June & July – Fruit picking, gardens and walks in North Devon

Gooseberry & Elderflower Jam

Picking & jam making has begun – Elderflower & Gooseberry jam first, followed by redcurrant jelly, blackcurrant, loganberry and raspberry jams. The jam can be tasted at breakfast on your warm buttered toast or croissant, or sample the fruit fresh /or as a compote added to yogurt, yum!

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 is only 3miles from Huxtable Farm, 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 14th June to 13th July.

Walking-North-Devon, Exmoor & South West Coast Path

Huxtable Farm is ideally situated on the lking trails Tarka Trail, 9 miles east of Barnstaple and The Macmillan Way West, 10 miles west of Challacombe and 11 miles west of Simonsbath, just right for a days walk! In addition The South West Coast Path (England’s longest National Trail, 630 miles), as featured in the film and book ‘The Salt Path’, is 15miles to the north and west of Huxtable Farm, ideal for walking sections of the coast path and returning to the comforts of an en-suite bedroom with a bath to soak in! For more information on walking paths please click here.

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, please do have a look at some of them here – Gifts from Huxtable Farm.

To celebrate Huxtable Farmhouse being over 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’, with historic facts about the farm and its buildings, including ancestery of the name’Huxtable’, said to have originated here. Do check availability for when you can stay either in the B&B rooms or camp on one of our four secluded pitches, each with thier own wash room;-

B&B availability

Camping availability

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July – Gardens, fruit picking, camping and things to do

Rockie – the tame lamb

July – The orphan tame lamb, ‘Rockie’ (Jacob cross Romney sheep breed), has been weaned off his bottle of milk and joined the flock so that he has some friends to play with!

rhubarb, gooseberries and redcurrants

Picking has started in the fruit garden – Gooseberry’s, redcurrants, rhubarb and the raspberries will be ready soon.

Fresh home-grown fruit, compotes and homemade jams for the breakfast table – ‘Elderflower & Gooseberry’ is a firm favourite on Huxtable Farm’s warm toasted home baked granary toast or a croissant.

Raw Jacob fleece

Spinning raw fleece

The sheep are pleased to have been shorn now that the weather is warm, so we have some lovely Jacob and Romney fleeces available for spinners & felters to purchase and enjoy.

Now that the summer holidays are upon us we are offering camping at Huxtable Farm; Three individual camping pitches situated at different locationa around the farm, each with their own private wash room. A wash room with fridge and freezer space is available for all campers as is a games room.

Things to do and places to visit this July;

Enjoy sitting the garden at Huxtable Farm or walk the farm’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail

Pond on farm Devon Wildlife trail

We are so lucky to have so many beautiful gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow and National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away. Not forgetting RHS Rosemoor just south at Torrington.

June 6th – 19th July – RHS Garden Rosemoor – Rose Festival – The largest rose gardens in the South West.

Quince Honey Farm, Exmoor Zoo and Coombe Martin Dinosaur and Wildlife park are within 20mins drive from Huxtable Farm. Click here to see more local family attractions and things to to in North Devon

Gardens of North Devon
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival July

Statue of Dr Smart at Marwood Hill Gardens

A few photographs taken a round the farm recently for you to ENJOY 🙂

Shorn Jacob sheep

Lily in the Devon Wildlife Pond at Huxtable Farm

Time to sit back and watch the world go by !

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July – New additions to Huxtable Farm

Peahens

Hurray, we’re now connected to Fibre Broadband 🙂 having had the connection delayed due to Covid-19 lockdown. What a difference it makes not having to watch the circle whirling around.

Other additions to the farm include another broody hen hatching another seven chicks and we have just purchased a peacock, Pedro and a two peahens. Pedro is quite stunning with his tail feathers on display (see photo at bottom of post)

Chick July 2020

There’s still a lot happening here; Antony continues to chop and split the trees he felled the winter before, last ready to sell as seasoned logs when the weather changes and I’m busy picking goosebrries, redcurrants, blackcurrants & raspberries in the fruit garden, followed by lots of sorting, freezing and jam making. The fruit all seems to ripen at once, thank goodness I have a little helper!

Felted Jacob sheepskin rug next to wood burner

I’m also spending time updating the website adding some of the lovely items available to purchase, which can be sent by post within the UK; Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, hand knitted hats & new this year unique vegetarian Jacob sheepskin rugs, made from the fleeces of our ewes.

I’ve also had my paints out again and have some prints and cards of my water colour paintings available to purchase. Cards £2.50 each (including envelope & wrap) or 5 for £10 and mounted A4 prints £25 each. (Jacob sheep, wool card £4.50 each)

Card of West Buckland School

Springer Spaniel – Print of acrylic painting by Jackie

Jacob sheep card

We’re already taking B&B bookings for 2021 and have extended our offer of a free copy of the book ‘Huxtable the Story of a Devon Farm’ to all bookings for next year, celebrating Huxtable Farmhouse being 500 years old! Next year could be busy so you may wish to provisionally book ahead.

Check Availability

Until we see you again, take care, stay safe & healthy, with warm wiahes Jackie, Antony & Bella, the dog 🙂

Peacock Pedro

Chicks July 2020

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July, things to do in Devon

Orphan tame lambs

The orphan tame lambs have just been weaned off their bottles of milk, enjoying the grass especially if it’s on the other side of the fence!

rhubarb, gooseberries and redcurrants

Picking has started in the fruit garden – Gooseberry’s, redcurrants, rhubarb and the raspberries will be ready soon.

Fresh home-grown fruit & compotes for the breakfast table and homemade jams – ‘Elderflower & Gooseberry’ is a firm favourite on Huxtable Farm’s home baked granary toast or croissant.

Things to do/Events this July;

Relax in Huxtable Farm B&B’s garden

Enjoy sitting the garden at Huxtable Farm or walk the farm’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail

June 15th – 21st July – RHS Garden Rosemoor – Rose Festival – The largest rose gardens in the South West.

29th July Woolsery Agricultural Show, near Clovelly

National Trust Arlington Court – What’s on in July

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

27th July Tiverton Mid Devon Show

7th August North Devon Show

There are so many beautiful gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, Marwood Hill gardens just the other side of Barnstaple, Tapeley Park at Instow and National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away.

Gardens of North Devon
RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival July