A spacious and welcoming South Hams barn conversion nestled peacefully in the countryside, 5 miles east of Kingsbridge. A stone’s throw from Slapton Sands and within a short drive of many other spectacular beaches: Hope Cove, Bigbury-on-Sea, Bantham, South Milton Sands. In a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, enjoy discovering the breathtaking South Devon coastline, rolling hills, picturesque villages and nearby seaside towns of Kingsbridge, Salcombe and Dartmouth. A haven for water sports lovers, walkers and cyclists, as well as those looking for a more tranquil break. We are very children friendly and pet friendly!
The space
The Hay Barn offers generous accommodation and living space for up to eight guests. With four airy bedrooms (super king, double and twin beds), two family bathrooms (plus an extra cloakroom), open plan living space plus a separate snug, there’s plenty of space to spread out. High apex ceilings and exposed rafters add tremendous character and sense of roominess.
The layout lends itself brilliantly to extended families, two families and groups of friends, with privacy and room to yourself when needed. On the ground floor you will find a double room and twin or super king room (you choose), with a cosy snug and a family bathroom. Go upstairs for the open plan well-equipped kitchen, dining area and living room, and a cloakroom. And continue up to the top floor for the super king room and twin room, plus another family bathroom.
Outside there are two acres of gardens, with picnic tables, a wild wooded area and a very large grassed area which is perfect for exercise and family games. You will find plenty of play equipment in our roomy garage, including a table tennis table (play under cover on rainy days!), football goals, a badminton set and archery kit. And here you can store your own bikes, boats, surf boards, etc. A tap and hose are available to wash down wetsuits, etc, outdoors and you’ll find a drying rack in the garage.
The Hay Barn is decorated with a bright and fresh feel. Our beds are beautifully made up with new pocket-sprung mattresses, 400-thread count Egyptian cotton bedding, and hypoallergenic pillows and duvets. Hand towels and bath sheets are thick cotton, and a hairdryer is provided in each bedroom. A utility room with a washing machine, tumble dryer and drying rack means you can do your own laundry should you need it. With washing lines outside, you can dry your laundry in the Devon sunshine if you prefer.
We are well equipped for babies and toddlers, with a travel cot (please bring your own bedding), stair gates, high chair, potties and steps in the bathrooms. We provide plastic plates, bowls, beakers and cutlery for the little ones.
Up to two well-behaved dogs are welcome for a small additional charge. We provide water bowls and poo bags, in case you forget your own!
For those who need to stay connected, we have very good wifi. Outside you’ll find 4G. We have two smart televisions, one in the living room and one (50”) in the snug. Both offer Freeview. Please use your own Netflix, Amazon Prime and BBC iPlayer accounts to access these channels.
On arrival, you’ll find a welcome hamper with some lovely local produce and lots of helpful information to get your holiday off to a perfect start.
A short stroll down a quiet lane will bring you into the bustling village of Chillington. Here you’ll find a very well-stocked village shop selling just about everything you might need, plus a post office. You will also find the award-winning pub, The Bear and Blacksmith, serving local ales and delicious food. Tucked away next to the village hall is a lovely playground, with slides, climbing frames, a zip line and football pitch.
Take a slightly longer walk from the barn across footpaths and peaceful lanes to the neighbouring village of Stokenham. Here you’ll find the Church House Inn (alongside an idyllic play area, for those with children!). Tragically, the picture perfect Tradesman’s Inn and its thatched neighbours were destroyed in a fire in 2021. We hope to see these beautiful buildings restored in due course.
Just outside Stokenham is the fantastic Stokeley farm shop and café. Visit for high-quality produce and a delicious bite to eat – or order a box of goodies to be delivered to the barn. There’s also a micro-brewery and tap house, so pop in for an ale and a wood-fired pizza. With a gorgeous interiors shop and some interesting pop-ups selling local crafts, this is a spot not to miss.
Venture a little further and you reach the beach at Torcross, with access to the South West Coast Path and the magnificent expanse of Start Bay. Ice creams and fish & chips are all on offer here.
Within half an hour, you can drive to many of the most stunning beaches in this region – Blackpool Sands, Slapton Sands, Bigbury-on-Sea, Bantham Bay, South Sands, Hope Cove. Or enjoy hunting out lesser known quiet coves and stretches of the estuary. The options are endless!
You can reach the coast on foot, following footpaths straight from the barn to Torcross and Beesands. From there you can continue along the South West Coast Path. For cyclists, the National Cycling Route 28 passes just along the lane. You can hire e-bikes, kayaks and surf boards close by, so no need to travel with all your kit!
We can recommend great restaurants and atmospheric pubs close by, itineraries for the best days out, outings children will love and favourite places for a spot of shopping.
Come and stay year round with family and friends to swim and surf, to paddle and build sand castles, to indulge in good food and drink, to walk and breathe fresh air. Whether you’re after an active break or you wish to kick back and slow down, the Hay Barn is an absolute haven. We look forward to welcoming you and we hope you love it as much as we do.
Guest access
You will have sole access to the whole house. The 2-acre garden is communal, but not greatly used by other residents
Other things to note
PLEASE NOTE: The entrance to the Hay Barn is situated in a courtyard with lovely neighbours on each side. We ask that you respect the peaceful setting and take care not to disturb those living around us. You may wish to look elsewhere if you’re planning a raucous weekend!
The gardens are shared with the residents of the other barns (although used only lightly) and there is no direct access onto the grass from the Hay Barn – it’s a very short walk from the courtyard. The garden is gated but is alongside a working farm. Please supervise young children and dogs at all times. This is not a hardship, with picnic tables for sitting and enjoying a drink or a good book!
There is plenty of parking space, with one designated space in front of our garage and two gravelled parking areas for additional cars. Because the entrance to the Hay Barn is in a courtyard, it is not possible to park right outside the front door. You will need to walk a short distance to and from your car, and there are 4 steps leading up into the courtyard.
If you drive an electric car, we strongly recommend that you identify charging points nearby. Currently it is not possible to charge your car at the Hay Barn, although we are hoping to install a charging point in our garage in the near future.
