Ref: 5050 / Bideford
Friends Farmhouse
Full of charm and character, Friends Farmhouse is a magnificent and wonderfully unique retreat. Built in the 1750s and previously named Frains Farmhouse after its owners (the Frains), the property is full of gorgeous period features that are beautifully complemented by the refurbished elements of the house that ensure a luxurious getaway for up to 16 people.
Despite the property being nearly 300 years old, there is a wonderful sense of home throughout the house. The excellently maintained exterior welcomes you with an understated charm that is continued as you enter the entrance hall, from which you can access the many beautifully furnished rooms on the ground floor. The house comes with two sitting-rooms, the first of which houses the beautiful period fireplace that has been a part of the house since its construction. Gorgeously rugged wooden beams lie across the ceiling, complementing the crisp white walls and lavish velvet sofas. The second sitting-room comes equipped with a fabulous Smart TV perfect for those snug evenings in and there are plenty of gorgeous little nooks to perch and enjoy the beautiful stillness of this historic building. The thick walls and low ceilings give these rooms a delightfully cosy feel but guests who are on the taller side will need to be mindful of the small doorways into these rooms.
Further along the ground floor, you'll find the main modern kitchen and adjoining dining-room complete with a fabulous wooden table that's perfect for those large family dinners with all your loved ones. Natural light floods in through the windows to give this room a light and airy feel, while the elegant piano perched in the corner of the room provides a great source of entertainment in the evenings. The kitchen itself is beautifully finished with modern fittings and appliances that make cooking delicious meals an absolute dream. A delightful breakfast-bar provides a great place for your morning coffee while a second, smaller kitchen gives you and your party options when it comes to cooking.
Downstairs you will find four of the eight marvellous and inviting bedrooms. A delightful single bed is tucked into the corner of bedroom one which also houses a fantastic truckle bed should you need it. Bedroom two is the first of many of the bedrooms to come with a luxurious super-king size 'zip and link' bed that can also be converted into two singles. Bedroom three is exclusively for little ones with two charming two-foot six-inch single beds offering a great place for them to rest their weary heads. This room also has a brilliant en suite shower-room. Bedroom four is the final room on the ground floor and is again equipped with a single bed and accompanying truckle bed as well as another en suite. A family bathroom with a large corner bath completes the ground floor.
There are two staircases in the house. The main staircase is lovely and wide (but means you won't be able to fit a stair-gate if you do bring dogs) while the characterful secondary staircase can be found in the main kitchen and leads straight up to bedroom five. Here you will find another brilliant 'zip and link' super-king bed accompanied by a charming sofa and a lavish en suite with a gorgeous bath and a modern shower. Down the hall, bedrooms six and eight come with inviting double and king-size beds respectively while bedroom seven is the final room to house a 'zip and link' super-king. A spacious shower-room with a large sky light, a double-sized cubicle and a modern shower finishes off the first floor.
Friends Farmhouse has plenty of outside space to enjoy the Devonshire sunshine and take in far reaching views of the surrounding countryside. There is a beautiful lawn at the front of the house great for little ones and a small pond that has been made safe with a sturdy metal grill for the resident toads and holiday makers alike to enjoy. At the back, a superb patio is a perfect place to enjoy a spot of al fresco dining on the outside seating area. The house also comes with a garage, but it is not open to guests.
Features
- Dogs welcome
- Travel cot and high chair
- Arrive/Depart Thursday
- Short breaks available
- Wood-burner/Open fire
- Private parking for 3 cars and additional parking on road
- WiFi
- No smoking
- Pub .5 miles
- Garden furniture and barbecue
- Full oil-fired CH
- Enclosed garden
- Private parking
- Barbecue
- Open fire/wood-burner
- Linen and towels included
- Near a pub
- Cot available
- High chair available
Availability, reservations and pricing: £1637 to £3789 per week
Located 4.2 miles SW of Bideford
Customer reviews
Good or bad, we publish all the reviews left by the guests who have stayed at this property.
Mrs Furlong
Easy to use website with clear instructions and reminders for payments. House description was accurate and useful and there were plenty of pictures. I contacted the website a couple of times, via email, to enquire about our stay and received replies within 24 hours. We had a wonderful stay at Friends Farmhouse. The house was really special and was exactly what our party needed to ensure a comfortable stay. The children were thrilled with the little play room and ample outdoor space. They enjoyed the shortbread left for our arrival and the adults enjoyed the prosecco - a lovely welcome, thank you. The adults enjoyed the multiple social spaces and the well equipped kitchens. We were really impressed with the speedy response from housekeeping whenever we had a problem or query. When we first arrived, there was a problem with the hot water, but within an hour of contacting house keeping, someone had been round to resolve the issue.
Mrs Stratton
Friends Farmhouse is the perfect home away from home. With eight bedrooms, two living areas and 2 kitchens, it gave us the flexibility to enjoy a family holiday for our ever expanding family without feeling cramped. The house itself is in a beautiful location, quiet enough to enjoy some peace, secluded enough to celebrate without disturbing neighbours and within driving distance of all North Devon’s top attractions and beaches. Pet and child friendly, Friends Farmhouse provided everything you could ask for a break away. The hosts and housekeepers were available and approachable and ensured we had everything needed. I cannot recommend it enough.
Mr Dening
We really enjoyed our five night stay. Our party of eight ranged in age from two to seventy. The property accommodated us all very comfortably. There was a lovely toy area and stock of toys which our two young grandchildren enjoyed as much as we all did the front garden. We very much hope to return.
Mrs Whitmore
An excellent property for a large gathering of all ages and sizes! A safe garden area for young children/dogs. The local pub was very welcoming, and its traditional skittle alley went down very well with everyone. All in all a comfortable and user friendly base to explore the beautiful area.
Mrs Wise
Excellent accommodation when having a large family gathering. Heating adequate for the time of the year ( late September) Plenty of hot water in all areas for accommodation this size Need to be aware of different floor levels for people partially sighted or mobility problems as the carpet is of a neutral colour throughout.
Mrs Galvin
It was certainly big enough for my family plenty of room for everyone. Ideal for a large family get together. It was good finding somewhere that could accommodate us comfortably. Would have liked to have understood the bedroom layout though we coped okay. Unfortunately it did fall a little short in a few areas.
Mr Stock
Friends Farmhouse was an ideal base for our Christmas break with a large family. It provided enough space for everyone, the fire was beautiful, the village was lovely! Would definitely recommend.
Mrs Stedman
Fantastic farmhouse for a family. Great location for surfing. We will definitely be coming back.
Mrs Shelley
Beautiful house in a lovely village location not far from lots of Devon attractions. Very spacious with a well equipped kitchen for large parties. We were a family of 10 adults, 5 small children and a couple of dogs. Great value for money
Mrs Merrett
Friends farmhouse is in a very quiet area and is a great place to stay for large family gatherings. Friends farmhouse has everything and more that you need, including piano, games, kids toys, BBQ, garden furniture. There are a couple of parks for the kids and a friendly local pub within 5 minutes walk. There are a range of supermarkets near by. A short drive away are Instow, Westward Ho!, Bideford. A great place to make memories.
Mrs Gingell
A fantastic cottage for a larger group. The two sitting rooms were ideal, providing a games room and a quiet time out area. It is in a great location close to a local beach and not too far from all the other well known beaches of North Devon.
Mrs Lee
This is a great place to stay with a large group. We were having a family gathering to mark some milestone birthdays plus the King's Coronation and it was brilliant. The location is great and there's plenty room for everyone. Would definitely recommend to friends and family.
Mrs Hayes
A very clean property in a lovely quiet village. Friends Farmhouse was ideal for a large gathering and we really enjoyed our stay there. Great customer service from Classic too, thank you!
Mr Jones
Good for large gatherings. Lovely property but standard fell just a little short in some areas.
Mr Smith
Very comfortable, spacious and well laid out Farmhouse with delightful furnishings, set within a friendly and welcoming village. Very good value for momey
mrs herron
As a group of mature ladies looking for a quick weekend break we were happy to find Friends farmhouse it gave us plenty of room with enough bedrooms and bathrooms, pleasantly decorated and comfortable furniture.....We found everything we needed and had a wonderful stay.....
Mrs Sudborough
A rustic-style house, ideal for large groups. Beautiful location.