FAQs
Introduction
Smallicombe Farm offers offers three self catering barn conversions and one self catering unit being part of the ground floor of the farmhouse and a ground floor accessible apartment.
The farm is set in some 70 acres of grass and woodland in East Devon’s Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Smallicombe is a working farm home to rare breed pigs, a flock of Dorset Down sheep and a suckler heard of Ruby Devon Cattle.
Our OS Map ref is SY2046 9762 and our post code is EX24 6BU.
How to find us?
The location and directions to the farm can be found on our contact page, we also provide you with the directions on confirmation of booking.
The nearest railway station is in Honiton, about 10 minutes (4 miles) from the farm. Taxis are available at the station. There is no public transport to the farm.
What are you change over days & length of stays?
Arrival days for Cider Barrel, Granary and Inglenook are normally Mondays and Fridays, with short breaks and weeks offered through out the year.
The Sty and Hayloft are more flexible with a minimum two night stay and arrival on any available day.
What are you arrival & departure times?
Check-in / arrival time is 4pm, we ask that you do not arrive on site before this time unless you have rung and agreed beforehand. If you are held up during your journey and looking to arrive after 9pm please call to inform us.
We want to make sure everything is ready for your arrival, making sure there is time to air and dry floors after we have finished the cleaning routine.
Departure time is 9.30am. Please can you remove the bed linen and place in the bags provided. Can you also put all rubbish and food in the bin area for recycling.
How good is the internet & mobile reception?
There is good free Wi-Fi coverage across all our cottages and some outside communal areas. Due to our rural location we do not as yet have fibre connection to the farm, so speeds are limited (approx. 15mps). The connection is through 4G so therefore suitable for emails, web browsing and limited streaming.
We are based in a valley so mobile reception is limited on the farm/in cottages, although you can connect to Wi-Fi calling if your device/provider allows it.
What parking do you have onsite?
We have ample parking on site, outside or close to the properties.
The Sty, which is wheelchair accessible, has its own designated concrete parking space just outside the door.
Granary, which is also wheelchair accessible, has parking close by with access over concrete to the front door. It also has drop off outside the main door.
There is also a designated parking space for larger vehicles. Please contact us beforehand if you need a larger parking space.
How accessible are the cottages?
Granary is a completely ground floor wheelchair accessible cottage. It has a shower room, handrails around the toilet, raised toilet seat, ramp out of the patio doors onto a large gravel and grass area. One bedroom has a double bed with space around for a wheelchair but the twin room has bunk beds and limited space for a wheelchair user.
The Sty is a ground floor apartment with a walk in shower and a twin/superking bed. We have shower chairs available if required.
Inglenook is a ground floor accessible cottage with one step into the kitchen. The bedroom can be made-up as a twin or superking room. There is an over the bath shower with a shower seat. Inglenook does not have a walk in shower.
Cider Barrel is a two-storey cottage with a downstairs toilet, but no ground floor bedroom.
For further information, please see our Access Statement.
How accessible are the communal areas?
The decking and outdoor kitchen is on the same level and accessed via the concrete level yard. Some of the pigs can be seen from the level concrete yard, chickens and ducks can be seen from an accessible lawn area. Sheep are often in fields that can be seen from the yard, but the Ruby Devon Cows are normally up on the hill.
The laundry room has a gravel path and two steps up to it.
Are dogs welcome?
We do not accept dogs or pets on the farm or in the properties.
Can I stay on the farm without a car?
The closest train station is Honiton Station – 4 miles away. There is no public transport from Honiton to the farm. Taxis can be booked in advanced, with an approx. fare of £15-£20 to get to the farm.
Once on the farm you can walk, via the East Devon Way, to Colyton, it’s a good hour to one and half hours walk. From here you can pick up Seaton tramway to the Coast or a bus to a local town.
The closest pub would be in Wilmington. The closest farm shop is in Offwell. Due to our rural location, we recommend using your own transport.
What are your payment terms?
We ask for 33% rental deposit to secure the dates. The remainder of the balance, plus any extras (e.g. z-beds, cots, towels, breakfast platters, hot tub, etc) are due eight weeks before our stay. Extra’s booked nearer to the time should be settled when added.
Payments can be made by card over the phone, BACS or online through our booking system.
What facilities do you have in the properties
Hair dryers, iron and ironing board, flat screen TVs, free Wi-Fi and DVD players are in all cottages, There are dishwashers in the Cider Barrel, Granary and Inglenook and a washing machine in Cider Barrel. 24-hour laundry is available to all guests – washing machine, tumble drier and a rotary line for hanging outside.
Cots, z-beds and highchairs can be added to your booking online. There are stair gates in Cider Barrel. Cider Barrel is the only property with stairs that accepts children.
What size beds do you have?
The Sty – 3ft wide single beds/super king bed
Inglenook – 2.5ft single/king size bed
Granary- double bed and 2.5ft size bunk beds and pull out single bed
Hayloft – 3ft wide single beds/super king bed
Cider Barrel – 2.5ft wide single, double and 3ft wide single beds/super king bed
What is included in my stay?
Bed linen, tea towels, oven gloves, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, dish cloths, cleaning materials, bin bags, food recycling bags, hand soap, loo rolls (enough to get you started) are included.
Cots, highchairs and towels can be hired by adding to your booking online. Stair gates are available for Cider Barrel. There is also children’s plates, cups and cutlery provided in the cottages.
Daily animal feeding, farm and fairy trails and the use of two play areas is included.
What is included in the welcome pack?
You will be greeted with a homemade cream tea, a bottle of local apple juice, tea, coffee and enough milk to get you started.
What do I need to bring?
Towels, food including condiments and cooking oil, more loo rolls, tin foil, cling film, picnic items, toiletries, etc. We are a working farm so don’t forget the wellies.
What is available in the outdoor kitchen?
This is a purpose built kitchen with sitting area and decking with views overlooking our amazing valley. There is both a wood fired oven and an Ooni gas pizza oven that can be pre-booked with pizza kits (this can be added to your booking online). There is also a built-in barbeque. The outdoor kitchen also has a stainless steel preparation area and lighting. Close by is on decking seating, overlooking the play area.
What is available for kids play?
We have two play areas.
The first one is a small area close to the family cottages ideal for the younger ones. It has a play house with toy kitchen equipment, cooker, sink, pots and pans, etc. In the same area is a sand table, a small slide and a rocking horse, with adult seating for supervision.
The larger play area – convenient for the family cottages – is much larger with a huge sunken trampoline, large slide, climbing wall, play house, rocking cow, trapezium climbing frame and a basket swing. It has seating adjacent if you wish to take in the view while the kids play.
We also have a large selection of both indoor and outdoor toys/games, DVD’s and books that can be borrowed.
How can we join the animal feeding sessions?
Farmer Ian feeds the animals at 10am most morning. It’s great to see children grow in confidence, find out about country life and where their food comes from.
Come and feed the ducks, chickens, turkeys and rabbits. You can help to pick up eggs and have a bunny cuddle where possible. You will be able to join in with the feeding of the pigs, both tiny piglets and their rather larger mums and dads. It’s for all ages, we ask that children are supervised, wear appropriate clothing/wellies, do not eat during this time and wash hands afterwards using the antibacterial soap provided in all the cottages.
Can we go for a farm walk?
We provide a farm map that can be used to take a walk round the farm pastures and woodland. You will be able to see sheep and lambs, plus our Ruby Devon cattle and their calves. Our resident wildlife may appear if you sit quietly.
We have several fairy trails throughout the farm land. See our Fairy Trail map that will take you on a walk round the houses of our resident fairies!
Do you have a hot tub?
We have a traditional Swedish wood fired hot tub situated in a private enclosed garden. The hot tub is wood fired and can be booked for either an afternoon or an evening slot. It will be cleaned, heated using fresh water and set up for your booking. It takes about four hours to set up and heat to the required temperature so pre-booking is required. The garden is secluded with superb views, decking, a fire pit and a cold water douche.
This can be booked online or in person at a £50 supplement.
What catering options do you provide?
Through our farm shop you can order a cooked breakfast platter to be delivered to your door. This will include Smallicombe Bacon and Sausages, Smallicombe or local eggs, baked beans, mushrooms and tomatoes. The cost is £15 for two and £25 for four.
You can also order a margarita pizza kit that includes dough balls, tomato sauce, mozzarella and herbs from the garden.
You can buy sausages, burgers and steak for the BBQ when available.
If you enjoyed our homemade cream tea in your welcome pack – cream teas are also available from the farm shop.
What is in your honesty farm shop?
Our honesty farm shop has all the essentials you will need for your stay.
Loo rolls, tea bags, coffee, tinned tomatoes, tinned beans, passata, pasta, sunflower oil, local apple juice, local honey and rice. Butter and milk are available for you on request. We also have charcoal, firelighters, marshmallows and frozen bread/rolls.
We normally have our award-winning pork sausages, rare breed bacon, gammon. Pork and lamb roasting joints and chops are also available. Well hung Ruby Devon beef is available from time to time.
In our shop you will also find a selection of scarfs, throws, hats, sheep skin rugs, cards, postcards, Smallicombe tea towels and piggy soaps.
If there is anything you would particularly like to have during your stay or take home let us know beforehand so as we can discuss availability.
What are you green credentails?
At Smallicombe we are committed to sustainability having introduced many green initiatives, including installing a wood chip powered boiler for heating and hot water. Hot water is tanked so if emptied can take an hour or so to heat up. All heating is via radiators except for underfloor heating in The Sty.
We have added photovoltaic to supplement the electrical consumption and installed low energy LED lighting throughout the farm.
We also strive to use local products and reduce the amount of plastic waste where possible.
Water supply is from a natural spring on the farm and passes through a UV filter and is tested annually.
Waste is via a waste treatment plant on the farm so only toilet paper should be flushed down the loos.
We have a detailed recycling system, which we kindly ask our guests to follow.
General accommodation info
All kitchens have electric stoves, electric cookers and standard height kitchen units (except for The Sty, see info below).
Heating and hot water is via our wood chip powered boiler. Hot water is tanked so if emptied can take an hour or so to heat up. All heating is via radiators except for underfloor heating in The Sty.
The light is through LED downlights and some additional lamps and bed side lamps.
Water supply is from a natural spring on the farm and passes through a UV filter and is tested annually.
Waste is via a waste treatment plant on the farm so only toilet paper should be flushed down the loos.
All fridges are located under the worktop. microwave, kettle and toasters are located on the worktops. Except for the Granary where the microwave is at wall unit height.
Do supermarkets deliver to you?
Yes, we receive deliveries from Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, Sainsburys, Ocado – although do check. Delivery address is Smallicombe Farm, Northleigh, Colyton, EX24 6BU.
Please ensure you arrange a timeslot when you will be on site as we cannot accept deliveries for you.
Can we book a taxi?
Local taxi firms that pick up from the farm are:
Millstream: 01404 45825
Sparkys: 01404 47670
Hello: 01404 758532
Axminster cabs: 01297 34000
If you are thinking about booking a taxi, please book in advance as there are limited taxis operating in this area
Can we invite day guests to visit us during our stay?
Yes, usually, but we can’t promise. Please talk to us about your plans, providing details.
Where is the closest garage?
Windmill Garage, Offwell, on the A35 is the closest garage. They have a recovery truck and petrol station attached, 01404 831 228
Where is the closest local hospital?
We are lucky enough to still have a minor injury unit in Honiton, open daily from 8am – 8pm. Exeter is the closest large hospital with a 24-hour accident and emergency unit.
Questions
If you require further information on the accommodation, the farm or the locality please do not hesitate to contact us.