Fish for newts, water boat men and find out what else is in the pond!
The hay is in the barns, most of the fruit picking is done and the school holidays are upon us – August and it’s time to enjoy the farm and it’s surroundings.
Get back to nature; Explore the farm via it’s Devon Wildlife Farm Trail or Treasure Trail.
Build a den in the woodland and dams in the stream
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.
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.
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.
We have some new proud parents at Huxtable Farm today! – One of the peahens eggs have hatched and ‘Pedro’, the peacock daddy, is so proud 🙂
Rural camping on a farm
Now that we are able to socialise a bit more, especially when outside, this is a great time to explore the farm and get back to nature via it’s Devon Wildlife Trail. Here’s a link to some ideas of FREE things you can do on the farm.
Time outside is made easier now that summer is here, with its long warm days. This also means that camping at Huxtable Farm is available as alternative accommodation or in addition to B&B accommodation for other members of the family.
June is a great month to visit the beautiful gardens of 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, National Trust Arlington Court 12 miles away and RHS Rosemoor south at Torrington with it’s Rose Festival in June.
In addition to Jacob wool items; throws, cushions, knitted hats and toys made from the fleeces of our ewes, we now 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.
The wild garlic has an amazing aroma as I walk the Devon Wildlife Farm Trail with Bella, it’s making me want to cook something garlicy for supper!
We hope everyone is keeping well, safe and have had or about to have Covid vaccines.
I’ve had both injections and Antony’s second injection is soon.
Due to other family commitments, including a long awaited family wedding, we won’t be opening up the B&B until mid June when we look forward to welcoming you then.
We have reduced the number of B&B bedrooms available to help with social distancing and now have three camping pitches each with their own wash rooms.
In the meantime we are endevouring to maintain the grounds, look after the animals (sheep with lambs, hens with chicks, peahen sitting on eggs and friendly Bella the dog) to make your experience here enjoyable and as Covid safe as possible.
Here’s some ideas of what to do & see on your visit to North Devon & Exmoor.
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.
Don’t forget we also have unique gifts to purchase do have a look at what’s available made from our Jacob sheep wool, including these gorgeous hand knitted elephants with removeable clothing, Jacob sheepskin rugs, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.
Hand Knitted elephants (approx 20cm tall) with removable clothing £19 each
Jacob sheepskin rug £95 each
Huxtable Farm Jacob wool throws and cushions, only a few dark throws & cushions available now.
Print Nineteen Cards
Supporting small businesses, our daughter Natalie’s business‘Print Nineteen’, has some beautiful unique cards and prints (including personalised), many produced from foliage from around the farm.
Whilst our son, Nigel, has some beautiful bird prints available to purchase – Nige Design #supportsmallbusinesses
We look forward to welcoming you to Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon with a delicious Cream Tea in the afternoon.
We hope that you all had a good Easter and that this update finds you keeping well during these strange times. We’ve had our Covid injections and hope that when places start to open up everyone is responsible so that everything remains safe for all. In order to help keep all safe at Huxtable Farm please read our Covid update, which will be amended as things change.
We’ve been making some changes here at Huxtable Farm, including converting the games room into a washing up area with fridge freezer, table & chairs for the three exclusive camping pitches, each of which has their own private wash room. Whilst one of the bedrooms in a converted barn is in the process of becoming the games room/information room/shop with Jacob wool products, prints of paintings by Jackie and wood furniture made by Antony.
Tame lamb 2021
I just love this time of year – The gardens are full of Spring colour and blossom, whilst the trees are starting to produce new fresh green leaves. The ewes have finished lambing and looking after their lambs well, whilst I have one tame orphan lamb to look after on the bottle. He’s a Jacob cross Romney lamb, so black with white markings on his eyebrows and chest and needs a name. We’d love to hear your suggestions!
Orphan tame lamb, Woolly is expecting lambs herself this year
Love this time of year, the days are getting longer, brighter and drier with some refreshing frosty mornings. Nature is waking up the daffodils, crocuses and primroses bringing some much needed colour to the farm. Some bees are venturing out for a little food and the frogs and toads are spawning in the pond. It’s also a time of sleep deprivation & great anticipation, as we get up at various times during the night to check on the sheep to see if they require any lambing assistance.
With Mother’s Day (14h March) approaching we get the chance to express our love to all Mothers i.e those who have strong bonds with children whether they are their own blood siblings or not.
Set of 5 cards of your choice £10
Here are some idea’s to help you spoil your special Mum; Buy a unique gift from Huxtable Farm’s Shop; 100% Jacob wool throws, cushions, scarves, yarn and knitting kits or some notelets or a print painted by Jackie.
Huxtable Farm Jacob wool knitting kits
Give your mother a Voucher to stay at Huxtable Farm B&Bat sometime later this year, where she will be welcomed with a Devon cream tea then in the morning enjoy a delicious freshly cooked breakfast next to the crackling log fire in the medieval dining room – Telephone 01598 760254 or e-mail for more details.
Don’t for get that all important Mother’s Day card too. Our daughter, Natalie has that unique, individual, botanical card you may wish to send from Printnineteen. Quite a bit of the foliage used by Natalie in her prints has been sourced from Huxtable Farm.
We’re going to miss you this lambing season and Easter but we look forward to welcoming you later in the year.
Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2021 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar so that you can plan your next stay to coincide with an event that interests you.
Despite the rain and snow the snowdrop are out and our daffodils are already peeking through. As we watch nature coming back to life, it’s a wonderful reminder that spring is on the way and, we hope, better and happier times for us all. Meanwhile we are keeping busy in the garden, looking after the sheep & poultry and doing lots of farm/woodland maintenance; hedging fencing & chopping logs for the wood burners.
Pancakes for breakfast
Pancake Day/Shove Tuesday, is on the 16th February 2021 the day before the fasting period of Lent leading up to Easter, 4th April 2021. What do you like to eat with your pancakes? I like mine with fresh fruit, local honey from Quince Honey Farm and a little bit of Devon clotted cream.
Providng it’s safe to do so, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to the B&B & three camping pitches June 2021. To help with social distancing etc. the number of B&B bedrooms on offer will be reduced to three en-suite rooms; one family bedroom, a twin bedroom and a double bedded room and each camping pitch with have their own private wash room.
Elephants with removable outfit, Hand Knitted with Huxtable Farm Jacob Wool £19 each
Don’t forget if you are looking at finding aunqiue 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 sheepskin rugs, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.
We entered 2021 with the positive news of the start of a second vaccine rollout, however, with infection rates remaining high England is now back in lockdown. Antony & I hope you are keeping safe & well.
Providng it’s safe to do so, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to the B&B & three camping pitches May 2021. To help with social distancing etc. the number of B&B bedrooms on offer will be reduced to three en-suite rooms; one family bedroom, a twin bedroom and a double bedded room and each camping pitch with have their own private wash room.
In the meantime, we are busy maintaining the farm; hedge laying and fencing.
Castle Hill Gardens, Filleigh, only 3 miles from Huxtable Farm, Devon
There are so many beautiful Gardens to visit in North Devon; Castle Hill gardens (RHS partner garden)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.
Don’t forget if you are looking at finding aunqiue 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 sheepskin rugs, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.
Hand Knitted elephants (approx 20cm tall) with removable clothing £19 each
Set of 5 cards of your choice £10
Finally, we 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
Our Springer looks forward to showing you around the farm 🙂
A taster of Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast Accommodation, near Barnstaple/Exmoor/SouthMolton, North Devon
Autumn is officially here and what a strange year it has been; We hope you and those close to you are well.
As many of you already know the B&B has been closed this year but we have welcomed a few campers with their own tents during August.
Providng it’s safe to do so, we are looking forward to welcoming you back to the B&B April 2021 although to help with social distancing etc. the number of B&B bedrooms on offer will be reduced to three en-suite rooms; one family bedroom, a twin bedroom and a double bedded room.
In the meantime, we are busy picking natures wonderful harvest elderberries, apples, blackberries, figs etc. to make delicious compotes and jams to serve at the breakfast table.
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.
Don’t forget if you are starting to think about unique Christmas gifts do have a look at what’s available made from our Jacob sheep wool, including these gorgeous hand knitted elephants with removeable clothing, Jacob sheepskin rugs, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.
Hand Knitted elephants (approx 20cm tall) with removable clothing £19 each
Jacob sheepskin rug £95 each
Huxtable Farm Jacob wool throws and cushions, only a few dark throws & cushions available now.
Print Nineteen Cards
Thinking of supporting small businesses, our daughter, Natalie’s new business,‘Print Nineteen’, has some beautiful unique cards and prints (including personalised), many produced from foliage from around the farm.
Whilst our son, Nigel, has produced some beautiful bird prints available to purchase – Nige Design #supportsmallbusinesses
We look forward to welcoming you to Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon with a delicious Cream Tea in the afternoon.
Love this elephant family hand knitted with Huxtable Farm Jacob wool using the pattern from ‘Knitting by Au Bout du Pré by Cécile Carter’. Wool, knitting book and knitted elephants available to purchase from Huxtable Farm – Contact jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk
Huxtable Farm Jacob sheep
Felted Jacob sheepskin rug next to wood burner
Lots more lovely items made from the fleeces of our Jacob sheep are also available to purchase and 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.
Jacob sheep card £4.50 each
Stripy hand knitted Jacob wool hats with or without pompoms £25
Jacob wool cowl knitting Kit £13.50
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.
The Camping at Huxtable Farm is popular this August, especially as each pitch has it’s own wash room. We only have a few spaces available for the end of August & beginning of September 2020.
Until we see you again, take care, stay safe & healthy, with warm wiahes Jackie, Antony & Bella, the dog 🙂
Campsite
Huxtable Farm, West Buckland, suituated between Barnstaple and Exmoor in North Devon
Now that the summer holidays are upon us we are offering 
