September – Things to do & Tour of Britain 2018

Tour of Britain North Devon

Tour of Britain 2018 – Travelled through North Devon on Monday 3rd September – The cyclist rode through a building (South Molton Pannier Market) for the first time in its 12 years , then on to Filleigh (3 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B), to Barnstaple then a circuit to Coombe Martin, Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, Croyde, Braunton and finishing in Barnstaple about 3.45pm, thrilling to see although all over in a few minutes!

Harvesting Figs, Blackberries, Apples & Tomatoes

September and here at Huxtable Farm B&B, we are busy harvesting natures delicious, natural food from the hedgerows and trees, blackberries, elderberries, sloes, hazelnuts and a wide variety of apples from small crab apples to pippins. – You are welcome to pick your own too and do some fungi spotting whilst staying at Huxtable Farm B&B!

The forbidden fruit – Apples, are well used in Devon to produce delicious apple juice and Devon Cider/Scrumpy! You can sample locally produced ‘Little Emlett Orchard’ apple juice at Huxtable Farms’ breakfast. One of Devon’s Cider makers is situated within 10 miles of Huxtable Farm; Hancocks Cider, Clapworthy Mill, established over 50 yrs ago uses 35 tons of Devon apples to produce about 5,000 gallons of Cider a year.

Autumn leaves at Huxtable Farm B&B North Devon

There is still so much to do in North Devon during September, from enjoying autumnal walks from Huxtable Farm, through woods amongst the glorious golden colours of the tree canopy, to tasting delicious west country food at food festivals, book and craft fairs, or enjoying all the fun & excitement of Barnstaple and South Molton Carnivals & Fun Fairs.

North Devon Food Festivals

Click here to see what ‘Things you can do for free at Huxtable Farm’ or on the links below for; Events and things to do in North Devon during September:-

21st – 29th September Appledore Book Festival where you have a chance to meet authors such as Michael Palin, Michael Morpurgo (author of the ‘War Horse’) and Kate Mosse.

RHS Rosemoor Gardens – Has so many events during September including; 7th – 8th September – Autumn Design for Living weekend , 15 – 16th September – The Taste of Autumn Artisan Food Fair , 23 September – Autumn – Plant Fair. 28th – 30th September – Real Ale, Gin & Music Weekend.

South Molton Carnival 29th September

Art Trek 2018 – North Devon Open Studios 14th – 30th September. Huxtable Farm’s Jacob wool is part of this years Art Trek open to the public on the 15th, 16th, 18th, 25th, 29th & 30th September 11am – 4pm.

Art Trek North Devon 2018

Art Trek at Huxtable Farm

Art Trek tea & cakes

October dates for your diary; –

Exmoor Dark Skies Festival 20th October – 4th October

North Devon Food Fest 21st October

New this year at Huxtable Farm – Three day painting course with Ruth Bateman – 23, 24 & 25th October – Click here to find out the details

Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, situated half way between Barnstaple & South Molton, near Exmoor National Park, Devon

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July – Fruit, butterflies & Things to do in North Devon

Butterfly-tortoiseshell

Butterfly Peacock

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly

Speckled wood Butterfly

The warm sunny weather this summer has been great for the butterflies

Shorn Jacob sheep

Fruit; Raspberries, Gooseberries and Logenberries

The ewes are pleased to have been shorn on the 2/7/18 and we now have Jacob fleeces available to purchase for spinning or felting. We also have some brown fleeces, a perfect natural material for when the weather gets colder and your plants e.g. Dalia’s need some protection from the frost.

Fruit picking is going well; the redcurrants are now Redcurrant Jelly, delicious with our Huxtable Farm Jacob Lamb. The gooseberries ‘Elderflower & Gooseberry Jam’ to have at the breakfast table with a warm croissant or some toasted homemade bread. The raspberries and loganberries as fresh fruit for breakfast.

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival

Things to do/Events this July;

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 16th June – 22nd July – The largest rose gardens in the South West.

RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

17, 18 & 19th August RHS Rosemoor Flower Show

New valley view through trees on Huxtable Farm Devon Wildlife Trail, now that our neighbour has felled a woodland area

National Trust Arlington Court – What’s on in July

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Tiverton Mid Devon Show 28th July

North Devon Show 1st August

Visit & see beautiful North Devon places;

National Trust Baggy Point near Croyde beach

Exmoor ponies near Landacre Bridge Exmoor

Tarr Steps Exmoor

Fly catcher on nest

Or stay at Huxtable Farm and enjoy the wildlife, such as these two very different fly catchers!

Cobwebs

Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, North Devon EX32 0SR

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1st March 2018 – World Book Day

World Book Day – A freezing cold day great for curling up with a good book.

We’re so lucky in North Devon to have a variety of great authors, past & present and books about North Devon

Book all about – Huxtable Farm – The story of a Devon Farm

From our own book about Huxtable Farm edited by Barbara Payne ‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm’ to Henry Williamson’s ‘Tarka the Otter’

‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm’ can be purchased at £7.50 plus P&P Contact jackie@huxtablefarm.co.uk

Henry Williamson ‘Tarka the Otter’ – Follows an otters joyful water-life and death in the country of the two rivers, Taw and Torridge. The ‘Tarka Trail’ passes the entrance to Huxtable Farm B&B.

R F Delderfield’s ‘To Serve Them All My Days’ – First published in 1972, the book was adapted for television in 1980. Set between WW1 and WW2 the book is follows a young shell- shocked man’s life as a master at a remote Devon School. R. F. Delderfield’s time at West Buckland School served as an inspiration for ‘To serve them all my days’

Johnny Kingdom ‘A Wild Life on Exmoor’ A wildlife photographer specialising in his local area Exmoor & North Devon

R D Blackmore ‘Lorna Doone’ – A romance of Exmoor, based on a group of historical characters and set in the late 17th century in Devon and Somerset, particularly around the East Lyn Valley area of Exmoor

Books by North Devon Authors

David Kennard ‘A Shepherd’s Watch’ – David Kennard lives a life most people can only dream about. Farming on a spectacularly beautiful part of the Devon coast he has an almost telepathic bond with nature and with his working sheepdogs.

Norma Huxtable ‘Positively The Last Word on Exmoor’ – Norma Huxtable a farmer, landlady, writer, wit and all-round exposer of the social scene that makes Exmoor such a unique place to live

Veronica Henry ‘The Long Weekend’ , ‘A Night on the Orient Express’ and many more page turning romance novels. One of my favourite present day novelist.

Charles Kingsley – Westward Ho! (A north Devon seaside town near Bideford, with a large sandy beach & unique pebble ridge) – A novel was based on the adventures of Elizabethan corsair Amyas Preston who sets sail with Sir Francis Drake, Sir Walter Raleigh and other privateers to the New World, where they battle with the Spanish.

Save the Date: 21st – 29th September 2018 for Appledore’s Book Festival – When you get a chance to meet some authors.

Which ever book you read today stay safe and warm

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Butterfly Count & Exmoor – South West Coast Path

We’ve done the 2017 Butterfly count , have you? Here’s some of the butterflies we spotted at Huxtable Farm B&B.

Butterfly Peacock

Butterfly Red Admiral

Butterfly Speckled Wood

Butterfly Meadow Brown

Butterfly Green Veined White

Butterfly Gatekeeper

It’s National Parks Week from 24th to 30th July and we’re so lucky to have Exmoor National Park just up the road from Huxtable Farm B&B. Exmoor National Park boasts the highest sea cliffs in England and some of the most stunning sea views, making this part of the South West Coast path dramatic and stunning!

Exmoor is home to an amazing variety of habitats & wildlife, including historic Exmoor ponies and Red deer. There’s vast open moorland to deep wooded valleys with rambling rivers & waterfalls e.g. at Watersmeet. There’s so much to explore on Exmoor.

Things to do during July & August in North Devon ; –

RHS Rosemoor Rose Festival has 2000 roses on display now 17th June – 30th July – The largest rose gardens in the South West. Enid Blyton Exhibition of Memorabilia exhibition 15th July – 28th August. Famous Five fun at Rosemoor (childrens activities) 29 July – 3 September Mon – Friday

National Trust Arlington Court – Family ranger days, drop-in family crafts & garden days – PDF of events

Things to do for free at Huxtable Farm B&B

Gardens to visit in North Devon

Beaches to visit in North Devon

Wildlife & Nature of North Devon & Exmoor

North Devon Show 2nd August

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February – snowdrops, daffodils and Valentines

Time to enjoy the beautiful snowdrops of North Devon, littered in the hedgerow at Huxtable Farm B&B , RHS Rosemoor and at Snowdrop Valley (a privately owned remote valley in a hidden part of Exmoor close to Whedden Cross open to the public 28th Jan – 26th Feb)

This February you can also get a taste of Exmoor by sampling the delicious, local food prepared by some great Exmoor restaurants during ‘The Exmoor Food Festival’ – Eat your way across Exmoor during February 2017! Participating restaurants across the region will offer 2 courses for £10.00 / 3 courses for £15.00 between 1st and 28th February

Breath taking sunset at the end a fresh, crisp frosty day at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon, with Valentines approaching!

We hope everyone is keeping warm during these fresh, crisp, frosty days. Here the wood burners are roaring with wood from the farm – great for warming up next to having come in from outside.

Roaring log fires at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon and the first frog spawn of 2017 will soon be appearing in the Devon Wildlife pond!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon in February and March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 30th March 2017.

Otherwise, please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2017 by looking at Huxtable Farm B&B’s local Events/Farm Calendar

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Blog

September – Things to do & Tour of Britain 2018

July – Fruit, butterflies & Things to do in North Devon

1st March 2018 – World Book Day

Butterfly Count & Exmoor – South West Coast Path

February – snowdrops, daffodils and Valentines

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