Feburary 2023 – Snowdrops and free holiday ideas!

Hazel tree flowers and catkins, also known as ‘lambs tails’, resembling the tails of lambs born in Spring time

I’m always amazed at how nature bounces back from all that is thrown at it, like the freezing, snowy conditions we experiened during December & January; Snowdrops are always the first signs that Spring is on it’s way, bringing a little joy to those who see them.

Thoughts of summer and holidays away, help us get through the darker, winter days and with the worry of rising costs, we have been thinking of ideas to share with you of things you can do for free, whilst staying at Huxtable Farm, situated within North Devon’s Area of Outstanding Beauty and close to Exmoors Dark Skies Reserve.

National Trust Baggy Point , walk on the South West Coastpath

A). If you wish to have a car free day click on this link for some idaes of free things you can do at Huxtable Farm

B). Enjoy walks from Huxtable Farm (situated on the Tarka Trail and Macmillian Way West), on Exmoor, around the Southwest coast path or UNESCO North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve

C). Bring you buckets, spades, Kite, body/surf boards, a picnic and visit the fabulous Beaches of North Devon.

D). Bring your bikes (secure lock up at Huxtable Farm available) and cycle the flat, car free Tarka Trail

E). Visit the many museums of North Devon;

Ilfracombe Museum . – Amazing collections from around the world.
Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station
Barnstaple & North Devon Museum – Local history.
South Molton Museum – Local history.

F) Visit Ilfracombe Lifeboat Station

G) Go geocaching.

H) Go crabing off Ilfracombe harbour or amongst the rock pools on many beaches.

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to the B&B & camping pitches in April 2023.

Check B&B availability at Huxtable Farm

Check Camping availability at Huxtable Farm

Don’t forget if you are looking at finding a unqiue Jacob wool gift, card or print for some one, please do have a look at what’s available, made with Devon love!

From our family to yours with warm regards Jackie & Antony

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Happy New Year – 2023. Winter – time to get knitting!

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2023 from all at Huxtable Farm

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm; two en-suite B&B bedrooms (a family bedroom and twin bedroom) and three camping pitches, each with thier own bathroom, from April 2023. To avoid disappiont it may be advisable to book early. In the meantime, we are busy maintaining the farm; looking after the animals and selling logs for winter fuel.

B&B availability

Camping availability

Secluded with wonderful views

Here’s some ideas of what to do & see on your visit to North Devon & Exmoor;

Bench with view on Huxtable Farm Devon Wildlife Walk

If you wish to have a car free day there are so many free things you can do at Huxtable Farm

Enjoy walks from Huxtable Farm, through wooded valleys (Coombes) and enjoy the glorious colours of the tree canopy.

Visit the fabulous Beaches of North Devon , take a scenic walk (Walking in North Devon) or here is a link to some ideas for days out for the family.

Please click on this link (2023 events dates) for some events to look forward to in 2023

Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, near West Buckland, Devon

There are so many beautiful Gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill gardens (RHS partner garden) just 3 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill Gardens, Tapely Park Instow

(RHS partner garden), not forgetting RHS Rosemoor near Torrington, you will be spoilt for choice.

Book your B&B stay at Huxtable Farm B&B

Book your Camping stay at Huxtable Farm B&B

Don’t forget if you are looking at finding a unqiue gift, card or print for some one, please do have a look at what’s available made from our Jacob sheep wool, including these gorgeous hand knitted elephants with removeable clothing, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.

Hand Knitted elephants with removable clothing £19 each

Jacob wool hats

Jacob wool cowl knitting Kit (grey or dark Brown sorry cream sold out)

Knitting Kit Rib Scarf & Wrist Warmers £13.99 each

Our Knitting Kits make the perfect gift or chance for yourself to get creative, especially during winter time, when the day light hours are reduced. Treat yourself or someone special. All our knitting kits are put together with love; they include 100% natural wool from our flock of Jacob sheep, detailed instructions, knitting needles and any other necessary additional items so that you or your loved ones can achieve fabulous results. £13.95 each including postage & packing.

Alternatively if you have your own project that requires purchasing our unique wool, or are a hand spinner requiring a Jacob fleece please do get in touch. jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk

Raw Jacob Fleece for spinning

Enquire by e-mail jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk and payment details will be sent.

Antony & I, would like to say thank you for your continued support, stay safe & well with best wishes Jackie & Antony. Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0SR

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Wishing you a very Happy Christmas

Here at Huxtable Farm, we would like to thank our customers and followers for your support during the past year and wish you & your family a very Happy Christmas from us, Jackie, Antony & our family. May all your wishes come true XXX

With a reduced number of B&B rooms (2 en-suite family bedrooms) and select few secluded camping pitches (3 pitches, each with their own wash room), we’d like to remind you to book early so that you don’t miss out on the dates you require. We’d love to welcome you to this special place, we are lucky enough to call home.
May all your wishes come true XXX

Check B&B Availability

Check Camping Availability

Some Christmasy photographs from around the farms’ Devon wildlife trail, during the recent snow – Enjoy!

Snowy Christmas trees & moon

Snowy Christmas trees

Snowy house & moon

Snowy farm walk through wooded avenue

Snowy trees

Snowy trees with hens roosting

Snow loving dog 🙂

Decorated Christmas Tree

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Autumn; Thinking about unique Christmas gifts already?

Autumn leaves (Autumn walks in North Devon)

Autumn has officially arrived; the day light hours are getting shorter, the sunsets are stunning and the leaves are changing colour – It’s time to put on the boots and get ouside for some wonderful walks and enjoy natures beautiful autumn colours.

On the days that are too cold & wet, it’s great to snuggle up next to the crackling log fire with a good book or pick up the knitting needles to create a unique gift for yourself or someone; such as these adorable, hand knitted elephants with removable clothing, using Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool. The pattern is in knitting book ‘Au Bout d Pre’

Hand Knitted elephants with removable clothing, hand knitted with Huxtable Farm Jacob wool £19 each

If you’ve started to think about Christmas, please do have a look at our unique Christmas gifts made from our Jacob sheep wool, including Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love! Do send an e-mail to jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk if you are interested in purchasing something.

Unique Christmas gifts from Huxtable Farm

Huxtable Farm Jacob wool throws and cushions

Jacob wool cowl knitting Kit

Printnineteen Christmas Cards

Our daughter, Natalie, has her own small business, (love supporting small businesses) called ‘Print Nineteen’, Natalie produces some beautiful unique cards and prints (including personalised), many produced from foliage from around the farm. Do have a look at her beautiful new Christmas cards and gift wrap paper.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Huxtable Farm‘s; two B&B bedrooms (a family bedroom and twin bedroom) and three camping pitches, each with thier own bathroom, from April 2023. To avoid disappiont it may be advisable to book early. In the meantime, we are busy maintaining the farm and selling logs for winter fuel.

B&B availability

Camping availability

Here’s some ideas of what to do & see on your visit to North Devon & Exmoor.

If you wish to have a car free day there are so many free things you can do at Huxtable Farm

Enjoy walks from Huxtable Farm, through wooded valleys (Coombes) and enjoy the glorious golden, autumnal colours of the tree canopy.

Visit the fabulous Beaches of North Devon , take a scenic walk (Walking in North Devon) or here is a link to some ideas for days out for the family.

There are so many beautiful Gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill gardens 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill Gardens, Tapely Park Instow, not forgetting RHS Rosemoor near Torrington, you will be spoilt for choice.

In the meantime, happy christmas shopping and I look forward to hearing from you; jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk

Huxtable Farm Jacob wool knitting kits

Raw Jacob fleeces available to purchase, to spin, weave or felt

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

September; natures harvest & carnival time

Harvesting Figs, Blackberries, Apples & Tomatoes

September is a great month to make the most of natures harvest; apples and blackberries to make a delicious compote, whilst elderberries & figs are made into scrummy homemade jam for you to sample whilst staying in the B&B rooms or camping on one of the three pitches, each with their own bathrooms.

Whilst staying at Huxtable Farm during September you are very welcome to pick some apples and blackberries to take home or spot some fabulous fungi around the farm.

There are still some dates available in the B&B and the camping pitches during September.

B&B availability

Camping availability

Woody Bay Train Station

Here’s some ideas of what to do & see on your visit to North Devon & Exmoor during September.

If you wish to have a car free day there are so many free things you can do at Huxtable Farm B&B

Enjoy an autumnal walks from Huxtable Farm, through wooded valleys (Coombes) and enjoy the glorious golden, autumnal colours of the tree canopy.

Coombe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park

Visit the fabulous Beaches of North Devon , take a scenic walk (Walking in North Devon) or here is a link to some ideas for days out with the family.

Dartington Crystal, glassware company great to visit any time of year, watch the glass blowers, have a go at painting glass or browse the shop for a gift for a special person.

Events taking place in North Devon during September;-

Books by North Devon Authors

Barnstaple Carnival 17th September

15th – 25th September: – Appledore Book Festival – A chance to meet your favourite author!

Here at Huxtable Farm we giving all who stay here a free copy of our book ‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm’, telling you all about the farm, it’s history, Huxtable ancestry and its neighbours!

Antony & Jackie look forward to welcoming you to Huxtable Farm.

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

August – School Holidays – lets have some fun ;)

The children have broken up from school and the August summer holidays are here!

Explore the farm via it’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail or Treasure Trail and get back to nature;

Count how many teapots are hanging in the teapot tree and

See how many fairies you can find in the quiet corner of the farm next to the stream

Build a den in the woodland

Fish for frogs in the pond

or just watch the sunset

Here’s some other suggestions of ‘Free things to do on the farm’

With so many beautiful places to visit in North Devon there’s so much to see and do:

Spot majestic Exmoor ponies on Exmoor

Cycle the Tarka Trail

Go surfing at the beach

Go swimming in Westward Ho! sea pool

Visit the many Gardens of North Devon including RHS Rosemoor Gardens

Walk parts of the South West Coast Path e.g Morthoe Point, North Devon

Link to family attractions to visit in North Devon

We look forward to welcoming you to Huxtable Farm B&B and Camping, North Devon and helping you decide what to do each day.

B&B availability Camping availability

Events well worth visiting during August

3rd August 2022 – North Devon Show, Barnstaple

19, 20 & 21st August RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

June & July – Gardens to visit, fruit to pick & wool to sort!

During June, the sheep get shorn and we start to pick fruit & make homemade jam.

Gooseberry & Elderflower Jam

Elderflower & Gooseberry jam is first, followed by redcurrant jelly, blackcurrant, loganberry and raspberry jams. Not all the fruit is made into jam, to have on your warm buttered toast or croissant, some is served fresh and/or as a compote to add to yogurt, at breakfast time.

June and July are great months to visit the beautiful gardens of North Devon to see what they do with their fruit or enjoy their summer plants; Castle Hill Gardens are only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow, National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away and RHS Rosemoor to the south at Torrington with its Festival of Roses 18th June to 17th July

Shearing Jacob

During June, the sheep are shorn and the fleeces are sold to spinners & weavers but I always keep one to spin my own wool too. Please do look at what else is available to purchase made from the wool of our Jacob sheep. In addition to Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, knitted hats and toys, we also have some prints and cards of my water colour paintings available to purchase too, please do have a look at some of them here – Gifts from Huxtable Farm.

To celebrate Huxtable Farmhouse being 500 years old we are giving everyone who stays at Huxtable Farm a free copy of our book ‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm’. Do check availability for when you can stay either in the B&B rooms or camping on one of our three secluded pitches, each with thier own wash room;-

B&B availability

Camping availability

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

June- Queen Elizabeth – Platinum Jubilee

Congratulations Queen Elizabeth II – What a fantastic acheivement and we are so lucky to be able to celebrate, a once in a lifetime party, with you.

The first ever British Monach to celebrate 70 years of service, who has travelled more widely than any other Monach, including visiting ‘The Gambia’ in 1961, when Antony’s father (my father in law) was the Doctor in charge of Banjuls Hopsital and showed Queen Elizabeth around.

The Queen in The Gambia with Antony’s Father at Banjul (Bathurst) Hospital.

Now that the summer days are longer and warmer camping at Huxtable Farm is popular as alternative accommodation or in addition to Huxtable Farms B&B accommodation.

With the farm to explore via it’s Devon Wildlife Trail the family have a chance to get back to nature, here’s a link to some ideas of FREE things you can do on the farm

Check B&B availability

Check Camping availability

June & July are also fantastic times to visit the wonderful gardens in North Devon including; RHS Rosemoor, Castle Hill Gardens (just 2 miles down the road from Huxtable Farm), Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow and National Trust Arlington Court, 12 miles north west of Huxtable Farm.

June 6th – July 19th – RHS Garden Rosemoor – Rose Festival

Gardens of North Devon
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

May – Walks in North Devon, Exmoor and South West Coast Path

Sunset walk river Barle Exmoor

The Devon hedgerows are littered with Yellow primrose (Devon’s County flower), pink campions, bluebells, cow parsley & wild garlic at the moment. The bluebells are looking fabulous and the wild garlic has an amazing aroma, as I walk the Devon Wildlife Farm Trail with Bella, our friendly Springer, I really must make some garlic pesto! The blossom; cherry, crabapple & hawthorn is stunning – It’s such a beautiful time of year to dust off the walking boots and discover a new trail on Exmoor or walk part of the South West Coast Path.

Treasure Trail at Huxtable farm B&B, near South Molton

Walking in North Devon during May is very popular – The Macmillan Way West and Tarka Trail, both passing the entrance to Huxtable Farm B&B so we get quite a few staying over night and we always enjoying hearing about everyone’s adventures!

If you enjoy a walk in the countryside, Huxtable Farm’s Devon Wildlife farm trail has a variety beautiful wild flowers and foliage to enjoy in its varied habitats; woodland, pasture, pond, bracken slope and hedges. To make it even more interesting we also have a ‘Treasure Trail’ for you to enjoy!

Walking in North Devon & Exmoor

Check available B&B dates at Huxtable Farm B&B and available Camping Pitches (Only three exclusive pitches each with their own wash room)

B&B availability

Camping availability

Please click HERE to view other video’s taken at Huxtable Farm B&B & Camping.

Tame lamb in bluebells

Lambing has been good and the lambs are growing well in the fields. We have a tame, orphan lamb who enjoy being fed a bottle of milk, going for a walk and having a cuddle.

We’ve just enjoyed this years first crop of rhubarb at breakfast. With so much to do in the garden at this time of year it’s always great to have a break and visit RHS Rosemoor Gardens and see what the experts are doing and get inspiration from the other glorious Gardens of North Devon; Castle Hill Gardens (just down the road from Huxtable Farm) is looking fabulous this month with it’s camellias in flower as is Marwood Hill Garden with it’s beautiful wisteria archway.

Events taking place during May;

RHS Rosemoor Gardens Spring Plant Fair 7-8th May & other events

Point to point horse racing, North Devon

15th & 22nd May & 5th June 2022 – Point to Point at Bratton Down.

Bee Keeping experience days at Quince Honey Farm 18th & 19th May

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, 29th May 2022 : Promoting seaweed for its immense health & nutritional benefits and in aid of North Devon Hospice

or just come and enjoy panoramic views at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon

Flower Pots at Huxtable Farm B&B & Camping pitches

Braunton Burrows

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

April – Spring, Easter & British Summer Time :)

Ewe with lambs smelling the daffodils

Spring – I just love this time of year on the farm – The greenhouse is full of sown seed trays, the garden is full of Spring bulbs with lots of bright, vibrant colours and the trees are starting to produce fresh green leaves and beautiful blossom, all fabulous for bees and other insects.

The ewes have finished lambing and looking after their lambs well. The lambs are a joy to watch gambling in the evening sun.

Broody hen sitting on eggs

A broody hen is sitting on some eggs, which, finger crossed she should hatch Easter weekend, so that we have some Easter chicks. There’s always an Easter egg hunt here at the farm and at so many other locations around North Devon including; RHS Rosemoor 9^th – 24^th April, Hartland Abbey & Gardens 17^th & 18^th April, Clovelly 4^th – 18^Th April.

Now that we are into British summer time the evenings are lighter, we’ve even had our first Barbeque, have you yet?

Castle Hill Filleigh

This is the time of year to visit Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, just 2 miles down the road. Castle Hill Gardens is beautiful in Spring, with its magnolias, camilias, spring bulbs, babbling streams, folly’s and ground carpeted in primroses, Devons County flower.

Bookings for the B&B and camping pitches are coming in as visitors are making sure they get the room and or camping pitch they want, especially for the summer months. I look forward to hearing from you too.

Check available B&B dates at Huxtable Farm B&B and available Camping Pitches (Only three exclusive pitches each with their own wash room)

B&B availability

Camping availability

Wishing you a very happy & healthy Easter from all at Huxtable Farm