his wife, “That Barley, he’s a real cool dude”! I think Barley quite liked that. He has a lovely gentle nature, is never aggressive except when Bruce threatens him, and loves having his back scratched. Once he went on holiday to visit a girl Clumber doggy and had, in his own words, ‘A Very Nice Time’, the result of which was a gorgeous litter of 8 cuddly Clumber pups.

And one of these became our other Clumber, Holly, who is now two years old.

She has Barley’s gentle and trusting nature but, because she is one eighth Springer, she is about 10 times more energetic. She and Teazel spend hours happily playing together, rolling over and over in play fighting, and she is becoming a very proficient little hunter catching squirrels and rabbits, both of which we have in abundance. The Missus is always very pleased with her as she has an excellent nose for sniffing out pheasants and will bring anything she has picked up straight back, and drop it at her feet – something the older spaniels need some persuading on.

Finally there is Bruce, a highly intelligent sheepdog who has little time for spaniels.

He absolutely loves working the sheep and gets beside himself with excitement whenever he realises we are about to get them into the shed from the fields. Sometimes he is a little bit too keen and we find he has already brought the sheep up to the gate before we can even get our boots on. Bruce is very much an Alpha dog, which means he has a very good presence with the sheep, but also means that he has to keep challenging our other male dog, Barley. Normally Barley will walk away, but if he feels trapped then he will stand his ground and a real old set-to follows. Unfortunately for Bruce, the cool dude is stronger and has a much bigger mouth, something which Bruce seems incapable of remembering.

Each of our dogs has a very different personality, but all share one characteristic, a carefully considered disregard for instructions or orders of any sort. Yet they do have their own rules, and ways of entertaining themselves, and every so often we will recount some of their adventures.

We have been aware of the term ‘geocaching’ for a while but it has only been recently that we have explored the concept a little bit more, and we have to say – we’re excited!

For those of you who haven’t heard of geocaching, let us explain a bit more.

Geocaching is basically treasure hunting. Similar to the 160-year-old game letterboxing, which uses clues and references embedded in stories, geocaching uses GPS to hide and seek containers, which hold ‘treasure’.

The first documented geocache was placed on May 3 2000 and since then the concept has seen a huge surge in popularity. This is probably because it appeals to so many people; walkers & hikers, families, historians all wanting to take part in a global treasure hunt.

There are currently 2,671,312 active geocaches and over 6 million geocachers worldwide, and plenty to discover here in Devon.

So how does it work? Well, to get involved the first thing to do is register with www.geocaching.com and create your account. Then download the app on your smartphone and search for geocaches near your location. It is really simple to follow, and then all you need to do is get your walking boots on and get hunting! Take a pen with you and a few treasures to swap (when you find the treasure you can take something but it needs to be replaced with something of similar value for the next discoverers.)

There are over 25,000 geocaches in Devon waiting to be found and many of them are in beautiful locations off the beaten track. It’s a walk made fun and so will appeal to the young children of the family who begrudge going on a hike, as the promise of an undiscovered treasure at the end is sure to tempt them all!

At each cache site there is usually a logbook to sign and you can discover who has been there before you. Plus you have the thrill of opening the box and finding out what is hidden inside! You can also log your discovery on the geocaching.com page and find out the story of the site. There are many fascinating tales including geo-coins that have travelled far and wide from Australia, the US and Europe.

Once you’ve become accustomed to the joys of geocaching you can then go on to start hiding your own, and that’s where it becomes really exciting! All the information can be found on the official geocaching site.

We’re itching to get going and so may drag the kids out this weekend – if you try it out be sure to let us know how you get on, and we will keep you updated on our adventures too!

For more information please visit any of the following sites…
www.visitsouthdevon.co.uk/lots-to-do/geocaching-p1546443
www.geocaching.com

With the Big Beach Picnic happening all over the South West this weekend, we wanted to choose 6 of our top locations within Devon to fling down a blanket and get the hamper out!

Tarr Steps

The Tarr Steps are a clapper bridge, which crosses the River Barle in Exmoor National Park. The steps are located in a nature reserve near Dulverton. A perfect spot for alfresco dining, it was picked out by The Sunday Times in 2013 as the UK’s best picnic location. It is remote and relatively difficult to reach but that doesn’t stop the hoards of walkers and picnickers visiting. It is surrounded by beautiful woodlands, amazing wildlife, and open moorland with free roaming Exmoor ponies.

Valley of the Rocks

The Valley of the Rocks is a dry valley that runs parallel to the coast in North Devon to the west of Lynton. It is a stunning location, and a popular tourist location. You have a choice of plenty of grass for picnicking, or you may prefer a rocky knoll if you don’t want to go for one of their designated picnic spots. Wild goats roam the area much to the delight of children, and you may see a game of cricket being played on what would be described as Britain’s most dramatically situated cricket pitch! The coast path from Lynton to the Valley of Rocks is relatively level and has been surfaced with tarmac to make it easier for everyone.

Lydford Gorge

Lydford Gorge boasts the deepest gorge in the South West with a spectacular 30m waterfall and an amazing place to visit at any time of the year. An array of wildlife including Dippers and wagtails can be seen flying low over the river, while woodland birds can be spotted darting about in the trees. It is a National Trust site and the gorge is a feature of the River Lyd, which is the deepest in South West England. The gorge also features a series of whirlpools known as the ‘Devil’s Cauldron’. The orchard or woodland nearby is the perfect location for a picnic or you can visit the nearby tea-rooms.

Braunton Burrows

A stunning coastal venue for your picnic – why not set your blanket down among the network of sand dunes, there are numerous secret spots to discover in Braunton Burrows. Set on the North Devon coast, it is privately owned and forms part of the Christie Devon Estates Trust. It is a prime British sand dune site, and the largest sand dune system (psammosere) in England. A very peaceful spot to enjoy your picnic, you can admire the wildlife or spot birds in the estuary.

Spekes Mill Mouth

Spekes Mill Mouth is the location of one of the most famous waterfalls in North Devon and is just 20 minutes away from Hartland Quay on the South West Coast Path. Consisting of a tumbling waterfall and a long, curving beach you can descend the sandy steps to the beach and watch the surfers while enjoying your picnic. Spekes Mill, despite it’s popularity with the surfers due to its renowned reef brake, remains quiet and peaceful even in the summertime.

Burrator Reservoir

Completed in 1898, Burrator Reservoir is on the south side of Dartmoor near Yelverton, and is one of a number of reservoirs and dams that were built over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries to supply drinking water to the city of Plymouth. Now covered by Dartmoor National Park, the reservoir is surrounded by mixed woodland and you could be mistaken that you were in a traditional Swiss landscape with pine trees and clear water. There is a circular walk that follows the lanes around the water, otherwise take the little road around the reservoir and stop at the small car park. You will see a stone bridge and a stile where you can climb over and trek to the reservoir. There are many pretty spots to lay out the blanket and enjoy the peace and quiet.

So what is ‘The Big Beach Picnic’?

Celebrating 50 years of public support for protecting our previous coastline, the National Trust are hosting Big Beach picnics throughout the South West tomorrow – Saturday 4th July. They are free events and the National Trust are encouraging as many people as possible to join in the celebrations. Beaches that are hosting their own picnic include Woolacombe, Wembury, Saltram, Paignton Green and Branscombe.

For more information please visit nationaltrust.org.uk

Voted Britain’s Best Beach by Trip Advisor in 2015, Woolacombe boasts a 3 mile long sandy beach, facing the Atlantic Ocean and has ranked as 4th best in Europe and 13th best in the world.

A hugely popular destination for surfing and family holidays and is part of the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The beach water quality is monitored regularly by the environment agency and meets its highest standards.

It is no wonder that locals are very proud of this beach, as well as many other smaller coves surrounding the area.

We have many wonderful properties easily accessible for Woolacombe, and we feature two of them here.

Pickwell Barton

Overlooking Woolacombe and Putsborough beaches is Pickwell Barton – a family friendly farm with a very welcoming approach. Jane and her family are very proud of their personal touches, including fresh flowers in both of the cottages and the high standard of cleanliness throughout. They are always on hand for help, but give you the privacy you need.

Surrounded by beautiful views, Pickwell Barton is a sheep and arable working farm, and visitors are able to assist with the collection of eggs, and the feeding of the lambs.

The farm has special offers year round, including free car parking at Putsborough beach. It is a stunning holiday destination, with visitors returning year after year. There is plenty to do in the local area from surfing and kayaking to local walks and a dinosaur park, and not forgetting sandcastle competitions, farmers markets and the fantastic Oceanfest.

Visit their facebook page for up to date news and photographs, including a local barn dance raising funds for the local children’s hospice. We are thrilled to have a delicious chocolate biscuit cake recipe that Jane has given us – which will follow soon!

www.pickwellbarton.co.uk

Widmouth Farm

Widmouth is lucky enough to have it’s own private beach, just a 500 yard stroll through a couple of fields.

Only 15 minutes from Woolacombe on the South West coastal footpath, the farm consists of 11 cottages dating back to 1800, which are full of character with low doorways and curved walls.

The farm has alpacas, pigs, goats, sheep and poultry. It is very dog friendly, with all the ground floors on all the cottages having hard floors and washable rugs. Family friendly too, there is a wealth of history surrounding the farm and the local area.

Nearby is Berrynarbor, a lovely village with 2 good pubs and a community run shop selling local produce from the farm next door. Chambercombe Manor is just 2 miles away, which is known for not only being mentioned in the Doomsday book, but also being the UK’s most haunted house and runs tours and overnight stays.

North Devon Marketing Bureau have recently unveiled their fantastic new lorry that is off on its adventures, travelling over the country promoting North Devon.

To celebrate the launch of this and the new North Devon website (NorthDevon.com) an event was held in Barnstaple. Val Wood, Director of North Devon Marketing Bureau was asked if the North Devon Farm Holiday group would be able to make scones for the official launch.

It was quite a feat to co-ordinate as 300 scones were made as far apart as Holsworthy in the West to Ilfracombe in the East, Umberleigh in the South and all places in-between!

North Devon Group received so much support and help in organising the event, and it could not have been possible without delicious jam from Lizzy’s Larder, Milton Damerel and plenty of clotted cream from Phillip Dennis of Barnstaple & Ilfracombe.

To accompany the scones, what could be better than Champagne?! This was very kindly provided by Brend Hotels, a local family run group of luxury hotels.

Despite the cold weather the scones and champagne were very well received and the event went without a hitch. The lorry was given a great send off on it’s journey throughout the UK – you won’t be able to miss it!

North Devon Group would also like to thank Brend Hotels for supplying the tables and gazebos, and also Fidelius Insurance for allowing the use of their room.

We have the recipe that was used to make those 300 scones, why not make some for yourself this Bank Holiday weekend?!

This month we are taking a look at two market towns within Devon and letting you know all they have to offer. Plus, you can stay at one of our wonderful Farms too!

Crediton

Crediton is a market town just seven miles from Exeter. It is steeped in history as it is the birthplace of the Patron Saint of Germany and Holland, St Boniface in 680AD.

Crediton has been a farming community for most of it’s history, and the area claims to produce some of the best food in Europe. Many products are grown organically and the local farms produce high quality meat and game. There are several dairies and creameries in the area which are open to the public. Crediton also hosts a wonderful Farmers’ Market each month.

The town has an active Arts Centre and boasts a month long festival from 13th June – 11th July which includes Drama, Music, Food & Drink, Comedy and Dance.

At Devon Farms we have members farms throughout Devon and Hele Barton is perfectly located for visiting Crediton. Two beautiful detached 4 star awarded holiday cottages in a stunning rural countryside location. Dating back to the 1600s, the cottages offer fantastic accommodation and are surrounded by an adundance of birds and wildlife. Very child and dog friendly too! Paddle in the river, take a tour of the farm, or take a stroll to Witheridge along the Two Moors Way. Perfectly relaxing for the whole family! www.helebartonfarm.co.uk

Honiton

Honiton is a very friendly market town, made famous through its lace and pottery. It has become a lively shopping centre in East Devon with an abundance of independent shops, cafes and pubs.

Antiques play a huge part in Honiton – with 2 auction houses and approximately 85 dealers it is a huge magnet attracting antiques hunters from all over the world. Honiton also hosts yearly Antique festivals, which bring a huge number of visitors to the town.

Honiton has been known for it’s vibrant markets, that have run since 1257 and continued successfully since that time, showcasing Honiton as a true market town. The market is filled with local traders and producers and there you can find anything from fresh produce, clothing, jewellery, crafts and flowers & plants.

Honiton is also host to the wonderful Thelma Hulbert art gallery, which exhibits a range of contemporary and past artists and runs workshops and educational talks.

A perfect place to stay when visiting Honiton is Godford Farm, a converted barn in Awliscombe, just 2.5 miles away. Godford Farm is a dairy farm, within 130 acres of beautiful Devon countryside. A myriad of wildlife can be found here and you will be transported to a relaxing idyll in a perfect location for exploring the surrounding areas.

Godford Farm has plenty to do for the whole family, otherwise if you are looking for peace and tranquillity as a couple it can offer you that too! Please do take a look at their website… www.devon-farm-holidays.co.uk

It is that magical time of year again when the iridescent colour of blue starts emerging and we know that Spring has most definitely arrived. Famed for being Britain’s favourite wild flower, almost 50% of the worlds bluebells can be found in the UK.

A member of the lily family, the bluebell is usually an indicator of ancient woodland where they grow to become a beautiful carpet of blue. The bluebell is a protected species but it is also being studied for its medicinal qualities. The plant contacts water-soluble alkaloids that, although poisonous, could be useful in developing drugs to fight cancer.

A favourite in folklore, bluebells were known as ‘fairy flowers’, and it was said that if you wore a bluebell you would only speak the truth.

Regardless of whether you are a nature lover or not, it is hard not to be overwhelmed by the sight of a woodland floor covered in blue. Visitors flock from all over to walk amongst the bluebells in Devon, and they really are very special to see.

We have listed five of our favourite bluebell haunts, and recommend you visit at least one over the next few weeks. They are only in flower for a short time so you need to be quick!

Borough Woods, Ilfracombe

Awash with a carpet of colour in Springtime, Borough Woods is one of the longest remaining stretches of ancient woodland in North Devon. Once visited, you will want to return again and again, regardless of season as there is always beauty to witness.
The woodland hosts 37 different plants such as wood anenomes, wood sorrel, purple orchids and golden saxifrage.

Emsworthy Mire, Nr Widecome-in-the-Moor

A Devon Wildlife Trust area, Emsworthy Mire is a 98 hectare site in which half is formed by a wet valley mire. A small stream, Becka Brook, runs along the bottom and is inhabited by an abundance of wildlife.
At the centre of the reserve lie the remains of Emsworthy farmstead, in which the buildings are believed to have been inhabited until the early 1870’s. Only the stone farm remains, and in the late springtime this area is dominated by a carpet of bluebells.
www.devonwildlifetrust.org/reserve/Emsworthy+Mire/overview/

Scanniclift Copse, Doddiscom

Scanniclift Copse is another Devon Wildlife Trust woodland, mainly oak which joins the woodland at Woodah Farm.
The woodland floor is sprinkled with wild garlic and bluebells in Spring, and visitors can walk the trail around the reserve to make the most of the colour and flora. It is narrow and winding in places, with some steep sections. Please allow 45 minutes to compete the circuit.

Hembury Fort, Honiton

Hembury Fort is one of those hidden, unknown gems that once visited, you return year after year. It is an iron age hill fort dating from the late fifth and early fourth millennia BC and onward to the Roman invasion.
The site is a beautiful carpet of colour in spring time and visitors are able to walk the entire circuit of the area.

Wembury Woods, Wembury Village

A National Trust destination, Wembury Woods are beautiful to walk around. There is a wonderful, although hilly, 5 mile route around the woods that you can walk which takes in the bluebells, as well as the fantastic views across the Yealm River. You may be lucky enough to spot deer that graze in the woods, or local waterfowl on the river.

Please do let us know your favourite bluebell walks!