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Sunday Times “Top 100 Holiday Destinations on the Planet"
07 December 2007
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Dartmoor’s only 5 Star Self Catering Cottages at Holwell Farm, Widecombe in the Moor have been placed at number 19 in the Sunday Times “Top 100 Holiday Destinations on the Planet” for 2007.
The transformation of this ancient Dartmoor farmstead from run down and redundant farm buildings to luxury self catering cottages and the reinstatement of Holwell as a working farm was the subject of a 10 part TV series called “Forgotten Farm” which was broadcast last year on Discovery Real Time and ITV West Country.
Owners Sebastian and Philippa Hughes who also operate one of the West Country’s favourite Country House Hotels at Holne Chase, near Ashburton, are thrilled with this inclusion and believe that quality self catering is still very much an “emerging market”.
“At Holwell we recognise that although our guests want to experience the raw outdoors and take advantage of the remote and wonderful wilderness that surrounds us, they don’t want to move too far away from all of life’s little essentials. We have also made what we offer totally “convenience led”. With a full time butcher on the farm to provide guests with their choice cuts to order of the best Dartmoor meat; bred and fed either on the farm itself or from nearby farms and daily egg collection, we also undertake to do the shopping for guests so when they arrive their holiday really starts. The added advantage here is that all produce is then sourced from local farms or shops rather than being bought in from out of the area.
Increasingly our guests are also looking for an experience or two from their holiday that they couldn’t easily find abroad or elsewhere. Apart from the total peace and quiet afforded by our unique location, we also specialise in offering riding, hawking and hunting with eagles. Fly fishing is available from the nearby hotel and cycles can be hired in advance of a stay. Guests are also encouraged to bring their own horses to Holwell and as we also welcome dogs, this means the whole family can enjoy a wonderful holiday.”
Surprisingly, the cottages are just as popular out of season as they are at peak season. With such a cosy cottage to hole up in with a roaring open fire, indulgent fur throws and warming range cookers while the weather does it’s worst can be just as attractive as skipping through the bluebells in Spring or basking in the Summer heat while watching the hay being made.
The connection with nature and farming via a holiday of this type has become very “hip” and often can form one of the few links for children now to see and participate in how their food is produced.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON HOLWELL FARM COTTAGES, PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE;
www.holwelldartmoor.co.uk.
To Arrange a visit, please call Philippa Hughes on the numbers listed below;
Contact Details: Philippa Hughes
Holwell Farm Cottages and Holne Chase Hotel
Dartmoor National Park
Devon
Tel. 01647 221335/534
Fax. 01647 221352
Email:
pkh@pangolinprofile.co.uk
Keep in touch with life on TV's not so "Forgotten Farm" by going to Philippa's Blog Spot at:
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