Twistgates Farm Cottages — Graham Custance Photography

It’s July 2023 and we have been invited to stay at Twistgates Farm Cottages by Suzanne and Duncan who have been running this beautiful retreat in the Blackdown Hills in Devon since 2004. First impressions were of a calm, relaxing vibe with stunning views across lush green countryside. The original farm is 15th Century and this is now where they both live and the milking parlour and cow barn have been converted into luxury holiday cottages along with the Apple Loft (which has a balcony overlooking the garden) that was added in 2014.

A warm welcome greeted us after a three and a half hour journey from our home in Bedfordshire and Riley instantly made a new friend in ‘Basil’ the owner’s Golden Retriever who is now eight years old.

We hadn’t been to this part of Devon previously and the location borders both Dorset and Somerset, so you are absolutely spoilt for choice of locations to explore. Indeed we clocked up 800 miles from leaving our home until we returned a week later.

Meadow Cottage was going to be our home for the week and the former dairy is now a comfortable, cosy, beamed cottage. There was one double bedroom with a king size bed, ensuite shower, toilet and basin. Another twin bedroom, bathroom, with bath, toilet and basin. Our bedroom window had a fabulous view across the countryside and it was a pleasure to wake to that vista every morning.

The kitchen had all of the appliances that we required whilst staying, including a microwave, dishwasher, electric oven, hob and fridge freezer. Meadow Cottage also has a nice little patio private garden which was ideal to let Riley out to walk. There was also a larger field adjacent to Twistgates that we used daily in the morning for Riley to exercise and for both of us to get our steps count up! Twice around the perimeter as the cows looked on was our morning work out.

I was also fortunate to be able to be invited to photograph ‘Apple Loft’ when the previous occupants had vacated on the Friday. This accommodation is set on an airy open plan lay-out with a balcony overlooking the countryside. You could just imagine sitting here watching the sunset in the evening, a perfect romantic retreat for that special occasion. Another treat was the wrought iron bedstead with pure cotton bed linen and the ‘piece de resistance’ the free standing candle lit bath.

A word of caution, the ‘Apple Loft’ is unsuitable for babies, children and dogs due to its first floor position and balcony but for a couple it would be just so perfect. I would imagine in the winter the landscape would be spectacular to look at whilst being warm and cosy inside.

As always on our trips, we explored lots of places and from Twistgates we could even go as far as Weymouth in Dorset and Fingle Bridge on the edge of Dartmoor. A couple of national Trust properties well worth a visit were A La Ronde ( a sixteen sided 18th century house built for two spinster cousins with views over Exmouth and Killerton, a family home and a great estate with lots of walks around the property. Both allowed dogs in the grounds but obviously not inside the houses.