Birchill Farm & Cottages

Our five-year-old was especially keen to visit the chicken coop each morning and look for fresh eggs, and the animal feeding quickly became a highlight. There was loads to keep him busy indoors and outside, too. We all loved the quiet, beautiful setting, and Elderberry Cottage felt like a real home from home. It was the best-equipped holiday place we’ve stayed in. The little extras made the week feel special, from the cream teas and gingerbread man waiting for us when we arrived to the certificate, book, and chocolate bar given to our son when it was time to leave. He really didn’t want to go. We also found plenty to do nearby. We went to Westward Ho! beach, rode bikes along the Tarka Trail, visited Quince Honey Farm, and had so much fun on the new monster slip and slide at Barnstaple that we went twice. The farm is only a short drive from these attractions. We’ve just come back from a week at Birchill Farm and would happily book again. Thanks, Carolyn, Carl and Georgia. We hope to see you again soon. 😊

Bramble Cottage had recently been renovated and was done up beautifully. All the little details seemed thought through, including bath toys and kid-friendly bed linen. The host was lovely, always ready to help and wonderful with the kids. We came to Birchill farms for our five-year-old’s winter half-term break and absolutely loved it. The farm is lovely and sits in an idyllic spot away from the city bustle. There’s a nice mix of animals, and they let our little one take their time feeding them. We spent a full 1.5 hours doing that on the first day :)

Every day began with feeding the goats, chickens, alpakas, bunnies and Franklin the pig. The kids also had plenty to explore, from a playground and two-story playhouse with soft toys, a play kitchen, books and puzzles, to an outdoor playbarn with a pool table and footy. There were four other families with children around, and several beaches nearby, with the closest about 20 minutes away by car. We stayed for a week with our three children, aged 2, 4 and 6, in Hazel Cottage, and have just returned. Bichill Farm is a magical place for kids, with little surprises dotted around, like a fairy walk, hidden dinosaur eggs, and a box of toys in the kids’ room. Carolyn and Carl have created something beyond what we’ve seen anywhere else. Some areas could use repairs and freshening up, and I thought about taking off a star for that, but the magic they’ve made for the children made it impossible for us to give less than five.

The children had a great time feeding the animals each morning and trying the activities around the site. It’s a beautiful location, with lovely little cottages, and the owners were so welcoming and did everything they could for us.