The Barton Poughill

Early January - getting ready for 2012 guests

2012-01-12T12:37:00.000-08:00

We're in the process of spring cleaning The Barton Granary and Brimbles in readiness for our 2012 guests. You would not believe where we have found cobwebs!

I'm also in the process of updating our guest information folders. Anyone who has visited us before knows that we are very keen to promote local food suppliers and restaurants and we have, on previous experience, a huge amount of foodie guests.

Phil and I spend an exhaustive amount of time researching and sampling local restuarants and pubs in order to make recommendations to our guests. I know it's a horrible job, but we just about manage to endure it!

Sadly, of the 25 local (including Tiverton, Crediton, Exeter, South Molton and surrounding areas) restaurants that I have contacted for further information about opening hours, menus, etc. Only 1 has bothered to reply to me. How sad.

I would have thought that in the current economic climate that local eateries would embrace tourists with open arms.

Watch this space - hopefully some of them will reply soon.

Belated Happy New Year to all my followers and all our past and future guests!

Welcome to Louis

2011-11-15T08:25:00.001-08:00


Louis on the Prowl!

Louis - our posh new Hampshire Down ram arrived last week.

He set to work with his new ladies almost immediately and we await our new arrivals (due at the end of March) with eager anticipation.

Otherwise, life goes on at the usual hectic pace here at The Barton. Autumn has certainly made itself felt in Devon, and we've had a huge amount of rain. But between the showers, it's still beautiful on the farm.

We have produced our own apple juice (with the help of the kind people at Westlake Farm, who produce wonderful award-winning Perry from our perry pear tree). It's available to order in advance for £2.75 per bottle, and we also have a limited amount of delicious Westlake Cider available.

We've already started to take bookings for 2012 for The Barton Granary and Brimbles and have even taken a booking for 2013 - now that's what I call planning ahead!

I'm looking forward to welcoming the remainder of our 2011 guests and to getting the cottages ready for Christmas and New Year.

Where has the summer gone?

2011-10-29T16:51:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that we are almost at the end of October! We've had a great summer here at The Barton, despite the terrible August weather. I have enjoyed meeting new guests and have taken great pleasure in welcoming our many guests who returned for a second (or in one case fifth) time! I'm really looking forward to welcoming our winter weekend guests.

I've enjoyed cooking for several visitors this summer who all said they enjoyed the experience - I do hope they were not just being polite!!!! Favourite dishes so far this year are - chicken liver pate, posh sausage & mash (with pork, venison and lamb merguez sausages), beef daube, and the ever popular lemon posset pots! Our menu is always changing and reflects the seasons - the majority of our ingredients come from within six miles of us and reflect the slow food ethics of many of our local farms and suppliers. If you'd like me to cook for you, just let me know and I'll send you our up-to-date menu.

If you are considering coming to stay at Brimbles or The Barton Granary please do consider ordering our produce or taking our advice about locally available produce. Contact us for an up to date price list of our own produce (we now sell our own apple juice and cider as well as our own beef and lamb and our locally produced pork, wild venison and lamb merguez sausages) or for details of other local food producers.

Happy Autumn!

Tiverton Food Festival

2011-05-09T14:12:00.000-07:00

I had a great time visiting The Tiverton Food Festival on Sunday. Pity it wasn't better publicised!
There were some great stands (just great for a foodie like me) but the highlights of my visit were Devon Smokehouse - loving the Smoked Devon Sea Salt and the Coconut & Lime infused Salt - and I absolutely loved Janice Voce's (AKA Fancy That! Outside Catering) amazing take-away Caribbean Food (Salt Fish & Ackee and Goat Curry - Yummy!).

May - Special offers for The Granary

2011-04-22T04:03:00.000-07:00

The Granary (sleeping 8 in 2 double and 2 twin bedrooms) is currently available for 7 nights commencing Friday 13th May at the reduced rate of £475.00, which includes linen, bath towels and bathrobes, cot/highchair (s) and free wifi (subject to terms and conditions of use). Short breaks are also available, starting at £330 for 3 nights.

Contact us for more details

Play Area & Wellies!

2011-04-13T09:07:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned way back last year, we now have a small play area on the farm, fenced and turfed and suitable for children up to the age of 14.

Phil's had a bit of a challenging time trying to stop the chickens from marauding over the lovely new grass and bark chippings, but he thinks he's cracked it now!

The Carriage House is now up and running - we've a stock of maps, guidebooks and some excellent local circular walks on easy to follow laminated sheets (researched and written by my good friend and intrepid walking partner - Jill). There's also a DVD library and some outdoor toys for guests to borrow, plus a wellie bank (just in case you forget yours!).

Local Food and Businesses

2011-04-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

I've just spent a very enjoyable morning at a local produce market and table top sale in the nearby village of Morchard Bishop. This is a regular event that takes place once a month (usually on the second Saturday) in the car park of The London Inn

It's so lovely to see both small and larger local producers and suppliers of food selling their wares directly to the public. I met some delightful people and purchased some lovely food:

Ann Pollard from Riverside Goats Cheese provided me with some delicious cheddar style goats cheese and a pot of truly divine soft creamy goats cheese with wild garlic. She is based just down the road from us in Woolfardisworthy (pronounced Woolsery!) and is just about to launch a new website, which we will link to. She is very happy to sell direct to our guests, providing they phone ahead!

I also met Sarah Flower and her mother Christine who have just launched The Crafty Pantry. Sarah is a writer and truly terrific cake baker! She supplies puddings to The London Inn and is able to bake cakes for any occasion. If you are planning to come to us for a celebration, she is more than happy to bake a cake for you (so much better than my boring old victoria sponges!)

Amaryllis is a lovely little shop that has recently opened in Morchard Bishop. The owner, Claire Houghton Ward specialises in wedding flowers, but also sells beautiful gifts and cards and has a small studio/gallery where she sells the work of local artists and photographers. She has limited opening hours at the moment (Sundays 11 - 4 and to coincide with the Morchard Bishop Market) but is really happy to open by appointment.

New Sheep.

2011-03-28T11:02:00.000-07:00

We've got a few additions to our small flock of lawnmowers. Bob, Lambkin and the Wyrd Sisters (and their lambs) have been joined by three rather posh pedigree Hampshire Down sheep together with their lambs.

We've no names for the new girls yet, or their lambs, so any suggestions?????

Safari in Devon?

2011-03-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

Phil and I are planning our first child-free holiday for 18 years! We're off to Kenya later in the year to spend some time with some friends and, the highlight of our trip, to head out on a camping Safari to the Masai Mara and Nakuru.

The idea of safari got me thinking about what we have right on our doorstep here in Devon. Dartmoor and Exmoor National Parks are blessed with dramatic scenery and a huge diversity of wildlife. I've been doing a bit of research and have come up with a couple of interesting ideas for guests.

On Dartmoor, Dartmoor Nature Tours offer guided walks, at a lesiurely pace, including butterfly walks, bird tours and funghi forays with a guide who has lived and worked in the area for twenty years.

On Exmoor, Exmoor Wildlife Safaris can offer something slightly different. They drive guests through old green lanes and tracks over moorland and through woodland in the heart of Exmoor (in long wheelbase Landrovers) where you may see ponies and deer in their natural environment. The drivers have good knowledge of the wildlife on Exmoor. The trip lasts about 3 hours and is suitable for all age groups - perfect for non-walkers!

For those who prefer something a little less strenous, why not try Exmoor Zoo, Dartmoor Zoological Park or Paignton Zoo - all within easy driving distance from The Barton and always popular with our guests, particularly those with younger children.

Winter ... Brrrrrrr (part 2)

2010-12-20T13:46:00.000-08:00

Well, what can I say. Brrrrr.....!

We've had the most amazing wintery weather here in deepest Devon - admittedly along with most of the rest of the country. We've had frozen pipes and water troughs, impassable roads and no post or newspapers for several days, but I have to say that everywhere looks truly beautiful - almost like Narnia!

We've had some snowed-in guests, who eventually got home safely, and we're looking forward to welcoming our Christmas and New Year guests. Hopefully things will be a bit less icy in the next few days. But, it is lovely looking at the cottages decorated with snow:

A very Happy Christmas to all our Guests, past and present!

Another Celebration

2010-12-03T12:33:00.000-08:00

We've certainly had our share of celebrations at The Barton Granary & Brimbles this year! We were particularly honoured that the Copas family chose to celebrate Monte and Doreen's Diamond Wedding Anniversary with a family party at the Granary. Our heartiest congratulations go Monte and Doreen on their fantastic achievement of 60 happy years of marriage!

Divine Lemon Posset Pots

2010-11-24T14:53:00.000-08:00

The most requested desert from guests that I cook for is Divine Lemon Posset Pots.

Almost all of the recipes I cook for guests are my own, but I'm ashamed to say that this recipe first came to my attention whilst reading a Mary Berry cookery book (anyone who knows me knows that I devour cookery books as bedtime reading), but I have adapted the recipe for my own use. Here goes:

To serve 4

300ml of double cream
75g of unrefined caster sugar
The grated rind and juice of 2 lemons
2 tablespoons of kirsch (or brandy)

Heat the cream, sugar and lemon zest in a large pan (a skillet or non-stick frying pan) over a very low heat until simmering. Once simmering point has been reached, stir continuously for a couple of minutes.

Remove the pan from the heat and leave to cool until lukewarm

Mix the lemon juice and kirsch (or brandy) with the lukewarm mixture and stir until smooth

Pour into ramekins or wine glasses, transfer to the fridge or a very cool place and allow to set

Serve with biscotti or almond biscuits, and maybe with some raspberries or strawberries on the side.

So, now I've shared the recipe, it will disappear from my menu unless requested!!!!!

Winter ... Brrrrrrr

2010-11-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry that I've been very slack in updating the blog. Life has been somewhat hectic here at The Barton, but things are starting to slow down now, just in time for the Christmas onslaught!

The good news is that we've finished all the improvements and building work.

The swimming pool now has a new liner; the children's play area (complete with climbing frame) is now finished - a big thanks to all who helped us lay 400 square metres of turf; The Granary has a new water pump - which will mean that when the cows all decide to drink at once, the water supply for our guests will not be interrupted; there is now direct access from Brimbles to the garden and a new small patio area, thanks to a new door in what was once the downstairs twin bedroom; and we have converted the carriage house into a store room for maps & guidebooks, DVD's, outdoor games and wellington boots for guests to borrow. Additionally, thanks to a terribly sophisticated bit of kit that I don't really understand, we are, at last, able to offer free wifi access (subject to acceptance of terms) to all of our guests in Brimbles and The Granary!

Photographs will follow on the website and the blog.

Coming soon ..... we have special offers for breaks in January and February - keep checking our website for details.

Summer days.... drifting away...

2010-08-21T16:33:00.000-07:00

Well.... we're approaching the end of the summer holidays! Where has the year gone?

Sadly, the weather has not been so good over the past few days, but our guests earlier in the summer experienced the very best that Devon has to offer during balmy days - beaches, moors, etc. And some of our guests were lucky enough to have crystal clear night skies enabling them to enjoy the annual Perseid meteor shower.

We are closing during September to refurbish the swimming pool and to add one or two new facilities for visitors to The Barton. We are currently preparing the site for our new play area and the builders are moving in to turn one of the carriage houses into a boot/map room where guests will be able to borrow wellies, maps and guidebooks and outdoor toys. We are also hoping (subject to BT granting permission) to offer free Wifi in both of the cottages (using a very sophisticated bit of kit that neither Phil or I really understand!!).

Also, the interior of Brimbles will be undergoing some changes. We are moving the playroom to downstairs and creating a back door offering direct access from Brimbles to the garden and new patio area.

All very exciting - check the website for new photos as the new facilites are finished.

We are really delighted that several of our past guests have already booked for next year. If you'd like us to hold some dates for you for a couple of weeks (past or new guests) just contact us via the website.

Oh and yes!! After several requests from guests I will be sharing the recipe for Divine Lemon Pots on this blog very soon!

Enjoy the rest of the summer............

Many Congratulations

2010-06-03T08:50:00.000-07:00

To Julia and Tom who chose to celebrate their wedding at The Granary recently. They decorated the Granary beautifully!

Despite the changeable weather (we had to lend Julia a pair of wellies to get to the car) a good time was had by all!

135 Years and Still Counting ...........

2010-04-25T03:07:00.001-07:00

My Mum & Dad (Clare and Arthur) celebrated their joint 135th Birthday at The Granary last week.

They hosted a really great party for new and old friends and family and a good time was had by all!

Thanks to Natalie, Joe and Jack (grandchildren) for performing and to everyone who helped to make it such a fantastic occasion.

Welcome...

2010-03-11T00:49:00.000-08:00

....to our first lamb of the season - Doug! Born on Monday morning (with a little bit of help from me) this enourmous chap was skipping around like a six week old lamb on Tuesday. Well done mum!

The Story so far .. people and barns

2010-03-10T12:28:00.001-08:00

I moved to Devon 14 years ago with my husband, Phil and our children, Natalie and Joe, for a change of lifestyle and pace! We bought a fairly rundown farm with a few acres, some ancient barns and a Georgian house and set about creating a new life for ourselves.

We converted The Barton Granary Granary 12 years ago from a Grade II listed former granary and shippen at the top of the farm that had been used over the previous years as a store for wood and a sawmill.

Before :

And after:

We converted the former milking parlour and shippen to the original Jacobean farmhouse into an indoor swimming pool and Brimbles, our second holiday cottage, 6 years ago.

Before:

And after:

Have a look at our website for more photos and information!