A slow afternoon drive through winding country lanes in the beautiful Devonshire countryside brought us to Elmwood, a breath-taking barn conversion which has been lovingly transformed by its owners from a rustic hay barn to an exquisite, contemporary and eco-friendly retreat.
With Elmwood being dog friendly, we invited our spaniel Chester along, who was delighted with his new haven and in particular, the view of the roaming sheep from the upstairs open-plan living area. His temperament soon shifted from eager and bouncy to calm and intrigued as he paused almost mesmerised at his new woolly neighbours. The owners have tastefully designed the barn to cater for dogs, with wooden floors throughout and doggy essentials provided, including bowls, treats, a doggy towel, and even a warm outside shower to wash muddy paws.
We had kindly been greeted with a generous hamper on arrival filled with wine, nibbles and local goodies. We poured ourselves a glass of full-bodied red and took the opportunity to enjoy a moment of stillness, whilst gazing out of the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was the day before the Autumn equinox, which really made an entrance as thunder rumbled over the far-reaching hills making the moment feel even more special as we watched on from our warm abode, glass in hand.
The storm soon settled, which meant we could explore our verdant surroundings on foot. With a crisp Autumn chill in the countryside air and rustling underfoot, we waded through golden leaves in our wellies. We were greeted with an abundance of wildlife along the way, from squirrels and sheep, to horses and deer, making the walk even more enchanting. We soon stumbled across the local country pub, which came recommended by the owner of Elmwood. The Culm Valley Inn is located around 40-minutes from the retreat in the charming village of Culmstock.
We perched ourselves next to the sun-dappled River Culm in the country pub’s garden and enjoyed a well deserved tipple after our leisurely walk. Inside, the pub was bustling with locals, offering plenty of Devonshire charm and character. We opted for some homemade hearty dishes from the specials board which really hit the spot ready for our stroll home.
Elmwood has a luxurious hot tub in the enclosed front garden, which makes for a perfect unwind at the end of the day. We took the opportunity to soak ourselves amongst the bubbles and enjoy our peaceful surroundings whilst watching dusk settle.
It was hard to resist staying in bed on Saturday morning. The super-king bed was swathed in the finest of linens, plump cushions and soft throws, with the most beautiful view overlooking the garden. The neutral toned interiors flow throughout the barn, with the bedrooms adorning a woodland palette of greens, beiges and greys.
For breakfast, I brewed a fresh cafetiere of coffee and my husband cooked some scrambled eggs on toast with fresh local ingredients from our hamper. It was delicious and the perfect way to start our first day of adventures.
We had browsed local walks in the area with maps the owners had kindly provided us with and decided to take a long circular walk to Wellington Monument via Hemyock. The walk took us through majestic woodland areas, where we were met with pheasants, much to Chester’s delight and breath-taking views across the Blackdown Hills, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The Wellington Monument stands as a tribute to the Duke of Wellington and his victory at the Battle of Waterloo. On a clear day, there are spectacular views across the Quantocks and beyond. Unfortunately, luck was not on our side as it was a misty autumnal morning, but it was still an enjoyable and adventurous walk, approximately 9-miles in distance.
After replenishing with a quick bite, we were longing to further explore and were delighted that the sun had started to shine. Nestled in the Otter Valley, The Pig at Combe is about a 20-minute drive away and is well worth a visit. After driving through the winding, grand, private drive, we took advantage of the warmth of the sunshine and perched ourselves on the private front lawn and were met with waiter service. We ordered some aperitifs, Nick opted for a local Devonshire lager and I had a sparkling local rosé, and with an uninterrupted view of rolling Devonshire hills ahead, this truly was bliss.
That evening, we cooked a homemade meal in the well-equipped kitchen at Elmwood. Everything is so tastefully designed, from the quartz worktops to solid brass lighting. The reclaimed farmhouse table is perfect for feast style dining, which felt more than plentiful for my husband and I.
The vaulted ceilings and exposed oak beams offer a touch of nostalgia to the barn whilst maintaining pure elegance and class. The kitchen and living area are flooded with natural light, creating a seamless connection between the indoors and the outside world. As we sat and watched the sun slip behind the horizon, we lit the fire, hunkered down on the sumptuous corner sofa and made use of the Smart TV opting for a Saturday night movie.
A drizzly Sunday morning found us unpacking our wellies and raincoats, ready for a day of exploration. There is so much to explore on your doorstep at Elmwood and within a short distance by car, you can visit Exmoor National Park, Dartmoor, or one of many National Trust heritage sites. We chose to visit Knightshayes near Tiverton, which was well worth exploring. As we had Chester with us, we unfortunately couldn’t go inside the house, however there was an abundance of parkland, perfect for dog walking. The Victorian, Gothic style country house is beyond impressive, I was particularly fascinated by the carved gargoyles and little quirks throughout, including the hedges cut into shapes of woodland animals. After exploring the parklands and exteriors of the buildings, we refuelled with a coffee in the café converted from an old stable and perused the quaint giftshop. We promised ourselves we must return again to explore the interiors and learn more about the history, without our canine companion (sorry Chester!).
Ranked one of the Top 10 Best Pubs in Somerset by The Guardian, we had booked a Sunday lunch at the Candlelight Inn at Chard, a 17th Century country pub, only a short drive from Elmwood. On arrival, Chester spotted the tub of cooked bones that the staff had kindly left for dogs.
The pub was cosy and inviting, with exposed brickwork and beams, an open fire and dried flowers and candles for decoration. We could see why this pub was award winning! The Sunday roast was divine and full to the brim with mouth-watering flavours. After lunch, we squeezed in dessert which we did not regret, although our waistlines may disagree, and then it was time to return to our retreat for our final few moments of relaxation.
Savouring our final day, we made use of all of the wonderful facilities Elmwood has to offer, a lazy afternoon in the hot tub soaking in peaceful solitude, an evening fireside with a glass of aromatic red in hand, and I had a dreamy bubble bath with my latest book. Our trip had nearly come to an end, so I was up early to capture every single last moment. A rich cup of fresh coffee with Chester whilst Nick stayed in bed, watching the sheep grazing in their pastoral habitat. This became somewhat therapeutic, and I’ll certainly miss this view!
We took Chester around the leafy woodland behind the farm for a final short adventure, before packing our bags and reluctantly setting off home. We had certainly made some magical memories during our time at Elmwood and can’t wait to explore more that this idyllic area has to offer.
Feeling inspired? Uncover your own rural escape to the Devonshire countryside here.
