Bluebells

May – Three Bank Holidays – King Charles lll & Queen Camilla’s Coronation

British Flag

British Flag

Three Bank Holidays in May, perfect for booking a short break away.

Here’s to the Coronation of Their Majesties – King Charles lll and Queen Camilla, on the 6th May at Westminster. 

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

May is a fabulous month for walking in North Devon – The Macmillan Way West and Tarka Trail, both pass the entrance to Huxtable Farm,so we get quite a few staying over night and we always enjoying hearing about everyone’s adventures! Then there’s the South West Coast Path; with the stunning sandy beaches of Woolacombe, Saunton & Westward Ho! and Croyde beach, one of the best surfing beaches in the UK. The two point either end of Woolacombe beach, Baggy Point and Morte Point are both stunning to walk, with views out to Lundy Island.

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

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

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;

Devon County Show 18th, 19th & 20th May. If you love animals, tractors, food, music, dog shows, funfairs, crafts, gardens, shopping and anything associated with country life in Devon, then you will have a great day at the Devon County Show.

RHS Rosemoor Gardens Workshops, events and shows

Point-to-point racing in North Devon (Bratton Down & Umberleigh)

Point-to-point racing in North Devon (Bratton Down & Umberleigh)

If you enjoy horse racing there are some fun days to be had on the 14th & 21st May & 4th June 2023 – Point to Point at Bratton Down.

Bee Keeping experience days at Quince Honey Farm – 11th, 13th, 22nd & 24th May 2023

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, 28th May 2023 : 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

Hay making

August; School holidays & time to explore!

Fishing in Pond

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

Build a den in the woodland and dams in the stream

Fairies

See how many fairies you can find

Spot the Peachicks

Spot the Peachicks

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

Spot majestic Exmoor ponies on Exmoor

Spot majestic Exmoor ponies on Exmoor

Cycle the Tarka Trail

Cycle the Tarka Trail

Go surfing at the beach

Go surfing at the beach

Go swimming in Westward Ho! sea pool

Go swimming in Westward Ho! sea pool

Visit North Devon Gardens including RHS Rosemoor

Visit North Devon Gardens including RHS Rosemoor

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

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

We look forward to welcoming you.

B&B availability Camping availability

 

 

 

 

 

Bluebells under trees

May – Bluebell walks, Beautiful Gardens, Devon County Show and more …

 

Lambing finished a few days ago and the lambs are growing well, despite the grass not growing as vigorously as it should be at this time of year.

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

rhubarb in garden

rhubarb in garden

We’ve just enjoyed this years first rhubarb at breakfast and soon I’ll be able to plant out the various seedlings from the greenhouse too. 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 good this month with it’s camellias in flower. Marwood Hill Garden with it’s beautiful wisteria archway.

 

Walking in North Devon during May is very popular staying over night at Huxtable Farm B&B whilst walking the Macmillan Way West or Tarka Trail, both passing the entrance to Huxtable Farm – We always enjoying hearing about everyone’s adventures! Click here for information on walking & cycling in North Devon.

Treasue Trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon

Treasue Trail at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon

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 variety of habitats; woodland, pasture, pond, bracken slope and hedges. To make it even more interesting we even have a ‘Treasure Trail’ for you to enjoy!

Events taking place during May;

The Devon County Show, takes place this month on the 17th, 18th & 19th May, near Exeter. With something for everyone from prize winning animals, new vehicles & machinery to beautiful crafts & scrumptious food & drink, this is a great day out for all.

RHS Rosemoor Gardens Spring Design & Living Fair 5th – 7th May, Plant Heritage Spring Fair 12th – 13th May & future event – RHS Rossmoor’s Flower Show 17th -19th August.

20th May & 10th June 2018 – Point to Point at Bratton Down.

Tomatoes, vines & sunflowers in greenhouse

Tomatoes, vines & sunflowers in greenhouse

Fun filled drop in craft and ranger days at National Trust Arlington Court

Bee Keeping experience days at Quince Honey Farm

Meet ‘Chase’ from Paw Patrol at The Milky Way Adventure Park 2nd June

Meet Rex the T-Rex and his baby dinosaurs at The Big Sheep Adventure Park  6th May

In June you can look forward to;

The South Molton Vintage Rally: 2nd & 3rd June : Cars, motorcycles, steam engines, crafts, & demonstrations of rural skills.

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, 27th May : Promoting seaweed for its immense health & nutritional benefits, in aid of North Devon Hospice

or just come and enjoy panoramic views from Huxtable Farm B&B!

Enjoying the view South towards Dartmoor

Enjoying the view South towards Dartmoor

Books by North Devon Authors

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

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

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

 

Exmoor Red Deer in the woods

May – Wildlife walks, gardens to visit and Devon County Show

Leverets, bata & wood anemone at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon

Leverets, bats & wood anemones at Huxtable Farm B&B, Devon

May – The trees have their new leaves and the days are getting warmer & longer. The swallows are back and starting to build their nests and there is also evidence of other young on the farm –

 

View more of Huxtable Farm B&B’s wildlife video’s by clicking here – https://www.youtube.com/exmoordeer

Just picked this year first rhubarb and soon I’ll be able to plant out the seedlings from the greenhouse too. 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 good this month with it’s camellias in flower.

May is the month we get a lot of walkers staying over whilst walking the Macmillan Way West or Tarka Trail, both passing the entrance to Huxtable Farm – We always enjoying hearing about their journey so far! Click here for information on walking & cycling in North Devon.

If you enjoy a walk in the countryside, Huxtable Farms Devon Wildlife farm trail has a variety beautiful wild flowers and foliage to enjoy in its variety of habitats; woodland, pasture, pond, bracken slope and hedges.

Bluebells (Pink & White bells), Dandelions & Rhubarb at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon

Bluebells (Pink & White bells), Dandelions & Rhubarb at Huxtable Farm B&B, North Devon

 

The Devon County Show, takes place this month on the 19th, 20th & 21st May, near Exeter. With something for everyone from prize winning animals, new vehicles & machinery to beautiful crafts & scrumptious food & drink, this is a great day out for all.

In June you can look forward to;

The South Molton Vintage Rally: 3rd & 4th June : Cars, motorcycles, steam engines, crafts, & demonstrations of rural skills.

Clovelly Seaweed Festival, 12th June : Promoting seaweed for its immense health & nutritional benefits