TESTIMONIALS"Our family fortnight in heaven was at Holwell this year! Our family loves to explore wild and magical countryside from a warm and comfortable base, and Holwell certainly provided that for us. We transplanted the whole family, including 2 dogs, 2 horses, 2 ponies and 2 children, from Hampshire to Dartmoor with incredibly little trouble, and as soon as we arrived the children asked to return next year - they hadn't even taken the time to look around properly! The house was welcoming and beautifully presented, views to die for in every direction, and the welcome pack made sure that the holiday could commence immediately. The very large kitchen and living space was perfect for entertaining all the family and friends we invited to share our heavenly holiday, and we even managed to produce Sunday lunch for 15 people. The children were all enchanted with the piglets racing around the farmyard, totally free range, as well as the chickens, dogs and beautiful red Devon cattle. The local town of Bovey Tracey offered all day to day needs within 15 minutes' drive, and there was also a fantastic little farm shop about 10 minutes away. This mean't that, although Holwell feels deliciously remote, nothing is really too far away, making the holiday that much more enjoyable for the caterer. Two very good pubs within 10 minutes in Widecombe came to the rescue on various occassions when I went on strike! Riding across the moor in any direction was a complete treat, and even my son asked to ride every day. All in all, we couldn't recommend this wonderful Dartmoor farm more highly, and will definitely return as soon as we possibly can." The Bullen Family - August 2011
“We have just returned from the most amazing riding holiday at Holwell. I was surfing the net looking for places to stay with horses on Dartmoor and as soon as I came across Holwell, I knew I just had to go! Although we were really looking forward to our holiday and it all sounded so perfect, I was worried that it may not live up to our expectations. I needn’t have worried. Not only is Holwell a rider’s paradise but from the moment we arrived, we felt so welcome and Philippa and Sebastian were so accommodating to our needs, helping out in any way they could to make us as happy as possible. I had a slow puncture and they sorted everything out for me, contacting the local garage and sorting it all out. Stayed June 2011; Polly & Lilli A stunning, working farm with personalities to ensure our stay was maximised to the limit. Peter the farm manager could not do enough to show the kids around the farm and the animals too; pigs, geese, hens, ducks, donkeys, dogs, horses and his favourite, the cows (& the ram who thinks he's a cow) - who he talked to (and them back). Sebastian with his very dry sense of humour was superb, as was Philippa his long suffering wife !! The farm is beautifully presented and the animals approachable and accessible. The location is stunning with views up towards the "tors" and positioned perfectly to explore the "moor", yet accessible to Widdecome (the closest hamlet) just 2 miles away. The accomodation was presented beautifully internally with space galore; the donkeys even came to see us when the gates were left open ! A fabulous experience which we plan to repeat as soon as possible. Stayed April 2011, travelled with family We stayed in the Hounds Tor Cottage for 1 week, a beautiful renovated old building which was originally a stable for the horses. The interior is of high quality and lots of beautiful original details. Even on rainy days it's a pleasure to stay. The farm is situated in the middle of Dartmoor national park. You can walk to the Tors and enjoy the beautiful nature , especially in spring when wild flowers coloured the hills purple. The farm is huge, a lot of ground and space for the animals. It is a pleasure to see pigs enjoying there mud bath. In the end the pigs will go the butchery, but the welfare for these animals during their live is really amazing and an example for other pigfarms. The meat you get from the butchery is very tasty. It is a very quit place, no sound, no traffic at all. We loved it even our 3 teenage children, they didn't even care that there was no mobile phone connection possible. M.Bierens The Netherlands May 2011 Unique valley location in the centre of Dartmoor with 5 Star luxury in converted farm buildings. An oasis of peace, walk through hillsides of bluebells, watch the cows and pigs munch contently before following the primrose path beside the stream. Homegrown produce is delicious. When the sun shines this is as good as it gets in England. Room Tip: All the cottages have spectacular views Stayed May 2011, travelled with family The cottages are in an idyllic setting close to Widecombe in the Moor. We stayed in Saddle Tor Cottage which is extremely spacious and has every conceivable amenity, from the kitchen diner to the TV lounge with its glowing log fire. The Bedrooms with en suite bathrooms are also very spacious and comfortable. Our hosts, the Hughes family are very hospitable and nothing is too much trouble for them. We enjoyed our stay very much and cannot wait to return. Stayed April 2011, travelled with family We stayed in Haytor Cottage. The facilities are fabulous - range cooker, wood burner for the chilly March nights. Travelling with dogs can be tricky however Phillipa made us and our two golden retrievers feel very welcome. Everyone on the farm was helpful, pointing out walks and places where our dogs could run free without worry. We brought home some Holwell pork, cut especially for us with lots of crackling and it was cooked with the ceremony it deserved for Mother's Day - it was absolutely superb - just like pork used to taste! We've also had bacon and sausages and will be putting in a regular order from now on. I am sure Holwell is somewhere we will return again and again. Stayed March 2011, travelled as a couple Really lovely break at Holwell Farm. Friendly welcome. Beautifully done out cottage with wood burner and AGA and fantastic view of the Tors. Can walk straight out onto the moors, feed the farm animals, cosy up inside - all lovely. just watch out for the angry geese!! Stayed March 2011, travelled with family We were lucky enough to have the largest cottage (have stayed previously in one of the smaller ones which was just as lovely) which is beautifully designed with a huge open plan granite kitchen-a joy to cook in- log fire lounge, glass fronted sitting room with breath taking views over the moors to the Tors. A true taste of luxury which will appeal to couples and families alike, we awoke to ponies/donkeys/piglets/geese in the back garden -and even the owners rather well fed basset hounds paid us a visit! Loads to do locally - picturesque villages, fabulous walks, beaches all close by. Room Tip: Try the owners' delicious home reared sausages Stayed March 2011, travelled with family This was our second time at Holwell and it was just as good as last year if not better. We were a party of 30 and booked all the cottages to celebrate a big birthday, it worked so well and many of the guests said that they are keen to come back under their own steam. It is such a splendid location with the most wonderful views. We had 2 of the best walks on blustery Dartmoor which were a delight. The houses are nicely converted from farm buildings and the beds are better than at home. My only warning, no phone signal unless you walk up the road and the internet didn't work so if this poses a problem it might not be your best solution although we liked the fact that we had to switch off for once. Stayed February 2011, travelled with family. Our family party of 7 adults (and one toddler) stayed over New Year at Saddle Tor. The building was incredibly spacious, modern and comfortable (amazing beds!). We settled ourselves in for 5 nights and had a wonderful time. The fog descended for most of our stay, but that didn't matter as we were cosy with the log burning fire. Philippa and Sebastian were helpful and ensured our stay was good. We ordered meat from their business Tor to door and were really impressed by the quality - has been hard going back to supermarket meat! The toddler especially loved meeting the farm animals and was happy running around the vast living, kitchen area. When the fog lifted, the views across the moor to the Tors was spectacular. Overall the agreement had by all was that it was a stunning place in a stunning location - a real success! Jan 2011 Having made a monumental journey from Suffolk, for a well earned half term break to beautiful Dartmoor ,we were staggered by the quality of our accomodation which far exceeded our already high expectations. We usually take one holiday per annum accompanied by our 3 pampered pooches and had almost given up all hope of finding any accomodation which would not only accept 3 dogs but actually WELCOME them! Our stay at Holwell Barton Farmhouse has meant that we will look no further and have already booked our return visit! Stayed at one of the spacious cottages on this farm with views to take your breathe away. the owners were charming, the accommodation was 5 star comfortable , and the walks that begin on the doorstep were wonderful. Can also recommend the sausages from their on site butcher. March 2011 “When you get to organising your holiday at Holwell Farm, don’t forget to take your horses with you, they should definitely not be left behind.
"We have just returned from a short break at Holwell. It really is a very beautiful special place and we had a wonderful time. Lots of nice touches such as the excellent beds and spacious bedrooms. Our toddler was besotted by the dogs and piglets on the farm and the nearby tor with stream was spellbinding. We are already looking forward to visiting again. " Victoria Whitbread & family, April 2010 "We have recently returned home from a really enjoyable week at Holwell. The party comprised of 2 adults, a baby (15 months) and 2 dogs and the property perfectly dealt with all our needs. Everything was as stated on the website we were also provided with a high chair, unfortunately another party had use of the travel cot. Even though the owners were away the week we went we were very well looked after by Peter who works on the farm and was sitting in for the owners. Not only did he answer all our queries on walks around the farm with the dogs but provided tours of the farm & especially the pig pens with all the piglets. We would certainly recommend this friends as a good place to explore Dartmoor and the surrounding area. " Tom Gormley & family, April 2010 "Fantastic setting, superb barn conversions, completley idyllic, very friendly - definitely going back !" Mike Pendry, April 2010"We first visited Holwell in November 2008, and have since been back twice and currently planning another week, so that must say it all. The place is a real getaway and the perfect holiday for humans and their four legged friends. A 40 minute walk has you in the lovely village of Widecombe with its two pubs and cafe so there is no need to cook every day and every excuse to have that extra pudding to fuel the walk home up Bone Hill." Heather Rattray, March 2010 "This has been our second visit to Holwell Farm. On both occasions we have gone as a group and stayed in the larger of the cottages. We choose to spend our time around the cottage taking advantage of the 5 star comforts. Each time we visited in winter and have found the cottage warm and cosy and the woodburner and cooking range give it a lovely farmhouse ambience. "We have visited Holwell twice in the last 12 months and will certainly be returning later this year. The cottages are very well appointed offering high levels of comfort and a home from home environment with outstanding customer service. The walk to Widecombe on the moor is a gentle 30 minute downhill, I would suggest a hearty lunch in one of the lovely village pubs to raise energy levels for the slightly more arduous journey home. " Simon Walker, March 2010 The on-site butchery is a added bonus, offering high quality meats from local sources the majority of which are raised on Holwell.""The cottage was truly 5 star luxury and had all mod cons in a wonderful setting. As confirmed hotel stayers for the last few years after some very disappointing stays in self catering this was a blissful escape in a clean well maintained property well deserving of its 5 stars. Our dog had a great time and so did we...far away from the stress and strains of everyday life yet with all the amenities you could wish for close by in Widecombe and Ashburton. we will certainly be back and have already been telling all our friends and colleagues to visit as soon as they can." Mrs Hargreaves, March 2010 "My husband and I love nothing more than a break in this country in a beautiful cottage. We have holidayed at many properties in the uk this is by far the most exceptional property we have ever stayed. The enitre experience is quite outstanding. The owners who you deal with direct are so helpful and welcoming, The property is incredible we have already returned and will be again. I appreciate you may read this as i have many times and wonder how good can this property actually be. I can assure you i am a very hard person to please and to be quite honest i could have easily stayed.The attention to detail is exceptinal very high quality, it was beautifully clean, linen and towels beautiful quality. The living space and views from every window, im leaving for you to experience when you arrive, the breath taking moment when you walk in is like nothing else. This has been done reluctantly as i dont really want to share it with anyone as my husband, myself and family will be returning for a long time to come." David Grady, March 2010 "We first met the owners of Holwell Farm Cottages when we stayed at their previous prestigious hotel on Dartmoor and returned on more than one occasion. When we heard that they were to start a new venture of "5 star" holiday cottages we sensed it would be good and took our daughter, son-in-law and two small grandchildren there shortly after they opened. We were not disappointed as there was something for everyone to do and the children loved the working farm. We enjoyed it so much that my wife and I returned at the end of 2009 and again in early 2010. This was for a most enjoyable relaxing week. There is no need to go out if you don't want to as there is a "welcome pack" but there are also a number of good pubs and restaurants within easy driving distance. The Rock Inn at Haytor Vale being one of the best and nearest. Ashburton is a fine small town relatively close by. The best testimonial we can give is that we have been to Holwell three times and will certainly hope to go again. We would have no hesitation in recommending these cottages to our friends." Jean and Tony Barron, Feb 2010 Just to say thank you, we have had the most wonderful stay. The cottage is beautiful and the attention to detail is second to none. To really get away from everything in such lovely surroundings has made this an amazing break for us. It definitely won't be the last time you see us !! “We had a lovely family time at Holwell Farm. The setting is spectacular and Philippa, Sebastian and Henry were welcoming and accommodating. The kids were overjoyed at feeding the animals and being on the farm in general. The prepared foods were excellent and we took home a leg of lamb which was so tender and delicious I am certain we will order more. I wondered whether getting to know the animals would turn the children into vegetarians, and I think it has made them think more carefully about only eating meat from happy animals that have been well looked after….” Alan Lewis & Family, October 2009 Just a short note to say that we had a fantastic relaxing stay at Chinkwell and we will be certainly booking again in the future.
We have recently returned from our fifth (yes, that's right!!) visit to Holwell and have had another fabulous break. As always, we were made to feel so welcome, it always feels like a real home from home.
Had a fantastic week for the second time at Holwell. Amazing location on a lovely working farm. The scenery from the lawn is spectacular. The owners were really friendly and were a great source of local knowledge-thanks sebastion for the info about Deeper Marsh! Picnic spots unrivalled and the children had an amazing time. Thank you so much for such a wonderful weekend. The cottage was fabulous. Ellie Price, Saddle Tor, June 09
We have now had the wonderful opportunity to have stayerd twice at Holwell. When I say we I should add this includes myself, my husband, 4 children, 2 grandparents, 4 horses and 5 dogs> . We are all treated to the warmest of welcomes, the ultimate in home comforts and surroundings that take your breath away. As the years pass I know we will have fond, lasting memories of our Holwell days, watching the children removed from televisions and play stations and utilising the wonderful environment, playing hide and seek, climbing trees and wading through rivers. Dr R and Mrs E John. Modbury, Devon (May 2009)
Just a quick note to thank you for a great stay on the farm. We had a lovely break (even with the wet weather) and the children loved see all the animal and collecting eggs. We thought that Holwell was a lovely place for holiday and we hope to visit you again in the future, if you’ll have us ! Kind Regards Ed & Judith Elliston, Holwell Barton, July 2008
Many thanks for a beautifully clean cottage, very much appreciated. The Steven Family, HayTor April 08
Just to say thank you for accommodating us at Saddle Tor cottage for our son Tom's christening.
Just to say how much we enjoyed our short stay this feb 27th-2nd march. The cottage was fab and very comfortable. The dogs [all four!!] very much enjoyed their stay. George the Falconer gave us a brilliant half day with his fathered friends, we all enjoyed this emensley evan though a bit cold!! We are hoping to return very soon.Karen Darke, Chinkwell Tor, Feb 08
A fantastic holiday whatever the weather; and we've had all sorts this July! The cottage is extremely comfortable and has all we need. Perfect location and beautiful surroundings. We enjoyed lunch at the hotel, the children were well looked after. Holwell provides everything we need; comfortable, well equipped accommodation, peaceful and tranquil setting and good walks for us and our pet Kalom; thank you!
We think you have done a fantastic job and seem to have thought of just about everything that might be needed. 10/10 for attention to detail that really makes a holiday.
the parents with the quality of a 5 Star hotel and the whole family the joy of living the country life that you will never get in a city of a Spanish beach! It was cold and wet when we went but was still one of the most relaxing and fantastic holidays we have ever had as a family.
week at Holwell and can't wait to come back; neither can Hal our dog.
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