Overview

This unique self catering 'hide-away' is a tasteful and stylish conversion of the former 'Cider Loft' at our stunning farmhouse B&B in Devon. The accommodation is full of character and provides comfortable, affordable well-equipped self-catering accommodation for 1 to 3 adults or a young family to holiday in unrivalled peace.

Approached from the main farmhouse stairs, the large double en-suite bedroom leads through to a large beautiful open-plan Day Room with vaulted ceiling and exposed timbers. There is a comfortable living area, beautiful bespoke hand-crafted kitchen and oak servery/bar to a dining area.

This historic farmhouse (mentioned in Devon parishes records back in 1606) is located in the exceptionally tranquil sheltered valley of Luppitt just 10 minutes from Honiton in the Blackdown Hills �Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty�.

Along with our Bed & Breakfast guests, Cider Loft guests have access to 4 acres of grounds with traditional stone barns, lovely gardens and a former orchard (where our chickens free-range). This leads to a large meadow which is full of wild flowers, grasses & butterflies in the spring and grazed by sheep in the summer & autumn.

We've restored the Cider Loft using traditional materials - natural lime plasters, lime-wash and reclaimed timbers. Both the bedroom and day room are dual aspect and flooded with light. Original roof timbers and 'A'-frame are exposed and colours are muted and natural. There's efficient central heating and ample hot water provided entirely from renewable energy sources (wood pellets, thermal solar and logs). This all makes for a very relaxing living environment.

As owners we live on site in our own separate part of the farmhouse, so are generally on hand if you need any help, advice or simply want to chat.

The Cider Loft is just the place if you're seeking some 'time out' on your own away from the stress of your busy life or job....some privacy, some peace, some time to take stock. The environment here can be pretty therapeutic and inspiring! It's a haven for artists, photographers, writers and of course nature-lovers. The air is fresh and full of bird-song.

If you're feeling active, on our doorstep there are wonderful walks, ancient hill forts with 360� views, old fashioned winding narrow lanes with high hedges and great village inns that we can recommend. (superb local Red Devon beef washed down with our own village brewery's Otter Ale is not to be missed!). The fabulous World Heritage Jurassic Coast and South Devon Coastal Path, Branscombe, Bere, Sidmouth, Lyme Regis are waiting to be explored, just 30 mins away. (also fossil-hunting, sea-fishing, boat trips).

If you're after thrills, within 10 minutes drive you can Skydive, have a 4x4 off-road experience or go Karting. Forde Abbey, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens, Cathedral City of Exeter and Dartmoor are all ideal day outings.
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And it's just 12 mins drive into Honiton, our thriving market town, with supermarkets, great coffee shops, restaurants, take-aways and antique shops galore to browse.

 

Accommodation Details

ENTRANCE
The Cider Loft is accessed from the landing of the main farmhouse into:

BEDROOM
- large sunny dual aspect bedroom with comfortable pine double bed (4�6"), wardrobe & dressing table, original cast iron feature fireplace and two easy chairs; top quality Egyptian cotton crisp linen & a heavyweight Paisley bed-throw. For those with very young children, there is plenty of space for your travel cot within the bedroom (we do not have a standard cot available).
The en-suite shower room has a great Hudson Reid �rain-head� shower, a Victorian style heated towel rail and W.C.

N.B. There is a top quality full-sized (6'6"x 3') folding bed stored in the Day Room for a child or a 3rd adult if needed. This can be used in either room and is easy to put up, fold away or move.

OPEN-PLAN DAY ROOM
This part of the original Cider Loft is now beautifully converted into a large open-plan beamed Day Room with vaulted ceiling & the original exposed pitch-pine �A�-frame and purlins. The dual aspect room is flooded with light and the windows look out over the barn roofs towards Dumpdon Hill iron-age hill-fort and Hartridge Common to the south-east and over the garden and hills towards the sunset in the west. The carpeted living area has a large comfortable 2 seater sofa, a rocking chair, TV, DVD & Video. The floor is constructed from golden pine boards cut from huge timbers reclaimed from an old mill. The room is centrally heated and there are long heavy curtains.The fully equipped compact bespoke kitchen is crafted from painted reclaimed pine with oak worktops, twin Belfast sinks and an island unit�..with rustic oak servery/bar to a Dining area with bar stools and dining table with seating for 4. Kitchen equipment includes electric cooker with hob, grill and oven, small dishwasher, microwave oven, small fridge with freezer compartment, together with pots, pans crockery etc. sufficient for a comfortable holiday stay. (We can store additional frozen food in our house freezers if needed)

OUTSIDE
There is ample parking space in the cobbled yard. Along with our B&B visitors, Cider Loft guests have access to the gardens and grounds (see above for details). There are benches in the front and back gardens and a small gravel terrace with table and chairs - a warm sunny corner to enjoy tea or an evening drink, watching the sunset.

NOTES
- if you want friends to stay, see our separate page on this site:
"Dolish Farmhouse Bed and Breakfast, near Honiton, Devon"

- in the future we plan to extend The Cider Loft beyond the present Day Room to convert and incorporate the remainder of the old Cider House at the end of the building. Upstairs this will provide a new large feature Living Room with exposed roof frames and glass doors out onto a large first floor timber deck with steps up from the garden and, internally, stairs down to a further en-suite bedroom with door out to a ground floor terrace. The kitchen in the present Day room will then be enlarged and the access to the Cider Loft will be from the garden.

 

Price Guide:

Low Season �250/week to High season �550/week
~ based on up to 2 adults + child<12 yrs

3rd adult/child 12+ add �70/week
(full sized quality folding bed + linen provided)

 

General Details

Credit Cards Accepted: Delta, Mastercard, Maestro/Switch, Solo, Visa
When Closed: Xmas & New Year
Child Friendly: Children of all ages welcome - (suited to over 12's)
Dog Friendly: Not in the house. Overnight in car by arrangement.
Eco Friendly: Green Achiever - 5 Star Award, Five Leaf Green System - 4 Leaf Award, heating & hot water using Wood Pellet boiler, Thermal Solar & Heat Store, earth wool insulation, breathable VOC-free paints & many other measures, please see the Eco Info page on our official website, also our Environmental Commitment Declaration Statement on Green Achiever
Wheelchair Access: No
Accreditation: Green Achiever - 5 Star Award, Five Leaf Green System - 4 Leaf Award
Local Services Nearby: Yes
Local Service Details: Buy our Free-range eggs, Luppitt village honey and hand-made eco-soaps onsite; Shop 10 mins Dunkeswell; great village Pub/Restaurant 10 mins Upottery; Shops, Supermarket, Restaurants, Cafes, Pubs, Mainline Rail,Swimming, Golf 12 mins Honiton; International Airport 20 mins Exeter
Change Over for Self Catering: Saturday

 

Other Information

see our AERIAL VIDEO HERE: http://youtu.be/3J0Uughngqc

HOW TO FIND US:
by road:from the M5 (20 minutes from Jn 26 at Wellington) or the A30/A303 (10 minutes from Honiton).

by rail:
Honiton Station has mainline connections to London Waterloo and to the nearby city of Exeter.Exeter St.Davids Station provides fast links to London Paddington and south-west to Penzance, Cornwall.

by air:
Exeter International Airport can be reached by car in 25 minutes
Dunkeswell local Airfield can be reached by car in 10 minutes