Friday afternoon had finally arrived, and Tom, Reggie, and I were on our way to the north-east of Dartmoor in the stunning rural landscape of Devon. Keen admirers of the outdoors, we were very excited to make our way through the largest of the West Country’s two National Parks.
Spanning some 368 square miles, Dartmoor is a vast and captivating landscape, and much of our journey to our luxury retreat took us through beautiful, sun-dappled woodlands. Travelling via Bovey Tracey, the eastern gateway to Dartmoor National Park, we ventured deeper into the countryside, with the scenery becoming increasingly enchanting around us. Our anticipation grew as we knew our destination was getting ever closer.
As we approached the final stretch of our journey, we came across the wonderful Canonteign Falls. With the afternoon sun still bright and warm, we embraced the chance to stretch our legs and enjoy the highest waterfall in the South West. We were so pleased we did. We discovered woodland walks, waterfalls, lakes and gardens, with the highlight being Lady Exmouth Falls, which stands at around 220 feet. From here, the three of us paused to take in the panoramic Devon views – a soothing tonic in all seasons. Refreshed after our climb, we hopped back into the car and travelled the short distance to our eagerly anticipated destination: Buddle Barn.
Accessing the grounds was a true delight. As we approached the driveway and passed through the gate, the courtyard opened up before us, revealing a wonderfully tranquil setting. We experienced that lovely ‘we have arrived’ moment as we pulled up to park right next to Buddle Barn itself. As we began unloading the car, we couldn’t help but admire the beautifully landscaped gardens and lush trees that framed the grounds.
Upon entering the property, we were greeted by two heavenly bedrooms and a perfectly appointed bathroom. We then took a quiet moment to enjoy our own private walled garden before heading upstairs, where we discovered the spacious open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area.
Waiting for us was a welcome in the form of an artisan hamper. We also discovered a carefully hand-drawn map providing directions to the nearby local pub, providing an irresistible destination to meet the final members of our party. As we prepared to make the stroll, we were already looking forward to returning to our new home for the next couple of nights, settling in and enjoying the rest of the evening in comfort.
It took Tom, Reggie and I an unhurried 20 minutes to walk the scenic route to the Manor Inn, which is situated just beyond the River Teign in Lower Ashton. Once we reached the pub and had ordered our first drinks, we were finally joined by Lizzie and her faithful canine companion, Blu. As we sat and chatted in this cosy country pub setting, we shared our first impressions of the beautiful Buddle Barn and how perfectly it seemed to suit us all for the relaxing and exploring that lay ahead.
Following a wonderfully satiating repast, the evening drew to a close and the three of us, along with Reggie and Blu, made the very pleasant journey back towards Buddle Barn on foot. The evening sky was clear and beautifully illuminated by the stars. With so little light pollution in the area, we could even faintly make out the Milky Way. We had no trouble finding our way back and, before we knew it, Buddle Barn was once again in sight.
The property and its immediate surroundings looked so lovely, even in the darkness, and were a very welcoming sight by that time of evening. Once inside, we made the dogs comfortable before relaxing ourselves on the cosy sofas. We listened to music on the Alexa while enjoying a nightcap of our favourite beverages. It was such a perfect way to finish the week and celebrate the start of the much-anticipated weekend.
After an incredibly peaceful and refreshing night’s sleep, we began preparing ourselves for a day full of adventure. Luckily for Lizzie and me, Tom had everything he needed in the well-equipped kitchen to cook us all a delicious breakfast. We sat down together at the table and excitedly discussed our plans for the day (commencing with Haytor), with the upper barn door window open so that we could listen to the morning birdsong.
Haytor is located on the eastern side of Dartmoor, around a 25-minute drive from Buddle Barn. One of the must-see sights on Dartmoor, its distinctive granite formations (used in the construction of London Bridge and the British Museum) form one of the best examples of the 365 or so ‘tors’ scattered across the National Park. The 360-degree views from the top are well worth the windy climb, and on a clear day, you can see for miles across the surrounding landscape. We, and the dogs, thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular setting. After spending some time walking and exploring, we felt quite invigorated, partly thanks to the refreshing Dartmoor wind.
From Haytor, we then journeyed in the car for around 20 minutes, heading southwest. Travelling through amazingly vast rocky landscapes before reaching beautiful woodland, we eventually came to the secluded riverside common of Spitchwick, found alongside the River Dart. We had great enjoyment exploring the river amidst its green and lush surroundings and chose an excellent spot to have a light lunch. Reggie and Blu had fun getting their paws wet, and we all agreed that we would have to come back to this location again soon; perhaps for a picnic and some wild swimming.
Towards the end of the afternoon, having ventured far and wide, our thoughts returned to Buddle Barn, and we looked forward to dinner and a relaxing evening in contented comfort. On the return journey, we picked up some delectable treats, and before long, we were happily back and had slipped off our walking boots. It was lovely to spend the remainder of the evening gathered over lovingly crafted culinary delights, followed by enthralling movie magic in front of the warmth of the wood burning stove while the dogs dozed at our feet.
Following another restful night’s sleep, we got together early for breakfast, and made good use of the Nespresso coffee machine. Tom and Lizzie then made a beeline for the swimming pool, sauna, and gym. Residing in a lovingly converted barn, the glass-topped pool makes for a particularly tempting treat, especially soothing after long, exhilarating walks in the park’s romantic wilds. Complemented by a gym and an upstairs sauna, this relaxing offering makes for the perfect opportunity to unwind.
While Tom and Lizzie swam tranquil lengths of the pool, I took a leisurely stroll around the rest of the grounds with the dogs, exploring the landscaped gardens, back lawn, summer house, and treehouse. Time quickly flew by as we stopped to soak up the tranquillity.
A little later that morning, the three of us met up back at Buddle Barn for coffee in our own walled garden, where we reflected on the experience we had all shared. It then felt a little sad that it was time to pack our belongings and load up the cars, ready for our departure.
To keep the magic going a little longer, we plotted a course for Foggintor Quarry on the way home. Dating back to the early part of the 19th century, this formerly bustling granite quarry is now home to an undulating labyrinth of footpaths meandering between steeply rising granite façades and silky pools. As the mist settled and the blue skies disappeared behind an atmospheric shroud of jewelled water droplets, we once more revelled in the spellbinding atmosphere of Dartmoor, ready to head homeward, yet still dreaming of our Buddle Barn escape…
Experience an escape at Buddle Barn here...
