Celebrating Our 2nd Full Year Of Renting At Holwell

Isn't this a fantastic photo of George our Falconer on Lynus with Fiddich the Golden Steppe Eagle as the Sun went down on Hound Tor. The picture was taken by leading photographer from the Western Morning News and it made the front cover last week and also appeared in The Times!!

This month we celebrate our second full year of renting out the holiday cottages here at Holwell. As we approach this milestone, we wanted to share with you the progress and developments to date here on the farm incase you missed out on any of the news via earlier "Blogs".

The guests to Holwell have helped us enormously in creating and improving the unique holiday experiences that every member of the family can enjoy and remember.

We would also like to mark this 2^nd year Anniversary with you by offering a "Loyalty Discount" for your next stay with us of 20% off the published weekly tariff as a "thank you" for your support to date and hopefully ongoing involvement with us here at Holwell. (Applicable to bookings up to end March 08, excluding public/school holidays).

Many of you will have followed the initial "transformation" of Holwell via the TV series "Forgotten Farm", but that was only the beginning ...

The original four cottages will be joined later this year by the final phase of two new cottages. Saddle Tor and Chinkwell Tor overlook the yard below and have fantastic views over the roof of the lower cottages to Ripon Tor. Saddle Tor the largest with 4 double bedrooms, has been converted from the Threshing Barn and we have re-built the magnificent Round House that will now contain the principal bedroom. A cross galleried balcony will connect the two first floor bedrooms and a huge open-plan living/dining and kitchen area will be open to the apex of the roof.

Chinkwell Tor has been converted from the original kennels and will have two ground floor bedrooms and one large loft bedroom with adjoining en-suite bathroom. These two cottages together would accommodate up to 14 in total.

When completed we will then be able to take up to 50 guests at any one time at Holwell which potentially opens up a new opportunity to encourage more gatherings for family celebrations such as mile stone Birthdays and Anniversaries or even for business use; please advise if you would like details of our Exclusive Use Group and Corporate rates; info@holwelldartmoor.co.uk Catering can also be organised for a special occasion dinner at either Holwell or Holne Chase Hotel.

The new farm buildings came into their own earlier this year when the wet weather forced all the animals on the farm indoors under cover. We also played host with our new 12 box stable yard to several riding groups and hunting parties who came to have a day out with the South Devon Hunt from Holwell.

At the beginning of the Summer we also had the first Dartmoor Pony Heritage Trust Sale at Holwell which was the focus of the "Johnny Kingdom" programme which followed a herd of wild ponies off the moor to be handled and then sold as children’s ponies.

This was so successful that it will be repeated next year, hopefully with a bigger itinerary to include a few “pony races” too. In November we will be continuing the “Wild Pony Handling” theme with a special 4 day, 3 night fully inclusive package at Holwell with renowned horsewoman Vanessa Bee and still have a few places left; Click here for more info on the Wild Pony Break

We will be using for this event some of this year’s foals that were born at Holwell and on the commons of Dartmoor. If you would be interested in buying any, we have a gorgeous variety available from £150 non-pedigree to £750 each registered pedigree Dartmoor. I can email images if anyone is interested; info@holwelldartmoor.co.uk

Two new attractions that have proved very popular to Holwell guests include the provision of a Health and Beauty Suite at nearby Holne Chase where a variety of treatments and massages can be booked. Also, our full time Falconer who is based at the hotel has been increasingly busy this year with Flying Experiences and Courses with his amazing collection of Birds of Prey from Eagles and Hawks to Falcons and Owls. Hunting trips from Holwell are awesome watching the birds soaring on the thermals over the mire and stooping from 2000 feet on to quarry below. TV’s “The Really Wild Show” came up to film a sequence with Evie the Sea Eagle; with a massive 10 ft wingspan, she eats small children for breakfast!

Finding a “route to market” for the animals that are reared at Holwell has led the meat delivery business “Tor to Tor” to develop further with a full time butchery at the farm itself. This has been a great advantage for guests who can pre-order their holiday meat or buy during their stay. Having recently launched a “Meat Box” service that delivers FREE anywhere in the UK also means that the unique flavour of our Dartmoor meat can be savoured when back at home as well.

Tor to Tor is now taking Christmas Orders and you can call us on – 07968 390 618 for a Price List or email; meat@holwelldartmoor.co.uk This year we will be featuring Barn Reared Bronze Turkeys from Frenchbeer Farm, Chagford, Dartmoor “oven ready” game such as Partridge, Pheasant and Venison, Dressed Devon Geese, Cooked Honey Glazed and Breaded Hams, Home-Cured Gammons, French Style Rack of Organic Holne Lamb or prime Rib of Widecombe Beef. There will also be Sausage Meat, “Pigs in Blankets”, Chippolatas etc. Christmas Meat Boxes can be put together to your order and delivered free anywhere in the UK; ideal Presents too!

See you soon!

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