The Bunny Barn, Combefishacre, Newton Abbot, Devon, England - Sleeps 2+2

About The Bunny Barn

The Bunny Barn offers the rare chance to stay in a building that is over 700 years old. The dog-friendly holiday cottage dates from the 13th Century but is, thankfully, a lot more comfortable today than it was when it was built to house farm animals! The self-catering cottage is on Norman’s Farm, just outside of Ipplepen and surrounded by spectacular Devonshire countryside. It would be difficult to find a more peaceful location. With its original thick stone walls and solid oak beams that were shaped centuries ago by hand, the cottage is ideal for couples or families with young children.

The Bunny Barn is not the only building with impressive age in the vicinity. In Ipplepen village, around a mile and a half away, the Church of St Andrew dates from about 1450. It is Grade I listed and still has the village stocks in the churchyard where you will also find the grave of Henry Baskerville who gave his name to the Sherlock Holmes character in “The Hound of The Baskervilles”. Excavations have uncovered evidence of an Iron Age settlement just outside the present-day village, which thanks to a recent discovery is known to have been thriving during Roman times. A Roman settlement, a burial site and Roman road have been unearthed with numerous artifacts making Ipplepen a hugely significant archaeological site as, until recently, it was not known that the Romans settled this far west. Today, the village has a strong community with a pub and restaurant, post office, village shop, garden centre, health club and golf club.

A few miles away, the market town of Newton Abbot provides a wide choice of amenities. In addition to the indoor Pannier Market, there is an outdoor market every Wednesday and Sunday, and a farmers’ market every Friday. There is also a great array of independent shops and cafes, as well as high street names you will recognise. The town also has a racecourse with an exciting calendar of events. Gardeners and bargain lovers will want to visit nearby Trago Mills Shopping and Leisure Park.

The area around Ipplepen has fantastic parks. Decoy Country Park is great for children, Courtenay Park, and Bakers Park through which you can access the grounds of Bradley Manor and the River Lemon. Stover Country Park is 114 acres of diverse landscape that is home to a variety of flora and fauna. Walk along the Ted Hughes Poetry Trail, or walk or cycle along the traffic-free Stover Trail between Newton Abbot and Bovey Tracey.

Dartmoor is only seven miles from The Bunny Barn, providing a wealth of footpaths and bridleways. The National Park is also popular with mountain bikers who appreciate the diversity of routes and untamed beauty of the landscape. It would be a crime to visit Devon without spending at least some time at the coast whether you are walking a stretch of the South West Coast Path, crabbing at Paignton, or taking a dip at Torquay, Goodrington Sands or Broadsands. Surfing, fishing canoeing and horse riding are other popular activities you can enjoy nearby.

Within a short drive, you can reach fantastic Devon attractions including Paignton Zoo, the Eden Project, Kent's Cavern, Berry Pomeroy and Compton Castles. Totnes, Plymouth, Dartmouth and Exeter all have a fantastic choice of shops, entertainment and place to eat and drink.

The area is particularly rich in local wildlife. There are Hares, Deer, Weasels, Badgers and Foxes. Barn Owls, Tawny Owls and Little Owls. Pipistrelles and the very rare Lesser Horseshoe Bats fly over the courtyard in summer. Buzzards, Kestrels, Herons and Egrets are a regular sight in the sky, Kingfishers have been seen fishing in the stream and even an Otter has visited in past years.

The Bunny Barn is comfortable and convenient, offering you a peaceful escape in the country without isolating you from the places that make a holiday in Devon so much fun.