We aren’t only a working farm
– we offer much more
Our farm
Over 35 years ago Ian and Maggie moved to Smallicombe Farm having found a rural idyllic setting close to the coast between Lyme Regis and Sidmouth. One of the original aims was to be a self sufficient farm, providing good quality meat to feed their family from a guaranteed source and to run a farm-based self catering and bed and breakfast business. The time has flown by and now the next generation, Karen and Matt, have moved back home with their own children to help manage Smallicombe and its thriving farm activities.
Smallicombe Farm amenities
& feeding
& walks
country views
(biomass, solar)
Animal interaction
Around 10am most mornings either Farmer Ian or Farmer Matt will collect the eggs and feed the pigs. Young and old are more than welcome to pick the fresh eggs up from the nesting boxes and scatter corn for the chickens and muscovy ducks. Then the Berkshire and British Lop pigs will need their breakfast. The farmer will need help mixing meal for the nursing sows and carrying buckets for the weaners, sows and boars. There will also be a chance to cuddle Hattie’s rabbits if you want. If you are keen to spend a whole morning with the animals we can arrange Farm Experience mornings.
Food experiences
We offer a number of ways to enjoy good local food at Smallicombe from a homemade cream tea and locally produced apple juice on arrival to a scrumptious full English breakfast delivered to your cottage door. Or why not create your pizzas in our Ooni pizza oven in the outdoor kitchen?
Relaxation
You can book a deep relaxing traditional Swedish woodfired hot tub filled with warm, chemical free water over looking our unspoilt Devon valley. Then wrap up warm and toast marshmallows over a roaring firepit or read a book in the hanging tent.
Play area
We have a large outdoor playarea with a basket swing, slide, climbing wall, sunken trampoline and tractor! The toddler play area has a sand table, play house, play kitchen, little slides and a rocking horse. We also have a swing ball, badminton net, croquet and bowls set that can be used in the farmhouse or cottage gardens.
The great outdoors
There is also plenty of wildlife; with roe deer grazing on the edge of the ancient woods or buzzards circling above. At night we have foxes or badgers on their nightly excursions, owls hooting and bats out hunting. Smallicombe Farms skies are truly dark and on clear nights you can get a spectacular view of the twinkling stars.
Farm trails & walks
Farm walks
We have two marked and mapped farm trails around the farm. They are both easy going and suitable for all ages, approximately 1 and 0.5 miles long. Wellies or sturdy shoes are needed! The farm trail takes you along the river, up past an old quarry, past a blue bell carpeted ancient woodland and through our fields with the Dorset Down sheep and Ruby Devon cattle.
Offwell Brook
We have the Offwell Brook bubbling along the boundary of the farm and a large pond. My girls have spent many an afternoon playing pooh sticks, building little boats, playing on the rope swings, crossing on fallen trees and building dams. You will find a picnic bench and area for a firepit along the way.
We also have some clear buckets, nets, magnifying glasses and identification charts if you fancy a spot of pond dipping.
Fairy trails
Both young and old can follow the fairy trail to try and spot a magical creature. You’ll find Sparkle the tooth fairy in her pink castle on an ancient oak tree. River Cottage over looks the Brook, the Tween field wand shop and Banks Mansion to name a few. If you collect the letters and solve the cryptic clue there may even be a magical gift awaiting you.
Working farm
Livestock for sale
Smallicombe Farm breeds traditional and rare breeds. The Devon beef cattle and Dorset Down sheep are reared outside, on our traditional pastures, and supplemented only in mid winter. The fields have had no chemicals added for over 30 years and are spread with manure from our own stock once a year.
Farm products
Not only do we provide award winning accommodation at Smallicombe we also pride ourselves in the quality of products we supply. Not only do we produce scrumptious meat, from our rare and traditional breeds, we also manufacture quality products wool products from the fleece of the sheep.
Pig keeping courses
The hands on ‘Introduction to Pig Keeping’ courses as featured in the Telegraph are designed for people who would like to rear weaners for meat or for those wishing to gain more knowledge about the breeding of traditional pigs. Or why not come on a ‘Piggy Exerience’ morning.