A Soul's Retreat

A Soul's Retreat: Devon

Dartmoor National Park emcompasses all sorts of striking landscapes. From lush green fields to rolling rivers, this unspoiled scenery is a dream for hikers and nature-lovers alike. As it’s all about the great outdoors, you might not immediately think of this as a holistic, spa-like retreat destination. But this home can change your mind.

Set within twenty-two acres of thick, private woodland which links through to Hembury Woods, this traditional farmhouse looks every bit the postcard you’d expect – a grey slate roof, cute chimney, and dry stone wall framing the front. Spend days exploring the great outdoors with a walk to the Holne Moor, a dip in the Holy Brook, or splash about in one of the River Dart's best swimming holes after a good walk. When you're ready for a bite, set down your picnic blanket and have a light feast atop one of the pasture's hills. Just an eight-minute drive from the nearest town of Buckfast, park the car, kick off your wellies and step into this woodland haven.

Tuck into your welcome basket of local artisan goodies, then take some time to choose a treatment in this wellbeing haven – how about acupuncture, meditation, or Shiatsu massage? Or if you fancy yourself as a herbalist, your host can take you wild foraging. After collecting delicate herbs and mushrooms, rustle up dinner on the range cooker below timber beams in the country kitchen. Light up the wood-burning stove and read the kids a bedtime story before heading up to soak the night away in your copper bathtub, a tumbler of whisky in hand.

Home truths:
*There's a narrow spiral staircase that you'll need to climb
*There's no hairdryer and little to no phone signal
*As this home allows for self check-in with a lockbox, you might not meet your host
*Onsite parking is available for up to four cars (we recommend bringing a car to explore)
*The dining table is suitable as a laptop-friendly workspace
*One of the bedrooms is a twin room with two singles that can be turned into a king-sized bed
*Your host provides a welcome hamper of local goods – this can be upgraded to include alcoholic beverages if you let them know in advance
*Your host can provide a high chair, changing table, safety gates, children's tableware, and toys for the little ones