last weekend already seems such a long time ago. i miss last weekend already. you see i had kindly been invited by holiday cottages.co.uk to stay for a weekend in one of their converted barns in bradworthy in north devon. the added bonus was that 13 other bloggers had also been invited so much fun was indeed to be had.
we drove from london, which took a fair while, actually it took 7 hours! the A303 is a stonehenge lovers photo opportunity queue, never again!
we finally arrived around 7pm to the most beautiful converted barn, lympscott barn. the front of the property lit up by the full height glass windows surrounding the barns entrance, welcoming you with a glow into a rather grand entrance hall and staircase with a showpiece chandelier. it certainly has kerb appeal.
inside many of the other bloggers had already arrived, the barn was buzzing with high spirits, mainly gin. we gathered in the heart of the barn, which is an enormous open plan room encompassing the kitchen, dining and living area. what a magnificent space, absolutely perfect for a small social gathering.
we had all agreed in advance to bring a dish, so that friday nights supper didn’t need much “actual” doing when we all got there. it was a great plan, everyone tucked straight in, the conversation and drinks were flowing and within an hour or so the outdoor hot tub was also overflowing! and yes you can get 10 bloggers in a hot tub. #fact.
lympscott barn certainly has an abundance of space, magnified by the high ceilings and neutral decor, it feels rather grand yet very cosy all at the same time. it sleeps up to 14 people in a selection of bedrooms including 4 doubles of which 2 have en suites , 1 twin room and a quad room also with their own en suite bathrooms too. a great mix if sharing the house with a couple of families. (i just wish the bath towels were bigger) we had a full house and it did not feel crowed at all, even when we were all at breakfast the following morning.
the downstairs boot room is perfect for kicking off those wet muddy wellies ready to warm those tootsies up on the underfloor heating.
as well as the hot tub outside there is also a bbq and dining area out the front of the barn for those warmer evenings if you fancy a spot of alfresco dining.
just across from the house is a games room, with a small snooker table that can also transform into a ping-pong table perfect for a tournament or two!
it’s the perfect home from home to host a family gathering, a special birthday celebration or maybe to welcome in the new year with friends.
the location is great, as you are close to so many great outdoor adventures. our time however was short so we only had a day to explore. we filled our tummies to the brim with fantastic local produce from a breakfast hamper provided by local deli johns, it was totally delicious. we pulled on our boots and headed down the road and into cornwall to bude, a short 20 minute drive and well worth it for the great sea-shore walk along summerleaze beach.
these guys were completing the equivalent of a cross-channel swim. crazies.
with our breakfast truly walked off we headed back to base camp for some more yummy grub from johns! the plan was originally for a picnic by lake tamar which is close to the cottage, but it was overcast and the glorious open plan dining area was calling us all!
our tanks re-filled we swiftly headed off for a 3 mile trek around the lake. emma and katy who were our hosts for the weekend had left us a trail of clues and questions along our walk to keep us going strong and slip in a hint of competitiveness amongst the group!
and 3 miles later…. yep we were hungry again!
katy and emma had booked a table at a local inn in bradworthy for a glorious evening meal. and glorious it was thank you ladies. actually thank you for a wonderful weekend. the cottage was wonderful, the company fabulous and ALL the food was magnificent!
now who fancies doing it all over again?
disclaimer : i was invited to stay at lympscott barn free of charge, together with a group of other bloggers. all the bloggers were asked to review the barn and cover our stay on social media and on our blogs. it goes without saying i am always honest and my views and opinions will always be my own.