February 2021 – Pancake Day

snowdrops

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.

Camping in tent

Check B&B Availability

Check Camping Availability at Huxtable Farm B&B

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

Please click here for some 2021 events dates to look forward to. 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), visit the fabulous Beaches of North Devon , a family attraction, or one of the many beatifulful Gardens of North Devon; including Castle Hill gardens (RHS partner garden) only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm or 19 miles to RHS Rosemoor near Torrington.

Elephants with removable outfit, Hand Knitted with Huxtable Farm Jacob Wool £19 each

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 sheepskin rugs, Jacob wool throws & cushions, knitting kits, hand knitted hats etc. All made with love.

Availability

Jacob Sheepskin Rug 99x70cms £105

If you’d like to receive ‘Huxtable Farm’s Newletter’, I don’t send many, with the occasional offer please sign up here ‘Huxtable Farm’s Newletter’.

From our family to yours with warm regards Jackie & Antony

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Happy New Year – Welcome to 2021

Wishing everyone a very happy and healthy 2021 from all at Huxtable Farm

Check Availability

Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast Photos

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.

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

Book your Camping stay at Huxtable Farm B&B

Bench with view on Huxtable Farm Devon Wildlife Walk

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

Please click on this link (2021 events dates) for some events to look forward to in 2021

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), 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.

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.

Hand Knitted elephants with removable clothing £19 each

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

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Autumn – Harvest time – starting to think about Christmas gifts

Harvesting Figs, Blackberries, Apples & Tomatoes

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.

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

Book your Camping stay at Huxtable Farm B&B

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.

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.

Devon-Cream-Tea-welcome on arrival

Autumn leaves (Autumn walks in North Devon)

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

June – Logging, Jacob sheepskin rugs & paintings

Dragging part of a fallen tree trunk

Antony & I have been using our time to clear fallen tress around the farm, to be used for this winters firewood, as they are already well seasoned.

Fallen Tree

Although we are not open for 2020 we do have some 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 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, mounted A4 prints £25.

Water colour painting of Devon house

Wild Flower Meadow Water Colour Print

Card of West Buckland School

Springer Spaniel – Print of acrylic painting by Jackie

We are sorry not to be able to accommodate you this year as there are so many beautiful gardens to visit in North Devon at their bestright now; Castle Hill only 2 miles from Huxtable Farm B&B, RHS Rosemoor, 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 Roses in June

Next year could be a busy year so you may wish to provisionally book ahead

Check Availability

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Spring lambs and sunshine :)

Jacob lamb resting

Thoughts are with everyone during this Corvid-19 pandemic, it all feels so surreal!

Here at Huxtable Farm Bed and Breakfast, we have decided to close initially until the 1st May and will review at the end of April whether this will need to be extended. We are respecting the government’s recommendations and would hate to be a reason for spreading Corvid-19 further.

If you have any bookings with us in the immediate future please do get in contact if we haven’t contacted you already, so that we can arrange to postone your break until later in the year.

Eggs in incubator

Life here on the farm continues; Our small flock of The Jacob ewes have started lambing.

Some eggs are now in the incubator and one of our hens has gone broody so we should have some chicks hatching around Easter weekend. In everyones absence a tawny owl has decided to move in to an old dove hole in the farmhouse and is sitting on her eggs.

Tawny owl on eggs

Hopefully, when this pendemic is all over we will see you later in the year.

Please have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 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.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

In the meantime, we wish you all the very best in the weeks ahead and hope that you, your family & friends stay safe & healthy.

As promised here’s some photographs for you to enjoy.

Jacob lamb feeding

Jacob ewe and lamb at trough

Jacob ewe and lambs

Jacob lambs

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Corvid-19 Update

Bo – Bottle fed tame lamb

Thoughts are with everyone during this Corvid-19 pandemic.

Here at Huxtable Farm B&B, we have decided to close initially until the 1st May and will review at the end of April whether this will need to be extended. We are respecting the government’s recommendations and would hate to be a reason for spreading Corvid-19 further.

If you have any bookings with us in the immediate future please do get in contact if I haven’t contacted you already.

Life here on the farm continues; Antony is pleased to have more help outside i.e. Me ! – Helping put up new fences around the fields, chopping logs for the wood burners etc. And I’m please to have him helping me update the herb garden 🙂

Our small flock of The Jacob ewes have started lambing and are due to produce lambs until about the 20th April. On Easter morning we aim to have some chicks hatching from some of our hens eggs. I’ll keep you updated with photographs.

Hopefully, when this pendemic is all over we will see you later in the year.

Children Easter Egg Hunt

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

In the meantime, we wish you all the very best in the weeks ahead and hope that you and yours stay as healthy and well as possible.

If you’d like to receive the next & future Huxtable Farm ‘news’ update please subscribe with your e-mail address

Jacob with twin lambs

Lambs resting on hay

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Mother’s Day and Easter lambing time

Mothers Day

Mother’s Day is on the 22nd March A chance to express respect, honour & love to Mothers. Acknowledge the efforts of the maternal bond and the mothers role in our society.

Here are some idea’s to help you spoil your special Mum; A night at Huxtable Farm B&B, welcomed with a Devon cream tea then in the morning enjoy a delicious Mothers Day breakfast next to the crackling log fire in the medieval dining room. Have afternoon tea at RHS Rosemoor Gardens having visited the SW Alpine Garden Society Show. Buy a gift from Huxtable Farm B&B’s Jacob wool shop; 100% Jacob wool throws, cushions, scarves, yarn and knitting kits. Give your mother a Voucher to stay at Huxtable Farm B&B at sometime later this year, telephone 01598 760254 or e-mail for more details.

Huxtable Farm B&B Voucher

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March, Huxtable Farm B&B has a special offer, of a Luxury Cream Tea on arrival for National #BandBWeek 16th – 22th March . We also have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 31st March 2020.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

Bo – Bottle fed tame lamb

Lambing Live here at Huxtable Farm B&B – Our small flock of The Jacob ewes are due to produce lambs between the 20th March – 20th April – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us when the hibernation period is coming to end and our stunning countryside is waking up. On Easter morning we will have an Easter Egg Hunt for the children and aim to have some chicks hatching, making your Easter stay at Huxtable Farm B&B special.

During April, leading up to Easter, 12th April some of the local attractions have #Easter #Egg hunts and Easter events to enjoy;
April – RHS Rosemoor – Easter crafts.
Easter fun at National Trust Arlington Court, Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, Hartland Abbey and Clovelly!

Children Easter Egg Hunt

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

If you’d like to receive the next & future Huxtable Farm ‘news’ update please subscribe with your e-mail address

Easter Eggs

Easter lambs, chicks and flowers

March Hare video to enjoy 🙂

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

World Book Day & Mother’s Day

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

Book – ‘Huxtable – The story of a Devon Farm’

World Book Day 5th March 2020 recognised by Unesco celebrating the joy of reading books. A registered charity on a mission to give every child and young person a book of their own, thanks to the generosity of National Book tokens, publishers booksellers.

To celebrate Huxtable Farm Medieval Farmhouse being 500 years this year, we are giving every booking on arrival, a copy of our book ‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm ‘Huxtable The Story of a Devon Farm ‘

Books by North Devon Authors

Some local authors you may also know are; Henry Williamson who wrote ‘Tarka the Otter’ – The Tarka Trail passes Huxtable Farm B&B’s entrance. Johnny Kingdom -Local Exmoor Wildlife photographer & author. Michael Morpurgo author of ‘The War Horse’ and many children’s books. R F Delderfield who wrote ‘To Serve Them All My Days’ and attended West Buckland Public School, situated opposite Huxtable Farm B&B . R D Blackmore who wrote the Exmoor romance story of ‘Lorna Doone’. David Kennard of Borough Farm who has written ‘A Shephard’s Watch’ and the TV series ‘Mist, sheep dog tails’.

Mother’s Day is on the 22nd March Here are some gift ideas; A voucher to stay at Huxtable Farm B&B please telephone 01598 760254 for more details. A Jacob sheep wool gift Jacob sheep wool gift from our shop, the ewes are due to start lambing 20th March!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have a SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATE at Huxtable Farm B&B until 31st March.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

If you’d like to receive the next & future Huxtable Farm ‘news’ update please subscribe with your e-mail address

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Pancake Day & Special Offers

Pancake Day/Shove Tuesday.

Pancake Day/Shove Tuesday, the day before fasting period of Lent leading up to Easter is on the 25th February 2020. I like May pancakes with fruit and maple syrup or a sprinkling of sugar & a squeeze of honey.Will you be eating pancakes if yes how do you like yours?

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have a SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATE at Huxtable Farm B&B until 31st March.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability

If you’d like to receive the next & future Huxtable Farm ‘news’ update please subscribe with your e-mail address

Keep Reading

Comments Off Written by Jackie Payne

Winter Wildlife on Exmoor & North Devon 2020

woodpecker

Availability

Winter is a special time to see a wide variety of Devon Wildlife from Exmoor Red Deer and the iconic Exmoor ponies in their fluffy winter coats to otters and dolphins in the rivers and sea respectively. Spotting wildlife on the farm during February and March is great too; – The trees don’t have their leaves yet so you can spot the Roe deer and Exmoor Red deer in the woodland, brown hares in the grassy verges, hear the spot lesser spotted woodpeckers and see buzzards soaring over head.

February is a fabulous 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 Wheddon Cross open to the public until 23rd Feb 2020)

Breakfast next to a crackling log fire in the morning

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 after taking Bella, the Springer Spaniel, for a farm walk or having fed the sheep.

Our small flock of Jacob sheep are due to produce lambs at the end of March and during April – Do come and enjoy this time of year with us when the hibernation period is coming to end and our stunning countryside is waking up.

Cuddling Jacob sheep lamb at lambing time

During April, leading up to Easter, 12th April some of the local attractions have #Easter #Egg hunts and Easter events to enjoy; April – Easter fun at RHS Rosemoor and National Trust Arlington Court
#Easter #Egg hunts to look forward to at all the attractions in the area; Quince Honey Farm, The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, NT Arlington Court, Hartland Abbey and find the Easter chicks at Clovelly!

To help you enjoy what’s going on in North Devon during March we have some SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATES at Huxtable Farm B&B until 31st March.

Please also have a look at the fantastic variety of events due to take place in North Devon during 2020 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.

Check available dates at Huxtable Farm B&B, West Buckland, Barnstaple, Devon and Exmoor

Availability