Most of us have read or watched the fantasy epic the Lord of the Rings. A little hobbit named Frodo leaves his rural home and sets off on a dangerous journey far away, to hostile shadow lands with a magical ring in tow. During his journey he often misses his home, with its lush rolling hills, moreish ale, country cooking, pretty gardens, and chill way of life. This is exactly what it feels like leaving...

*IT’S CHRISTMAAASSSS * Sorry, had to get that out there. We love Christmas. But the festive period can be a hard nut to crack, what with our compulsion to share gifts, imbue our homes with illusive notions of ‘warmth’ and ‘festivity’, spark joy in our loved ones…the list goes on. Thanks to its forefather – Charles Dickens, not Mr Bublé— Christmastime...

While we love a bracing walk on Dartmoor at any time of year at Long Barn Holiday Cottages, it might not always be ideal for families with young children in the middle of winter. So what is there to do in and around South Devon this time of year? There are lots of fun and exciting things to do for kids of all ages come rain or shine. Here’s a look at some of the best so you can plan your...

We’ve been lucky to enjoy a sustained period of amazing sunshine here in South Devon. But the Great British Summer is known for throwing something different our way like an odd thunderstorm or windy cyclone.  Families, friends and couples alike will always need a handy list of where to dash if the weather does take a turn for the worst. Not that we are tempting fate. Far from it, may the...

Soon enough, school will be out for the summer. For children the summer holidays seem to last forever—hazy, endless days of running free and wild.  Lollipops, flushed faces, grazed knees, bee stings, laughter, jam fingers, tears, and over tiredness. We wouldn’t have it another way.  Children remind us that life is for the living.   As adults our job is to facilitate their...