Holly Cottage

Red Doors Farm isn’t just family friendly its family fantastic! From the heated indoor pool to games room, play room, play barn, play areas and chick-chick chickens, this boutique cluster of 5-star Gold cottages in Devon will keep children happy from brekkie to bedtime, so grown-ups can get on with having a great time too.

A 500-year old, Grade II listed Devon long house, along with a group of traditional flint and thatch cottages, have been beautifully transformed into a private hamlet of 6 luxury cottages, sleeping 2 to 8 people, set in 2 acres of well kept, lawned garden. The main thatched roof farmhouse also has a dining room that seats up to 14 which makes Red Doors great for family celebrations.

The owners are always being told ‘You’ve thought of everything’ and they pride themselves on being particularly well-equipped for parents with pre-schoolers, providing all the essential equipment and baby-sitting by qualified, CRB checked nurses and teachers. A welcome pack of West Country goodies awaits families on arrival and all the basics are provided, from cling film to dishwasher tablets . A supply of gourmet, frozen meals are available for an easy, delicious supper and the Games Room is stocked up with award-winning Otter Valley ice-cream which boasts, ‘from cow to cone in 24 hours’.

All the cottages have been fabulously finished and furnished to 5-star Gold standards and make the most of original rustic features such as beamed ceilings, stone fireplaces, wood panelling and flagstone floors. Log burners and comfy sofas make the living rooms lovely and cosy, the bespoke wood kitchens are fitted with all mod cons including Nespresso coffee machine, bathrooms are gleaming and modern with power showers and the luxurious bedrooms have Vi-Spring mattresses and cool Egyptian linen for a good night’s sleep.

What really makes Red Doors Farm so fab for families, of course is all the places to play and things to do, both indoors and out. The 11×5.5 metre indoor pool is a big plus, heated to a toasty 30°c, surrounded by steamer chairs and with wall of glass doors offering panoramic views over the Otter Valley. A covered play area is particularly geared up for under 6’s, featuring a play house, small climbing frame, slide, see-saw and ride ons, including tractors, while all ages will have fun on the giant, netted trampoline and in another play area with a 2 storey wooden fort and slides.

A thatched play barn promises more fun and games including table tennis and table football, giant Jenga and giant Connect 4, while elsewhere in the garden, families can play giant chess, a game of croquet, putting, boules and football. Little ones will also enjoy making friends with the chickens, ducks, pygmy goats and guinea pigs. Indoors, the Games room includes a pool table and computer games for the PS2’s. A play room will keep little ones amused with a play kitchen, train and farm tables, garage and cars, colouring table and cuddly toys. The only challenge will be tearing children away for days out exploring the East Devon ‘countryside-by-the-sea’ and when it’s finally time for home.

Accommodation overview

Holly Cottage (sleeps 2 plus a baby in a cot) is a single storey barn conversion, tucked away in a quiet corner of the Red Doors ’hamlet’, with a private lawned garden. The conversion is in a traditional country cottage style, with a log burner in the inglenook fireplace, exposed timbers and stonework, plus a bespoke wood kitchen with Nespresso machine and dining area. The bedroom, with a king size bed, has glorious views over the Otter Valley and an ensuite with bath, power shower and WC.