Unwind by beautiful lakes, indulge in some star gazing & relax in the private hot tub. The Holt's perfect for artists, photographers & nature journalists and is part of the gorgeous grounds of Bellbrook Farm's Wildlife Reserve. It's the ideal escape, hidden in beautiful countryside and has a secluded garden with fire pit & BBQ. During your stay wake up to birdsong & enjoy the magic of nature! Explore our fishing lake, country pubs, long walks & many quaint local attractions all within 30 minutes drive.
The space:
We hope staying at The Holt provides a place for guests to truly relax, indulge in some Green Time and reconnect with each other and nature.
The private garden, which is fully fenced, is a lovely spot for relaxing and has two areas of decking and a private hot tub tucked away on the patio area which is the perfect place to relax, listen to the owls and gaze at the amazing night sky.
The Holt has been thoughtfully and mindfully furnished to create a warm and welcoming place where guests can relax and feel right at home. It's the perfect base for exploring all this area has to offer and is set down a quiet country lane, nestled in a wooded valley. The private 'Wildlife Reserve' we're creating here on the farm is purely for guests staying at Bellbrook; this ensures you can enjoy a sense of space and find a peaceful spot to relax. We also have a specimen carp fishing lake and tickets need to be purchased in advance - see our website Bellbrook Carp Lake for more details and special offers.
Once inside this lovely bolthole there's an open plan living area which has a reclining sofa - snuggle up, watch a movie or catch up on a box set on the Smart TV (use your own details to log in to Prime, Netflix etc). There's also a small dining table and a well equipped kitchen area with dishwasher, microwave recycled glassware and Denby crockery.
The brand new bathroom is spacious and bright and the newly decorated bedroom is calm and peaceful. There is also space in the bedroom for a travel cot so it's perfect for small families too - please request this when booking.
The Holt, which was once a fishing lodge, is attached to our family farmhouse so like any semi-detached property you will see and hear us (and our overly friendly dogs) out and about. Please be assured we do afford guests lots of space and privacy and many guests enjoy being near the heart of the farm. However if you're looking for total seclusion we'd recommend one of our other lovely retreats.
Here at Bellbrook we work with Devon Wildlife Trust and #IDigTrees to promote biodiversity and to ensure the magic of nature is not lost. This does mean our landscaping is done by Mother Nature so there are no manicured lawns or artful hedges in sight. Parts of the reserve are left wild - this creates a haven for wildlife and for you. Guests are encouraged to explore the four lakes which are set over ten acres and can hope to spot otters, badgers, deer and kingfishers. In the summer the dragonflies put on a spectacular dance!
If you like lots of days out there are many local attractions within a 30 minute drive such as two National Trust properties, Haddon Hill & Wimbleball Lake, Devon Railway Centre, Bickleigh Mill, Quince Honey Farm, Exmoor Pony Centre (combine this with a visit to Dulverton for cream tea) and Tiverton has a canal with a cafe, horse drawn barge, a museum and castle. There is also an excellent riding stables that takes riders along Exmoor. As we're just 2 miles from The North Devon Link Road beautiful beaches are about an hour away.
We are an eco friendly destination are committed to providing sustainable holidays. From bedding to dustpan and brushes we aim to source responsibly! We only use Ecover and Method cleaning products and the toiletries are eco friendly and refilled. We do not provide any single use items like cloths or dish brushes and our electricity and heating comes from 100% renewable energy.
There is parking for one car in the farm's car park and from there it's a walk of approximately 50m to The Holt. The private garden has two gates for access and there are several steps from the garden to the patio area. Due to the terrain around the farm we wouldn't recommend staying here for guests with mobility challenges.
As we are in a rural location the local lanes are a bit bumpy and single track but there's lots of passing places and the locals are very courteous and great at reversing. In the summer the hedges along these lanes are a wonderous mix of wild flowers and you can often spot a deer or two early in the morning.
We hope to see you soon and welcome any questions. We will always give an honest answer as we want all our guests to have a 5* stay here at Bellbrook.
Guest access:
Guests are welcome to explore the grounds of the farm but we ask they don't enter any animal enclosures and don't go past any signs or gates that say private.
Other things to note:
We are beautifully rural - this means there isn't immediate access to shops, cafes and local attractions and food/takesway deliveries aren't possible. The lovely town of Bampton is only 5 miles away and Tiverton and Exmoor are both 7 miles away. We have a great pub in Oakford, The Red Lion, which is 1.5 miles away.
Smoking and vaping are not allowed on site - indoors or outdoors - please respect this.