Butterhills Escapes Devon

04/06/2024

💗💗💗Its a wonderful year for foxgloves here at Butterhills!!
The elegant pink sentinels are blooming throughout our magical valley - come and experience their majestic beauty along the cart track, the woodland path and overlooking the stream meadow.

🐝🐝🐝Tune out the noise of your busy life and tune into the hum of the busy bees as they buzz their way from trumpet to trumpet. Its the perfect way to immerse yourself in nature

🙌🦋🐞🌱 Book yourself an escape to nature in June. There's availability for you & your loved one, your bestie or your family - choose from a midweek break from Monday 17th June or a weekend from Friday 21st June. Or grab a whole week to perfectly unplug, unwind & reconnect with the people that really matter to you.

13/05/2024

May is National Walking Month!🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️
Can you imagine anywhere better to walk than North Devon? 💚💙

Whether you choose to wander the deep country lanes, traverse the wilds of Exmoor, follow the stunning South West Coast path or explore the golden sandy beaches... There's a walk for everyone.
This is a favourite walk from Croyde to Putsborough via Baggy Point for stunning views and great cafes at either end ☕🍰😋 Cafe Croyde Bay
If you are a National Trust member you can park in Croyde Baggy Car Park for free...

30/03/2024

🤩🤩Not a bad view when you're cycling the lanes!!
An amazing vista taking in Baggy Point straight ahead and right across the bay to Hartland in the distance.
The lane leads down to Pickwell and on to Putsborough then Croyde village where we stopped off for an amazing brunch at New Coast Kitchen
Sublime eggs Royale and a delicious full veggie breakfast with tasty cheesy stuffed mushrooms, house beans, broad bean guacamole, wilted greens, hash browns and eggs. Sadly no photo of the full breakfast as it was devoured far too quickly!! Not sure we'd earned it but it was just amazing 😋
Bring your bikes with you when you come to stay in the Linhay or hire them from

28/02/2024

💚💚💚Treat yourself to a mid week escape in March, immerse yourselves in nature and put some spring 🐣🌱 back into your step!

Grab one of just two remaining midweek breaks and get 15% off the two person price with a delicious homemade cream tea to welcome you and fresh eggs from our free range chickens too. Toast your toes by the wood burner or cosy up by the firepit under the stars - we'll provide all the logs and wood you need, there's no extra charge.

Use the code MARCH15 to get your discount when you book* - link in comments below.

*Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer & cannot be applied retrospectively to stays already booked.

15/02/2024

Another great reason to visit Ilfracombe! Wonderful views of the harbour from The Lime Kiln Café & Bar at Ilfracombe Watersports Hub and delicious food 😋👌

14/02/2024

❤❤❤Sending love out into the world, to wherever it's most needed on this Valentine's day...

30/01/2024

🐝🦋🕊🦉Blue t**s & bumblebees, butterflies & buzzards...

Now you can get up close and personal using the fab new Helios 'Naturesport' binoculars that you'll find in the Linhay. There's books for identifying birds, butterflies and other wildlife too.

Whether you're a keen 'twitcher' or an occasional observer you'll see a wonderful selection of birdlife in the valley and many of them will be on the bird feeder right in front of you as you sip your morning cuppa! Here's a list of just a few birds recorded by our guests (final pic), come and see how many you can spot and perhaps add to the list.

Bird 📸 Roy Riley Photography

26/01/2024

Beautiful Appledore 😍😍 – there’s so many reasons to visit during your stay in the Linhay.
With its many pastel coloured buildings, jumble of cottages and harbour lined with white terraces you can easily spend a few hours wandering through the network of historic streets, taking in the traditional fishing cottages museums and independent shops, before indulging in some fine local produce at one of the many cafes, pubs and restaurants.
Built on a tradition of fishing and boat building, Appledore is home to the North Devon Maritime Museum. The village is also well known for quality seafood and it’s not unusual to pop into an eatery and find fish on the menu that has been brought in only hours before.
Appledore holds regular arts festivals and resident crafts people showcase a wide range of arts & crafts from ceramics, photography, jewellery and furniture among other products which can be picked up at independent stores and regularly held markets.
The Appledore Book Festival in September draws visitors from across the country and features a range of acclaimed international authors. The Appledore-Instow Regatta in August is where you can cheer on the gig boat crews as they race along the quay or try your hand at crabbing and beach tug-of-war competitions!
To get a real taste of the sea why not drive, or cycle the Tarka Trail, to Instow then take the seasonal ferry across the Taw estuary to Appledore. It’s run by volunteers and sails from 31st March to October.

24/01/2024

🖤🖤🖤Dark Skies means bigger star fields ✨✨✨
A star-filled sky is one of nature's most natural wonders! But they’re becoming harder than ever to experience. In an urban area you’ll be lucky to see 20 stars on a clear night but in an area of low light pollution, such as here at the Linhay, you could see as many as 2,000 twinkling above you!

Our dark skies are some of the best in the UK. With minimal light pollution, on a cloudless night you can see literally thousands of stars and astronomical sights such as the Milky Way with the naked eye. With the binoculars we provide in the Linhay, you’ll get wonderful views of the Milky Way, star clusters, bright galaxies and even the moons of Jupiter! There’s a great book to help you identify what you can see and a Dark Sky section in our digital guest guide with lots of info and links to some fascinating websites. Be sure to download Google Skymap too.

Nearby Exmoor National Park was Europe’s first designated International Dark Sky Reserve in the UK by Dark Sky International (formerly International Dark Sky Association) We support the Big Dipper campaign to reduce light pollution by only illuminating areas we need to and using motion sensors, there's no lighting along the cart track to the Linhay so there are rechargeable head torches provided for you to borrow.

Take the time to visit Exmoor during their popular annual Dark Skies Festival, which runs every autumn and is hosted by Exmoor National Park Authority.

22/01/2024

When your guests say this about their stay in the Linhay...💚🧡

I genuinely think I have one of the best jobs in the world!!

21/01/2024

🥚🥚🥚 How many eggs will there be today? The excitement of checking the nesting boxes for eggs never diminishes, I've been keeping hens for over 30 years and I'm still not over it!
As the days lengthen our chickens come back into lay and it's a sure sign that spring is coming. Now we have another generation at Butterhills who's equally enthralled by the chickens. It's really important to us that they have plenty of space - they have a really big area on a sunny bank to roam around but are protected from Mr Fox by an electric fence. They're fed organic feed, fresh greenery and get to live out their days here, even once they've stopped laying.

As well as a homemade cream tea, your welcome basket in the Linhay will contain eggs from our own chickens, they're super fresh and perfect for poaching... or why not enjoy the 'dippy' egg of your childhood?! Such a great start to the day 🤗

How would you eat yours? 🥚🍳

12/01/2024

Empty Beaches!! 🤩🤩
This is the perfect time of year for beach walks when all our local beaches are dog friendly. You can walk for miles and hardly see a soul - this is Saunton heading towards Crow Point.

For a good long circular walk, park at Saunton and walk down to Crow Point then head inland and back along the 'American' or 'Yankee' road cutting back to the beach at Sandy Lane car park or follow the footpath across the golf course and back to Saunton.

After that you will have earned yourself a hearty meal at one of our wonderful local cafes, restaurants or cosy pubs 😋

10/01/2024

Introducing our beautiful yoga and picnic deck in the riverside glade 💚💙🌿🍃

Beside the gentle burbling of the river, with the sound of birdsong and the rustling of the surrounding woodland this is the perfect spot to practise your yoga and meditation. Relax with a book, picnic with your loved one or simply stretch out and stare at the sky...

No need to bring a yoga mat as there are two lovely yoga mats in the Linhay and a picnic basket available too. We feel it's a great addition to the glade, what do you think?

Thank you Sarah Riley & Inspired Camping Inspired Courses for the inspo 👌🙌✨

📷

08/01/2024

The sun has returned!! ☀😎💛💛

The days are getting noticeably longer and now the sunshine is back it feels like we're finally moving forward to springtime.
I love this time of year, filled with optimism for the coming seasons, a fresh start with new opportunities and possibilities for growth. A time to plan and look forward.
Often the festive season leaves us feeling a little jaded and an escape to the Linhay is the perfect opportunity to relax and recharge your batteries, reconnect with each other, reflect on the past year and make plans for the year ahead 🙌✨✨

BOOK NOW and and enjoy a welcome basket containing our delicious homemade cream tea & fresh eggs from our chickens plus a few extra goodies too 🤗

08/12/2023

✨✨Late check-ins after dark mean arriving to twinkling fairy lights, a softly lit Linhay and a roaring fire in the wood burner.

I love the reaction of our guests when they round the corner of the cart track and catch their first glimpse... and the thought that they'll awaken the next morning and find themselves immersed in nature and the sublime seclusion of our beautiful valley. Oh how I love my job!!! 💚🧡🍃🍂

Book your escape to the Linhay in 2024 now - it's the perfect antidote to the hectic festive season 🤗

03/11/2023

One of our guests' favourite places to shop... 🤩😋 Fine Foods of Braunton

As the saying goes ‘An apple a day keeps the doctor away’…..but nobody said what form the apple has to take? Surely jam, chutney, nibbles, cider and biscuits count, don’t they? 🤔 And how about pork & apple pasties?! 😁

01/11/2023

Tourists for the day!!
We had some lovely friends staying recently so headed to Lynton & Lynmouth for a wander round - there are lots of lovely local independent shops and galleries, I'll definitely be going back there to do some Christmas shopping!
Great places to eat too and of course the fabulous Lynton & Lynmouth Cliff Railway

We often find there's a queue to come back up so our top tip is take the railway down to Lynmouth then a bracing walk back up to Lynton with some stunning coastal views and glimpses of Wales across the Channel along the way. Taking photos was the perfect excuse to catch my breath!!

30/10/2023

💙🤍 We're feeling so grateful for gorgeous blue skies in October!!
I'm not going to pretend it hasn't been just a tad rainy over the last few weeks 🙄 but when the sun comes out and the sky turns this blue it really does lift the spirits...

☔ Rainy days are for snuggling up with a book by the wood burner or discovering one of our cosy local pubs (there's lots of dog friendly ones to choose from as well)

☀ Sunny days are for exploring the vast, near empty beaches or yomping over glorious Exmoor with huge skies and wonderful views to match

If you're looking to escape and step off the grid into a world of sublime seclusion we've a few dates left in November and December so you can recharge your batteries before the seasonal festivities start to amp up in earnest!! 🎄🎅✨

30/09/2023

☀🍁🍂🧡❤🤎 There's nothing like autumn sunshine for lifting the soul on changeover day... A warm welcome for our lovely guests on their honeymoon.
The soft light enhances the beautiful woody tones in the Linhay and is accompanied by the sound of the river and birdsong.
I so, so love my job!! Sharing the magic of the Linhay and wonderful Butterhills valley with our guests is such a privilege - I consider myself very fortunate indeed! 🙌✨✨
October is a beautiful time of the year, with quiet beaches, stunning Exmoor to lose yourself in and the sea still warm... We've availability for both weekend and midweek escapes so if you need to hide away from the outside world the Linhay is here for you with a warm, welcoming hug 🤗

06/09/2023

💙🤍☀ Glorious weather and big tides meant we finally got some vitamin sea this weekend out on the water.
🚤 A lovely trip along the coastline from Crow Point to Ilfracombe harbour which looked wonderful in the sunshine with all the boats afloat.
🌊 The huge tidal range from over 9 1/2 metres in the morning to just half a metre in the afternoon meant it looked as though someone had pulled the plug on the estuary when the tide went out!
🛥 There are plenty of opportunities for boat trips out of Ilfracombe Harbour, it's a great way to appreciate our stunning coastline and maybe spot some porpoises and seals too... 🐬🐬🐬

01/08/2023

Abundance🌧🌱🍃🌸 noun: a very large quantity of something...

Recently we've had an abundance of rain - bleah! 😕 which in turn has meant an abundance of new growth - hooray! 😃

Wild flowers galore adorn our beautiful valley which is looking lush and green once more. The scent is heavenly... woodland perfumed with honeysuckle, meadows filled with delicious smelling meadowsweet & wild spearmint as well as knapweed, purple betony, birdsfoot trefoil, ragged robin and so many more. Up the lane, hedgerows of buddleia are decorated with butterflies and nectar loving insects.

There's also some rather colourful fungi in Granny's meadow too - I'd love to know what they are, any ideas?...

29/06/2023

Throwback Thursday!! ↩🔙
Rescuing a crumbling ruin from demolition and creating our beautiful Linhay to share with guests is something we're very proud of.
It's always good to look back and see how far you've come, we've had quite a journey over the last few years - redundancy, house fire, rebuilding our own home... No regrets though, just a feeling of accomplishment and great satisfaction coupled with the relief of knowing we navigated through the challenges and came out the other side!!

20/06/2023

“Sleep is the golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.” – Thomas Dekker

We know the importance of sleep and so The Linhay promises our guests a wonderful night's rest with...

👌 A comfy mattress on both the mezzanine king size bed and the double sofabed.(Don't take our word for it, they both come highly recommended by our guests)

💯 100% cotton percale bedlinen

🌎 Washed using planet friendly non bio Ecover UK products

☁ Light fluffy quilts from The Fine Bedding Company

☁ Hi-loft, low allergen pillows encased in 100% cotton pillow protectors from Out of Eden Cumbria

Add to this... silence, no light pollution, the freshest Devon air and you have all the ingredients you need for a rest-filled, refreshing, re-energizing sleep 😴💤💤

13/06/2023

Just sit and be still... 💙💚🤍

Listen to the birdsong & the sound of the river, feel the sun on your face or a gentle breeze, take time to breathe...

There's plenty of places to sit, relax and just be at the Linhay. Perfect for communing with nature, reconnecting with your loved ones - a proper conversation with no interruptions or distractions - or catching up on a great read.

🕊 Relax in the comfy Adirondack (I have no idea how you pronounce it!) chairs overlooking the bird-feeder and stream meadow
📚 Lounge in one of the cosy hammocks with a good book
🍺 Enjoy a morning cuppa or an evening beer in the beautiful shelter
🔥 Chat on the benches & toast marshmallows over the firepit
🌿 Take time in the dappled shade of the glade on the bench by the river

We've a couple of weekends and a midweek break available in early July so if you want to avoid the busy school holidays then this is the perfect time for a summer break. Book now via our website where you'll find a 15% discount to ease you towards your escape. Hope to see you soon 😎

04/06/2023

Cooling off after a long hot day ☀😎💙💙💙
North Devon is basking in glorious sunshine which looks set to continue for a while yet so the best way for us to cool down and avoid the crowds is to head to the beach late afternoon with our dog Hazel 🐾🐾 for a refreshing dip and an evening picnic watching the sun set over the sea...

The beaches have been busier over half term but will be quieter from tomorrow in the run up to the school holidays. With long days and glorious sunshine, June and early July is just the best time to visit so if you're able to escape then take advantage of 15% off the 2 person tariff for last minute stays in June & July - book via our website where prices are already discounted. Hope to see you soon 🤗

30/05/2023

Days like these... 🚜🚜🤦‍♀️
Changeover day is not just about cleaning and making up beds - its also about restocking logs & charcoal, checking that everything is working okay and essential maintenance & groundwork including strimming & cutting paths through the wildflower meadow.

Yesterday it was also about getting one of the tractors stuck in the soft ground by the river! I am not a confident tractor driver but was called away from my Linhay prep duties to drive our little old Fergie in the hope it might pull its big blue friend out of the mud. Sadly not 😕 but after half an hour of digging Nick managed to free it and normal mowing service was resumed. Thankfully all our tasks were completed by the time our guests arrived - phew!!!

18/05/2023

💚🧡'Truly an oasis of calm; surrounded by oak and beech trees, the gurgle of the River Caen, the wind in the trees and abundant wildlife you couldn’t ask for a better setting to unwind.'

💚🧡'Perfect place to escape from it all and have a few days just to slow down, watch the birds, listen to the river bubbling and enjoy the peace.'

💚🧡'The Linhay is breathtaking. So cosy with such beautiful surroundings. We adored waking up and eating breakfast to the sound of birds chirping and the stream running nearby. Butterhills Escapes offers the perfect opportunity to switch off for a weekend.'

💚🧡'We had the most fabulous relaxing time at the Linhay. The perfect place to get away from it all and soak up the peaceful surroundings and let nature sing. A fabulous opportunity to live very comfortably off grid.'

Everyone needs to take a break from time to time, to step off the grid and unwind, to reconnect with ourselves and our loved ones. We think the Linhay is the perfect escape, a sublime place to sooth your soul and so do our guests - if this is what you need then hop over to our website to book your escape. We've just two weekends available in June and two in July with a few midweek breaks as well... Hope to see you very soon. 🤗🍃🍂

16/05/2023

Farewell little fuzzy friend 🐾🐾💔
Yesterday we said goodbye to Pickles, a tiny little dog with a big heart who's left a huge hole in ours 😥
She was definitely a one off and loved to greet our guests on arrival - their first response was usually 'WHAT is she??' A very good question... she was half dog/half cat in her demeanour, loyal friend, attentive nursemaid, instinctive comforter, dedicated mouser (none ever caught!), watcher of TV and defender of the house against any animals that might burst out of the screen... In short a big, big character in a tiny body and she will be very much missed. Life is strange at Butterhills without her.

We know all to well how important dogs are in people's lives and that they deserve a holiday as much as their owners; which is why they are always very welcome in the Linhay.

Oh... and to answer the question, she was mainly miniature teacup poodle with a bit of Yorkshire terrier (or terrorist as we tended to say!) thrown in.

11/05/2023

A proper cream tea ❤🤍❤🤍
We love to welcome our guests to the Linhay with a homemade cream tea. I won't get into the debate of whether you should have jam or cream on top - its a matter of personal choice or, in the case of Devon v Cornwall, county pride.

Guests frequently ask for my scone recipe, it's not a secret and there's a blog about it on our website (link in bio & comment below) Go check it out alongside my top tips for delicious scones that come out deep and fluffy every time. I offer a plant based, vegan option too which I serve with homemade cashew cream.

I prefer jam on top as I like loads of clotted and cream and this seems the best way to achieve it 🐷🐽 Just to chuck in a curved ball, I have my cream tea with marmalade not jam. I know, I know... but don't knock it 'til you've tried it!

photo credit

09/05/2023

Psithurism: noun 💚🌳🍃🌿..a rustling or whispering sound, such as leaves in the wind; Standing in the glade I heard a quiet psithurism, just straddling the line between music and noise.

A friend brought this word to my attention a few weeks ago and it struck me as being a perfect description for the sounds in our beautiful ancient oak woodland here at Butterhills. It's the most beautiful place to wander in all weathers and all seasons but particularly when the trees are coming into leaf with the dappled sunlight kissing the woodland path...
Our guests staying in the Linhay have the woods and glades all to themselves to explore & enjoy. 💚🌳🍃🌿