Fido Family Friendly Places

This beautiful two-bedroom holiday home in East Devon showcases stunning views across the surrounding countryside and the deer fields in front of the property. Recently built in 2022, the property sits alongside the owner’s home on a working farm (dogs are present on the farm, but will be with the owners), and is situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, just outside the town of Ottery St. Mary. This cosy rural retreat offers a great base for a couple or a family looking to explore the delights of the beautiful county of Devon, and the unique experience of the deer being able to wander right up to the fence bordering the property’s garden whilst relaxing in the private hot tub.
As you enter Deer View Retreat, you will be welcomed into the entrance area with patio doors opening out into the garden, the perfect cosy spot to enjoy a mug of coffee with a good book. This then leads through to the open plan living and dining area where you can wind down and watch a film after a busy day exploring the coastline or enjoy a family meal together. Enjoy your breakfast in the well-equipped kitchen whilst taking in the far reaching views, the stag with his magnificent antlers and the ever-changing scenery. There’s also a handy utility area next door.
Discover the two stylish bedrooms and the bathroom on the first floor. The first has a double bed, the second is furnished with zip and link twin beds, and the shower room is fitted with a walk-in shower, heated towel rail, toilet and sink.
The town of Ottery St. Mary has beautiful architecture and historic buildings lining the streets, backed by rural Devonshire countryside. Wander through the centre to browse independent shops and galleries or stroll along the River Otter to admire the unusual Tumbling Weir. If you’re exploring beyond the town, you’ll be close to the quintessential East Devon coastal towns and villages of Budleigh Salterton, Beer, Branscombe, Sidmouth, Exmouth and Seaton. Exeter and Honiton are also within easy reach. The Southwest Coast Path is nearby and keen hikers should head to Dartmoor National Park with is just a 30-minute drive away. With lots of day out opportunities from your doorstep, make Deer View the base for your next holiday in East Devon. Beach 8 miles.

The Old Roundhouse is a unique escape in sumptuous accommodation, the perfect holiday retreat in genuine peace and tranquillity. This stunning, spacious, detached barn conversion with original roundhouse enjoys total seclusion within its own large gardens on the edge of the owner’s farm, with no near neighbours. Nestling in this designated AONB, uninterrupted and magnificent views of the surrounding countryside abound and lovely walks can be enjoyed from the property. A 10-minute walk over the owner’s fields and woods leads to Hartland village with shops, three pubs and a lovely coffee shop. Sandy Spekes beach is just over a mile walk. A fabulous, picturesque, hidden treasure, great for rockpooling and surfing. The owners have maintained many original features - exposed internal stone walls, beams and wonderful slate floors with underfloor heating throughout. Everything has been thought of to ensure an incredible holiday to please everyone. The Old Roundhouse is a really special holiday home and a warm welcome awaits with complimentary chilled beer and wine, cream teas, fresh flowers and toiletries - all ingredients for a well earned break. The stunning World Heritage coastline abounds with family activities, from pretty beaches to hidden coves, once the haunt of smugglers. Hartland Abbey is worth a visit, as is the famous Clovelly. Bude and Bideford are within easy reach with their shops, attractions and leisure pursuits. Shops ½ mile.

Situated in a quiet rural location, Bardon Lodge is a spacious property attached to the owner’s home and set within 10 acres of grounds. The property is surrounded by fields and woodland, yet close enough to all amenities. The property has been decorated and furnished to a very good standard and is all on one level with both bedrooms having en-suite facilities. There is a living room with patio doors which lead to the decking area, ideal for dining al fresco. The sitting room also has patio doors leading out to the garden. The owner has horses and free range chickens may even come and visit!
There are so many places to visit and so easy to get to. Take a trip to Totnes where there are many shops, markets and walks along the riverbank. Dartmoor is just a short car ride where you can see the ponies, walk the Tors or simply stop off in one of the many villages for a Devon cream tea. Paignton, Torquay and Brixham are also great places to visit, as are Exeter and Plymouth, both within 30 minutes’ drive. There are many National Trust properties including Agatha Christie’s summer home ’Greenway’, well worth a visit. For the children, there is Crealy Adventure park, or Go Ape in Haldon. If you are bringing a bicycle, there are many cycle ways off road to be explored, including Powderham Castle where there is a cycle track all along the estuary. There is so much to see and do in this glorious part of Devon. Beach 6 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Set amid 10½-acre grounds, complete with outdoor heated swimming pool, games room with pool table and darts, mini-gym and children’s play area, these six holiday properties (26767, 26768, 27123, UKC284, UKC285 and UKC1844) occupy a beautiful setting. Named after British apples, they have been imaginatively converted from former fruit barns. On arrival, dive into the welcome pack.
All the properties at Horselake have a private garden or courtyard, whilst enjoying the freedom to roam the grounds and make the most of the shared facilities. Ideal for exploring South Devon with its stunning coastline, and resorts such as Dawlish and Teignmouth. Rugged Dartmoor is only a short drive, and many family attractions are within easy reach including National Trust-owned Castle Drogo, Fingle Bridge, the Teign Gorge, and Canonteign Falls and Country Park. The properties are within 10 miles of the old cathedral city of Exeter, with its many varied attractions including a racecourse, shopping, antique shops, guided tours and a host of summer festivals. Fishing on the River Teign, 3 miles. Golf 4 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant within 1 mile.

Set amid 10½-acre grounds, complete with outdoor heated swimming pool, games room with pool table and darts, mini-gym and children’s play area, these six holiday properties (26767, 26768, 27123, UKC284, UKC285 and UKC1844) occupy a beautiful setting. Named after British apples, they have been imaginatively converted from former fruit barns. On arrival, dive into the welcome pack.
All the properties at Horselake have a private garden or courtyard, whilst enjoying the freedom to roam the grounds and make the most of the shared facilities. Ideal for exploring South Devon with its stunning coastline, and resorts such as Dawlish and Teignmouth. Rugged Dartmoor is only a short drive, and many family attractions are within easy reach including National Trust-owned Castle Drogo, Fingle Bridge, the Teign Gorge, and Canonteign Falls and Country Park. The properties are within 10 miles of the old cathedral city of Exeter, with its many varied attractions including a racecourse, shopping, antique shops, guided tours and a host of summer festivals. Fishing on the River Teign, 3 miles. Golf 4 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant within 1 mile.

These Grade ll listed, attractive, 16th century barn conversions have been completely renovated to a very good standard. They offer glorious views over the rolling Devon countryside, and are ideally situated on a 300-acre working farm, between Cullompton and Honiton, an excellent location for exporing the many attractions nearby, including the famous World Heritage Jurassic Coast, 18 miles, Killerton House (NT), Crealy Adventure Park and the Lace Museum at Honiton, 7 miles. Also worth a visit are Beer, Seaton, Lyme Regis, Sidmouth and Branscombe. There is walking on the Blackdown Hills, or Dartmoor (within easy driving distance), and of course, Exeter cathedral city with its shops and restaurants. Set between Dartmoor and Exmoor, the cottages are well-placed to visit the quaint villages - and no visit would be complete without a Devon cream tea. Properties 27667 and 24677 can be booked together to accommodate up to 10 guests. Shops, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Two purpose built contemporary lodges, set in an elevated position above the owners farmland with far reaching views across meadows and a small lake in the valley. Guests are enchanted by the beautiful location, the quietness and dark starry night skies. All properties are extremely well appointed and spacious both inside and out, each boasting large decked terraces, with gates for keeping both pets and children from roaming, and each having their own private hot tub. The perfect location for families or friends looking for a peaceful retreat for a holiday or celebrating a special occasion, and the perfect spot for those looking to explore the wider surrounding area. A well established hedge provides complete privacy between the two lodges, but a small access path means that the two can be hired together for large groups.
Close by, the Grand Western Canal and Country Park, offers boat trips and great walking and cycling, Knighthayes National Trust, 3 miles, Killerton and Powderham Castle. Exmoor’s seaside resorts, Dartmoor, the city of Exeter, south coast towns and north coast surfing beaches are easily accessible. Beauty treatments, local veg and meat box and home cooking can all be arranged (at extra charge). Shop/Post Office 2 miles, pub 1 mile.

Nestled within 240 acres of unspoilt farmland, in the glorious South Hams midway between Dartmoor and the stunning south Devon beaches, Wheeldon Farm Cottages are the perfect choice for family, friends and couples to enjoy a relaxing retreat or an action packed escape at any time of year. The four delightful, pet-friendly barn conversions (refs 27214, 27215, 27216 and UKC748), which could be booked together for larger parties, sit within a lovely courtyard setting surrounded by miles of footpaths and green lanes, ideal for walking or cycling. The master bedroom in each property features a flatscreen TV, and home-made meals can be pre-ordered and delivered to the cottage (arranged direct with the owner). The cottages lie just a short distance from some of south Devon’s finest beaches and tourist attractions, including the historic town of Totnes which is just 15 minutes away and sits on the River Dart with cruises down river to Greenway and Dartmouth. A cosmopolitan town, Totnes, 7 miles away, has a vast array of independent shops, weekly markets, galleries, leisure centre and many lovely restaurants, bistros and cafés. The seaside towns of Paignton and Torquay are 40 minutes’ drive, and it is just a 15-minute drive to the yachting haven of Dartmouth, and the coastline between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, both 7 miles away, has many stunning beaches, hidden coves and fantastic coastal walks.

Guests of these cottages can also enjoy a range of on-site facilities suitable for all the family, including a heated indoor swimming pool (available via a booking system) with a private changing room and shower. There is a large games room set over two floors, including a fitness room with a cross trainer, treadmill, rowing machine and exercise bike. The top floor of the games room has a full-size American pool table, big sofa and Sky TV. The bottom floor has table tennis and table football. On-site there is also a laundry and ironing room. If you are looking for adventure and an adrenalin rush, then Wheeldon Farm Cottages will not disappoint. The Wheeldon Off-Road Centre, adjacent to the cottages, boasts a purpose-built, 30,000 square foot indoor arena (split in separate halves for motorbikes and bicycles) and junior training circuit, and is the ideal year-round venue for the whole family to learn to ride a motorcycle in a fun and controlled environment. Discounted rates are available for children and adults during the school holidays (booking by arrangement and on arrival), providing children and adults with the opportunity to experience the ultimate, two-wheel off-road adventure for the first time. The instructors at Wheeldon Farm are all ACU accredited and will guide the children through their paces every step of the way. For some activities, all the kit, clothing, boots, gloves, helmets and fun bikes are provided. All that’s needed is the enthusiasm to have a great deal of fun! Suited to all ages from 7 years to fit seniors. Wheeldon Farm now offers all of it’s holiday cottage customers a free 1 hour ‘taster’ ride on our professionally maintained Haibike electric bikes, after which they are available to hire. The bikes are perfect for exploring the beautiful South Devon countryside in an environmentally friendly way. We can advise you on the best routes to ride and places to explore.

In addition to all the motorbike fun, a range of other activities can also be organised locally, including horse riding, golf, go-karting and trout and carp fishing. Also, clay pigeon shooting, air rifle and archery are available - these are run by a fully qualified instructor and all equipment is provided. The activities run on a Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Prices will be charged accordingly when bookings are made. Please note, extra activities and catering requests must be pre-booked with Wheeldon Farm Cottages prior to guests’ arrival at the site. Foxglove (ref 27214), Poppy (ref 27215), Monkshood (ref 27216) and Mad Nelly Cottage (ref UKC748) can be booked together to accommodate up to 29 guests. Beach 10 miles. Shop 3 miles, pub 2 miles and restaurant 6 miles.

Nestled within 240 acres of unspoilt farmland, in the glorious South Hams midway between Dartmoor and the stunning south Devon beaches, Wheeldon Farm Cottages are the perfect choice for family, friends and couples to enjoy a relaxing retreat or an action packed escape at any time of year. The four delightful, pet-friendly barn conversions (refs 27214, 27215, 27216 and UKC748), which could be booked together for larger parties, sit within a lovely courtyard setting surrounded by miles of footpaths and green lanes, ideal for walking or cycling. The master bedroom in each property features a flatscreen TV, and home-made meals can be pre-ordered and delivered to the cottage (arranged direct with the owner). The cottages lie just a short distance from some of south Devon’s finest beaches and tourist attractions, including the historic town of Totnes which is just 15 minutes away and sits on the River Dart with cruises down river to Greenway and Dartmouth. A cosmopolitan town, Totnes, 7 miles away, has a vast array of independent shops, weekly markets, galleries, leisure centre and many lovely restaurants, bistros and cafés. The seaside towns of Paignton and Torquay are 40 minutes’ drive, and it is just a 15-minute drive to the yachting haven of Dartmouth, and the coastline between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, both 7 miles away, has many stunning beaches, hidden coves and fantastic coastal walks.

Guests of these cottages can also enjoy a range of on-site facilities suitable for all the family, including a heated indoor swimming pool (available via a booking system) with a private changing room and shower. There is a large games room set over two floors, including a fitness room with a cross trainer, treadmill, rowing machine and exercise bike. The top floor of the games room has a full-size American pool table, big sofa and Sky TV. The bottom floor has table tennis and table football. On-site there is also a laundry and ironing room. If you are looking for adventure and an adrenalin rush, then Wheeldon Farm Cottages will not disappoint. The Wheeldon Off-Road Centre, adjacent to the cottages, boasts a purpose-built, 30,000 square foot indoor arena (split in separate halves for motorbikes and bicycles) and junior training circuit, and is the ideal year-round venue for the whole family to learn to ride a motorcycle in a fun and controlled environment. Discounted rates are available for children and adults during the school holidays (booking by arrangement and on arrival), providing children and adults with the opportunity to experience the ultimate, two-wheel off-road adventure for the first time. The instructors at Wheeldon Farm are all ACU accredited and will guide the children through their paces every step of the way. For some activities, all the kit, clothing, boots, gloves, helmets and fun bikes are provided. All that’s needed is the enthusiasm to have a great deal of fun! Suited to all ages from 7 years to fit seniors. Wheeldon Farm now offers all of it’s holiday cottage customers a free 1 hour ‘taster’ ride on our professionally maintained Haibike electric bikes, after which they are available to hire. The bikes are perfect for exploring the beautiful South Devon countryside in an environmentally friendly way. We can advise you on the best routes to ride and places to explore.

In addition to all the motorbike fun, a range of other activities can also be organised locally, including horse riding, golf, go-karting and trout and carp fishing. Also, clay pigeon shooting, air rifle and archery are available - these are run by a fully qualified instructor and all equipment is provided. The activities run on a Monday, Thursday and Sunday. Prices will be charged accordingly when bookings are made. Please note, extra activities and catering requests must be pre-booked with Wheeldon Farm Cottages prior to guests’ arrival at the site. Foxglove (ref 27214), Poppy (ref 27215), Monkshood (ref 27216) and Mad Nelly Cottage (ref UKC748) can be booked together to accommodate up to 29 guests. Beach 10 miles. Shop 3 miles, pub 2 miles and restaurant 6 miles.

Tucked away down a very quiet country lane is this 16th-century Grade II listed thatched cottage. The property is one of a pair and has been completely renovated, offering some original features including inglenook fireplace, beams, historic bread oven and also very contemporary touches for today’s lifestyle.
The property is decorated and furnished to a very high standard, situated next door to the owner, but offering a very private setting. At the bottom of the lane is a small river with a ford across to the fields, and there is no through traffic. It lies close to Axminster, an unspoilt Devon market town situated on the River Axe, surrounded by stunning countryside and filled with charm and character. This attractive market town lies in the beautiful Axe Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, boasting quaint villages and unspoilt countryside. Famous for its carpets, the original Axminster factory was opened in 1755 by Thomas Whitty and authentic British ’Axminsters’ are still made in the town by Axminster Carpets. Situated a few miles inland from the Jurassic Coast, guests can visit towns such as Beer, Branscombe, Sidmouth and Seaton with its famous tramway.

Tucked in the south east corner of Devon, Axminster is an ideal touring centre for the neighbouring counties of Somerset and Dorset, with Lyme Regis and Charmouth just 6 miles away.

Celebrity chef and TV presenter Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has his very first River Cottage Canteen and Deli (an organic produce shop/market and canteen) here, and his River Cottage HQ is nearby in the Axe valley. There are many places to visit close by including many NT properties. This is an ideal spot for walking with a footpath close to the property. The Yarty Valley is a very peaceful area and ideal for bird watching, cycling the country lanes or just relaxing on the patio enjoying views of the river. Shop and pub/restaurant 2 miles (1 mile via footpath).