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Vital for some visitors

Mobility Friendly

Pet Friendly

Age group

Babies

Toddlers

Older Kids

Teens

Features

Swimming pool

Hot tubs

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Outdoor play equipment

Farm animals

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Facilities and services

Lower Elsford Farm

Devon

Luxury cottages with excellent, family-friendly facilities in the Dartmoor National Park.

Units 4
Sleeps 1 - 4
Bedrooms 2 - 2
Pets No
Mobility No

Ideal for

Babies
Toddlers
Older Kids
Teens

From £505/week

Request to Book

Lower Elsford is a 32-acre farm, set within the stunning Dartmoor National Park. Here you’ll find four beautifully renovated, luxury cottages, a fabulous heated indoor pool and outdoor play area. This a brilliant family destination - spend your days ambling around the lovely grounds exploring the ancient stone row, mini granite Tor, rough moorland, ponds and a tumbling stream. Or sit and enjoy striking views over Dartmoor with, on a clear day, glimpses of the sea.

About this place

Best bits

The fantastic location in the heart of the Dartmoor National Park. And the views that go hand-in-hand with that.
Spending mornings, afternoons or whole days dipping in and out the beautiful indoor swimming pool. Open year round.
Kids will never be bored with a games room complete with pool table, outdoor table tennis and a fully equipped children’s playground.

Top tips

Bring that book you’ve been meaning to read for months and get cosy in the hammock in the glade for an afternoon of reading and relaxing.
Spend an evening at the stone circle, toasting marshmallows over the fire pit. Bring warm layers in case of typical, cool British weather.
Visit in the spring to enjoy bluebells and snowdrops run riot.

Plan your stay

What are the facilities like? Where can you eat? What can you do?

Swimming pool

Play room

Wifi

Outdoor play equipment

Farm animals

Rooms

There are four sensitively-renovated stone cottages at Lower Elsford Farm, each sleeping up to four guests in two exquisite bedrooms each. Designed with luxury in mind, they’re lovingly furnished, bright and stylish – with guests frequently returning to stay again. As well as being set in expansive, communal grounds, each cottage has its own lovely, private garden, complete with outdoor furniture for al fresco dining, a spot of sunbathing or relaxing with a good book. High speed internet, an enviable welcome hamper, soft linen and fluffy towels come as standard. As do wood-burning stoves, found in all four cottages, they guarantee tasty evenings whatever the season. An initial supply of logs is provided free of charge. Cots and baby equipment is available upon request to ensure that even the youngest of guests are made to feel welcome and safe.
The Garden Cottage is the dream cottage retreat, with a partially double-height living room. It’s located away from the other cottages, offering guests a little more privacy. Ideal for grandparents and friends who want to join in the holiday fun, but appreciate some peace. The remaining three cottages are part of a terrace, making them perfect for extended family and friend getaways, where you can easily socialise together by the ponds. The Stable Corner Cottage has beautiful views over the garden and glade from its Juliet balcony. Whilst it is the smallest of the four cottages, the high ceilings ensure it feels just as airy and bright as the others. The Pond View Cottage has, as the name suggests, great views over the two ancient ponds. Expect great wildlife and bird watching from your bedroom. Grand ceiling heights add a little luxury to the characterful but contemporary cottage. Guests also benefit from a utility space/shower room with washer/dryer. And finally, the Torfield Cottage is the most spacious of the lot, with warm and modern living spaces and gorgeous exposed stone walls.

Eat

All the cottages at Lower Elsford Farm have modern, fully equipped kitchens with all the utensils, pots, pans and cutlery you could need. Aside from the usual fridge/freezer, dishwasher, microwave, induction hob and oven, additional items such as blenders and cake tins can be provided on request to satisfy all chefs, on all occasions. You’ll find dining tables in every cottage. Or, if weather allows it, dining can be taken al fresco in the private gardens furnished with outdoor tables and chairs. Brick or granite built barbecues ensure summer feasts and marshmallow toasting doesn’t go amiss. Every new arrival is greeted with a welcome hamper including a Devon cream tea, local cider and crisp apple juice. Collect eggs from the farm chickens for the freshest of breakfasts everyday.

Extra supplies can be picked up at local farm shops, or in the local villages of Bovey Tracey and Moretonhampstead; each just five miles away, providing all village facilities, including mini supermarkets. Don’t fancy cooking? You can visit one of many local eateries, from cafes, to restaurants and great local pubs in the area. The cottages are only three miles (one mile by foot) north east of the pretty village of Lustleigh, with its quaint thatched cottages, village store and, most importantly, a 16th-century thatched and family-friendly pub. Ideal for a low-key evening meal. With many glorious beaches easily reached along the South Devon coast, it would be an opportunity missed to not head to the beach one evening for tasty fish and chips or a fabulous picnic. Given its location, there’s an abundance of fresh and delicious seafood available in this part of Devon too. Add to that a famous Devonshire cream tea, and foodies are on for a winner.

Activities

Lower Elsford Farm is located within the Dartmoor National Park, so an emphasis on outdoor fun is to be expected. The 32 acres site has a woodland, heathland, two wild nature-filled ponds and more. Spend time at the children’s play area, or holding table tennis tournaments. Help feed the chickens and collect the eggs for breakfast, or get the fire pit going in the evening and toast some marshmallows. For a real adventure, how about climbing Lower Elsford Rocks at the top of the farm for the most magnificent views of the site. Or take it slowly, and explore the farm on a wildlife hunt. Badgers, deers, buzzards and foxes are regular guests. If the weather turns, there is a fabulous, modern communal games room with toys for the children, pool table, jukebox, air hockey, table football, Freeview TV and a DVD player with a selection of DVDs and books. But the greatest facilities by far, is the indoor heated swimming pool. Beautifully refurbished just last year, it’s open 24/7.

And should you want to head off-site, there are family attractions by the bucketload. Start off exploring the 368 square miles of Dartmoor National Park, renowned for its quaint villages, tumbling streams, dramatic scenery, wild ponies and varied wildlife. Take a picnic and head out on miles of easy-to-follow trails for strolling, walking and cycling, punctuated by many lovely open spaces where the children can run to their heart’s content. For charming hustle and bustle, try the cultured city of Exeter which makes for a great lunch and shopping spot. Or try the Naval City of Plymouth with its naval history and heritage. With the South Coast in such close proximity, it’s certainly worth spending the day at the beach; from Exmouth via Dawlish, Torquay, Paignton,and Brixham, to the surfing beaches of Bantham and Bigbury Bay. The beautiful estuary villages of Salcombe and Dartmouth are prime locations for sailing and boating. Or head to Totnes where you can catch river boats or the old steam railway.

Accessibility

Unfortunately all four cottages have stepped access and therefore aren’t suitable for wheelchair users. Guests are invited to get in touch ahead of booking to discuss any other access requirements.

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Location & local area

Where is it and how do you get there?

By Road

Lower Elsford Farm sits just 15 minutes off the A38, or half an hour from the A30. It’s 30 minutes from Exeter, just under two hours from Bristol, or just over four hours from London.

By Air

Exeter Airport is just a half an hour drive, with regular international and domestic flights.

By Rail

Newton Abbot Train Station and Exeter St Davids Train Station are the closest, both around 30 minutes from the farm. You can catch regular services to Plymouth, Exmouth, London Waterloo and Paddington.

About the owners

Paul and Jan McDowell

Listed since March 2023

We’ve lived at Lower Elsford Farm since 2015, and take great pride in sharing this stunning place with other families. It’s a gorgeous site to live on, and equally gorgeous to visit. We’re always looking to improve the quality of our guests' holiday experience and welcome suggestions for improvement! As we frequently welcome back return visitors, you’ll not be surprised to find the farm even better than you remember it a second, third or fourth time round.

Owner recommendations

Spend an afternoon comparing nearby North Bovey and Chagford, both claiming to be Devon‘s prettiest village. Make your judgement!
Bring your bikes and set out on a two-wheel adventure. There are many routes of varying difficulty.
Dartmoor has the largest number of archaeological remains in Europe. So if it is stone circles, menhirs, stone crosses and ancient villages that get you excited, look no further.
Take a trip to Castle Drogo – a National Trust property with great history, lovely grounds and a very nice cafe.
Book a surf lesson at the great, family-friendly surf beaches of Bantham and Bigbury Bay.