AFFETON BARTON

NB The rolling pictures above are of Affeton Barton

Affeton Barton is our exclusive, beautifully restored farmhouse sleeping up to eight people on the stunning Affeton Castle estate, situated within easy reach of the M5 Junction 17 (Tiverton Parkway station) and Exeter airport, with Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks nearby. It has a hard tennis court and swimming pool; stables and grazing are available for those wishing to bring horses and ponies. Beautiful views, wildflowers in spring and summer and pure country air provide guests with a wonderful escape from the city or more populated areas to the more peaceful, simple life. All bedrooms have private bathrooms or showers.

“We had a perfect family week in Affeton Barton – the house was absolutely beautiful, the children loved the swimming pool and the tennis championships (including grandparents!) were a real highlight. We felt incredibly lucky to be so secluded in such a beautiful spot, with plenty to do nearby (fantastic walks and the local dog show was lovely) and some longer trips out to the coast. Angela and Hugh made the whole thing very easy, and had some great recommendations for delicious meals nearby. We’d thoroughly recommend a stay here and will no doubt be back in future.” E.C stayed 2022

Affeton Barton is the charming home farmhouse in the centre of the beautiful, unspoilt Affeton Castle Estate between Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks. It is surrounded by rolling hills and deep valleys completely removed from modern life. The sky at night is dark and there is little to disturb the peace. The Barton has been the centre of activity of this thriving agricultural and sporting estate for centuries. With its thatched roof and low beamed ceilings it is little changed in appearance since the 15thC. The Castle and Barton were built overlooking the Little Dart valley and have been in the same ownership since the 15thC. During the Civil War the main house was destroyed by General Fairfax enroute to Torrington.(www.devonperspectives.co.uk)

Affeton Barton is a wonderful base from which to explore Devon.  Beautiful Exmoor National Park with its herds of wild Red deer, Exmoor ponies and wonderful moors is approx a 30 minute drive away to the north with Dartmoor National Park, in view from the Affeton Barton garden, to the south, a little further away. The historic cathedral city of Exeter is about 20 miles away, 45 minutes drive in the car or a short journey by train from nearby Lapford or Eggesford stations. Barnstaple (30 minutes) and the stunning north Devon beaches (45 minutes – 1 hour) are a similar distance. The Plough Theatre and Arts Centre, RHS Rosemoor gardens and Dartington Crystal, at Torrington, are 30 – 40 minutes away. Nowhere is very far but none of the roads are very big! The area is wonderful for walking and bicycling as there is very little traffic in the lanes but some of the hills are steep. For those who wish to bicycle on the flat, the Tarka Trail is a wonderful asset for North Devon with many miles of estuary views and a flat tarmac surface. Excellent golf courses – Saunton and The Royal North Devon – are within easy reach, with a 9 hole course at Chulmleigh . Many pubs and excellent restaurants are close by.

View Affeton Barton Gallery

Accommodation

Upstairs
The recently restored farmhouse is now a comfortable holiday home sleeping up to 8 in four bedrooms. (There is a possibility of renting two extra double rooms as well to accommodate 12 in all). Up until 2017 it was lived in by successive generations of tenant farmers and our shepherd. Two bedrooms have superking double beds, two are twin-bedded but can also be made into superking beds. The master bedroom, overlooking the garden and the Castle, has an ensuite bathroom with a shower over the bath, w.c and washbasin. The Blue Bedroom overlooks the stable yard with its own bathroom a few yards away with a shower over the bath, w.c and washbasin. The Butterfly bedroom overlooks the farm and has an ensuite shower room with w.c. and washbasin. ‘The Flat – bedroom 4 – overlooks the garden and castle; it has a superking double bed, an ensuite bathroom with bath, w.c and washbasin. It is also possible to hire the house for 12 people with two extra ensuite twin bedded rooms in the adjoining part of the farmhouse at extra cost.

Downstairs
Kitchen The modernised, original farmhouse kitchen has a terracotta tiled floor with underfloor heating in winter. A two oven Aga stands in the huge fireplace with its original bakers oven. It is a real ‘cook’s kitchen’, well equipped with plenty of space. Fitted cupboards and a central island house an electric cooker, dishwasher and a fridge. Twelve people can sit around the two old pine kitchen tables; it is a great place to gather.  The original, big farmhouse larder has now been divided into the former meat larder with a fridge/freezer and a utility and drying room.  The big kitchen door leads into a covered area, outside loo and access to the garden and parking in the stable yard. There is also an old stable converted into an unsophisticated, alfresco dining area or a room for children’s activities in wet weather.

Sitting Room The cosy and comfortable beamed sitting room is dominated by a huge fireplace with a woodburner and provides ample seating for 10 people. The wooden floor has underfloor heating in winter. The window looks into the pretty Castle gardens. There is a SMART TV with DVD player, a bluetooth speaker and plenty of books. Logs are provided free of charge.

Table Tennis Room A new pingpong table has proved extremely popular with all ages.

General
All the rooms are furnished with antique furniture and designer fabrics, from Vanessa Arbuthnot, Colefax and Fowler and others. Entry into the house is either by the front door accessed by a cobbled path or into the kitchen from the stable yard.

There is a large grassed garden and hard tennis court adjacent to the house. An unheated swimming pool is available to guests from May/June until the end of August/early September.  Guests are able to bring their own horses if they wish! With stabling for four and grazing it is the perfect place to ride and explore the beautiful countryside around or on Exmoor. Trout fishing on the Little Dart and roe deer stalking are available by prior arrangement. Stabling would be at an agreed extra cost with straw provided.

Within a mile the pretty, completely unspoilt villages of East and West Worlington are delightful with their thatched cottages. St. Mary’s Church, West Worlington, with its twisted spire dates back to the 13thC. There are many footpaths and bridleways and the Two Moors way passes close to the Castle.

The villages are extremely welcoming to visitors and there are many events throughout the year in the thatched Parish Hall including a monthly Brunch and the church fete in summer.  The charming villages of Witheridge and Chulmleigh are nearby with small shops providing almost everything! The nearby market town of South Molton is a wonderful place to shop with markets on Thursdays and Saturdays, excellent independent shops and a small Sainsburys supermarket stocking most things. Larger supermarkets are at Tiverton or Barnstaple. Visitors are recommended to fill up with petrol enroute as our nearest petrol stations are at Lapford and South Molton.

We do hope to welcome you soon. Hugh and Angela Stucley

For further information please contact: Hugh or Angela  Stucley,                                                            

Affeton Castle,                                                                            

East Worlington,

Crediton,

Devon EX17 4TU

Tel: 01884860225/07584166120

email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Affeton Barton prices per week 2024 (Friday to Friday bookings)

(We are closed in November, December and January)

Feb 2, 23	£1,300	March 29, Apr 5, 12, May 24, 31 June 7, 14, 21, Aug 30, Sept 6, 13, 20	£2,000
Feb 9, 16	£1,550	May 3, 10, 15, Oct 11, 18	£1,950
Mar 1, 8, 15	£1,675	June 28	£2,400
Mar 22, April 19, 26, Sept 27, Oct 4	£1,850	July 5, 12, 19, 26, August 2, 9, 16, 23	£2,500