North Hayne Farm Cottages

19/07/2024

A special announcement...

To mark the start of the school summer hols and our 20th "Farmiversary" of running North Hayne happening on September 1st, we are running a competition offering a 1st prize of £200 towards a future stay with us,for the winner and their family (or friends) and of course the chance to meet all our fabulous animals ( and human team!!)

We are calling on your creative talents and asking you to design a North Hayne Farm Poster which we can use for future marketing!

We've seen huge talent over the years both with our hand washing sticker designs and donated pictures for our Playbarn Gallery, but this is the chance to go bigger and bolder and have fun over the next 6 weeks.

Competition is open to all ages and abilities and entries must be emailed or posted to us before 31st August this year. The winner will be chosen by us on the 1st September.

See the details below for further information or message us if you need to check anything.

In the meantime here's to another busy summer of farm experiences for all our families already booked in with us. There's a LOT of fun planned so we will be sure to share it with everyone over the next few weeks

Good luck with your poster designs!
We can't wait to see them.

10/07/2024

Amazing News!!...
After a considerable search, as many of you will know ...we have finally found a new potential best buddy for Costello our donkey.

Everyone, 🥁 ...meet STRIPEY LEGS !!! 🤎🫏🎉

Stripey is approx 17 years old and he too sadly lost his best friend. He's a lovely boy with so much affection to give that we all just fell in love with him.

Stripey arrived yesterday ( hugest of thankyous to The Donkey Sanctuary Sidmouth for arranging this and helping us so much and to Ginny ( Stripeys previous owner who has passed him on to us...we promise to do our best for him Ginny!!))

In time, and with work and patience we are confident that Stripes will be the happiest of boys and become a huge member of the farm team and loved by you all.
In the meantime, we will leave you with a bit of video of the moment Stripey arrived.
More updates to follow.

01/06/2024

Wow! That seemed like the fastest Whitsun week school holiday ever!..it was over in a flash ( or is that just a sign we're getting older?)

Such a fantastic group of farmers who we shall truly miss next week 💚 thankyou to everyone who stayed.
We enjoyed some great moments hanging out with the goats and lambs at Farm Hands Club, made some really epic bubbles at Free Rangers ....and even got to watch the sheep get sheared and see some bats fly!

To top it off 6 gorgeous Silkie chicks arrived so we just had to fit in some chick handling time.
That was all on top of the usual twice daily animal feeding sessions and some much loved donkey rides by our one and only amazing Costello ❤️

We must also give a special mention to some of our particularly compassionate and caring "farmers" who literally spent hours hanging out with 'Cossie' to help him feel less lonely. You guys know who you are and here's a huge thankyou to you from us and a much happier donkey 🫏 😘 ###x

Weather got better and better as the week went on so even managed a few beach days and lazy farmidays ,bbqs and hot tubbing!

Thanks Whitsun, you were great fun.x Heres to next year already ( just 1 cottage left!!) 😍

25/05/2024

An extremely sad goodbye to our wonderful Abbott the donkey who died peacefully yesterday, after several years of ill health 💔.
Many of you will have known him, ridden him and applauded his lovely nature and his efforts in our Christmas Nativity carrying Mary each year!
Abbott had been retired from donkey rides for some while and had passed his reins onto Costello.
He was a lovely gentle soul and he will stay in our hearts for always.
To live in a world without animals is unimaginable but to lose them is always so very tough.
Please bear with Costello ( his bonded mate) who Abbott leaves behind. We are keeping a very close eye on him and we know he will appreciate any extra tlc you can show him.
Our search now for another donkey gelding ( or pair) continues with more determination. If any of you know a donkey looking for a loving home please do let us know. Ps not the donkey sanctuary as sadly they will not re home to a commercial establishment ( we have tried x )

21/05/2024

Getting excited as we prepare for our Spring Bank Holiday week.....
Farm Hands Club, Donkey rides, Bat walks, Lambs on leads, LOTS of animal feeding and experiences, chicks due any day PLUS...our Free Rangers will apparently be experimenting with 'Bubbles' outside which will be a first!!! ...photos to follow hopefully 🤞

***Also...just a reminder that we have an unexpected week AVAILABLE for the summer school holidays.

Mrs Tiggywinkle can sleep up to 5 , includes large private hot tub and is available for w/c SAT 20th JULY at the REDUCED rate of £1799 or discounted short breaks/split week available from £895.
Please call or message for details.

Happy Whitsun everyone x

08/05/2024

A fabulous Bank Holiday where the sun shine just made everything even better!
Lovely to see all our 'farmers' and so many returning families....22 children meant LOTS of lamb walks around the farm with Bluey and Bingo, loads of eggs handed in to reception (note the new door mat 🦆) and some of us even managed a few trips out to Fremington Quay Westward Ho! ( absolutely fantastic for rock pooling) and Ilfracombe to soak up the rays 😎
With Spring Bank Holiday week just around the corner we look forward to lots more farm fun including some rather special duckling handling sessions as this year it looks like they are hatching just in time! 🐣🤞

21/04/2024

Whoo hoo...featured in the Telegraph this weekend 🥰...a really lovely write up, firmly putting the farm and Devon on the worldwide map!!
Listed as a Spring destination and up there with places such as New York, Italy , Canada and even St Lucia we couldn't agree more but then we are slightly biased! 😆

For those who haven't been to us, we are now taking May Bank Holiday bookings for 2025 (2024 prices held for early bookings) so please give us a call if you'd like more details.

With its balmy climes and two Bank Holidays, May is the perfect time for a break – and needn’t cost the earth, if you know where to look

19/04/2024

*Update *...Last remaining summer week!

Unexpected summer school holiday availability:
Mrs Tiggywinkle for up to 5 people ,+cot /3 bedrooms/2 bath ,plus private 6 seater hot tub.
Available for w/c sat 20th July. Please message or call us for details. https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/cottages/mrs-tiggywinkle

NB Jeremy Fisher cottage now fully booked.

Private hot tub , Outdoor play areas, stargazing, Bat Walks, Games Room, Indoor Playbarn, daily animal feeding, donkey rides , lambs on leads and other farm activities included.
Holiday clubs, holistic pampering treatments, babysitting, meals also available to pre book.
Prices approx £50 pppn.(7 night stay)
Available to book online https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/booking

Been before? Please let us know.☺️

13/04/2024

Wow..Another crazy fun filled Easter over already!
Despite some rather dodgy weather that kept us guessing each day, we managed to do it all

A big thankyou to the wonderful and very popular Big Yellow who visited the farm 3 times this Easter so that none of our " farmers" missed out ...as always he drew quite a crowd and even danced with some of our grown ups too! (You lucky things!! 😅)

Thankyou too, to the brilliant Matt and Kirsty from Tangled With Nature who ran 3 sessions of our Free Rangers forest school. The feedback was great and there's not much about birds that our 'rangers' won't now know ( including how to make the most giant birds nest ever!)

The animals as ever were the biggest hit though, with some rather crazy chicks this year !! Baby guinea pigs, special donkey rides, lots of goat walks ( even princess ones 😄) and not forgetting our lambs Bluey and Bingo, who have grown soo much, thanks to the many bottle feeds and all the cuddles they received

Finally a very special thankyou to all of our families, farmers and our incredible team ( both behind the scenes and front of house) They are the reason our holidays make a difference to so many. ❤️

Here's to a fabulous spring and summer season .

02/04/2024

Our Spectrum donkey rides are back!
Today we give the biggest shout out to World Autism Acceptance Week which begins with World Autism Awareness Day today and runs until Monday 8th April.

Costello was ( as always) very happy to proudly wear his ribbons to support the colour theme and will be offering his extra special donkey rides all week ( and by special request in exchange for a charity donation all through April! )..NB.all donations received will be sent to the National Autistic Society

It would be lovely to think that one day we will not need an Awareness Week as Autism will be completely understood and accepted by us all.... but we're not there yet so here's to that "one day" 🤞🌈
If you would like to donate or learn more about Autism please see the link https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism

24/03/2024

And they've arrived!!...
Introducing..... Bluey ❤️ and Bingo ❤️ yayyyyy....
Our 2 little orphan ewe lambs for 2024!

Thankyou to Katy Hammersley and everyone who sent through ideas for names on Facebook and Instagram this year...the team had a tough choice but our little black lamb was such an adventurer and enthusiastic little character that Bluey seemed a great choice. Her sister Bingo ( our little white lamb) is quieter and has been slower to feed but they're both now loving life and getting LOTS of cuddles!

Our bottle feeding sessions begin this week and will run until June so hopefully many of our farmers will get to meet them. X
Bluey and Bingo join our other new arrivals as the chicks have now hatched and 2 baby guinea pigs were born here at the farm a couple of days ago!! ...we guess that simply means even MORE cuddles available this Spring 🐣🌱🥰 x

12/03/2024

LAMB NAMES NEEDED PLEASE...🐑
Exciting... more new arrivals due very soon as we offer a space to a couple of local orphan lambs who will need lots of bottle feeding and even more cuddles!.

Over the years we have re homed more than 50 lambs... ( many end up staying with us as we fall into that common trap of loving them just that bit too much!! 😅) ,some go to lovely new homes and some go back to their original farm where they become mums themselves🥰

As always one of the fun bits is choosing 'names' so here we go... the chance to ask all our 'farmers' to put forward some imaginative suggestions please.

If it helps at all... they are likely to be a pair of ewe lambs, most likely a white one and a black/brown and white one but tbh we often take those that might simply need that extra bit of care so who knows!!

Make us smile, ooh , awwh, marvel at the originality or just belly laugh out loud....ALL suggestions will be passed to our fab farm team who will ultimately decide and post up the chosen names with photos of our 2024 lambs when they arrive.

If you'd like to see them when they first arrive???...then whilst our main Easter weeks are fully booked, for those of you that are lucky enough to break up from school on the 22nd or the 26th March we do have a couple of spaces remaining for either a week or short break ( incorporating Good Friday on the 29th) so please just give us a call for details/prices.

Can't wait to see you all x

04/03/2024

Well, ok, so the plan was ( as some of you know) to get two new male goat kids in May!! but sometimes you just have to listen to that inner voice 😆 which on this occasion was loudly telling us to offer much needed homes to two older Golden Guernsey girls!

We went along to see them ( just to check out the 'breed' ) and quickly just knew they would have to join the farm!!
So here we are...proud and thrilled to introduce the wonderful Honey and Waffle....our latest re-homed members of the farm team who are simply the most relaxed and gentle Golden Guernsey goats we've met and who we just know will make wonderful friends with our 'farmers'🧡

Honey (6 years) and Waffle (4 years) are going to have a few days to just settle in ( such a great excuse for us to spend time in the goat house cuddling them , reassuring them, getting to know them as individuals and helping them feel secure...we call it work but we all know the truth! 🤣)

Can't wait for you all to meet them . We hope you love them as much as we do already x

27/02/2024

Yayyyy, Spring is almost here and we are all getting excited to seeing you very soon.
A super early Easter,however, means that only some schools will break up on the 22nd March.

If you are one of the lucky ones then we just have Samuel Whiskers, Squirrel Nutkin and Jeremy Fisher remaining for either the full week or short break (*3,4 or 5 nights available) incorporating Good Friday Bank holiday on the 29th.

Join us for all the Easter activities ..plus...get to be the first to meet our baby lambs and chicks! ( not forgetting the one and only Big Yellow!)

Returner discounts will be applied so if you've been to us recently then give us a call before booking!
*Prices start from just £995 for a family of 6 (approx £55 pppn)

Can't wait that long?....then message or call us for more details about our Mothers Day weekend option/s on 8th March...special 2 night breaks available to give mum a well deserved treat x
See you soon xx

16/02/2024

A really lovely February Half Term with 17 fabulous and enthusiastic "farmers"
They've done it all!

Mucked out donkeys, cuddled rabbits, relaxed in hot tubs! learned about frogs and birds, designed their own stickers,collected many many eggs! ... and eaten over 100 pancakes (apparently!!🤭)

Well done to everyone and a big thanks as always to our wonderful team who help make it all happen.

Bookings already coming in for next February Half term .. x ( prices currently being held at this year's rates plus additional discount if you've been before so please feel free to message us for details)

06/02/2024

Absolutely delighted to be announced as Winners in the Green Parent Magazine awards 2024.

To win for Devon is a huge accolade.
It acknowledges our ongoing efforts to be as sustainable as possible, not always easy with costs today as everyone knows, so quite a special award...thankyou Green Parent!

Thankyou too, to all our wonderful visitors for choosing us! Independent,sustainable tourism businesses flourish and grow because of discerning families who care.

We look forward to seeing you all this year!

https://thegreenparent.co.uk/articles/read/family-travel-awards-2024?fbclid=IwAR0JP5o3SFqQ0b_Q3_mSGWz-zOO8pcheZrEsfu6yDgpryeucPmSPI-Satpw

We are excited to announce the winners of our Family Travel Awards 2024. From cosy off-grid glamping spots to spacious self-catering barns for the last word in eco luxury, here are this year's winners.

01/02/2024

Hoorayyy...our Babysitting is back for the 2024 season!!
We know how important it can be for parents and carers to get some much needed time out. The chance to relax even for a couple of hours, is precious, and therefore, we are delighted to be able to re introduce our farm babysitting service.

Our fabulous babysitters have years of experience, are First Aid trained and fully insured.
They will be happy to discuss your requirements so feel free to get in touch and start planning your night/s out!

https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/details/grown-ups/babysitting

26/01/2024

Well it wasn't quite the plan 😆..but when you hear that 3 baby guinea pigs desperately need a new home right now, you just HAVE to don't you?
So here they are.. 3 little female tri coloured 7 week old cuties...all needing names please (otherwise Farmer Jen and Farmer Emily will be calling them Gwen, Pamela and Nessa!! 🤣) ...don't ask.
But hey if you love those names then tell us.. OR if you think you can do better that go for it..we're all ears here ( actually a bit more than thst but you get the gist!)

20/01/2024

*EASTER AVAILABILITY *

Unexpected availability at a most fabulous time of year!
w/c sat 30th March to 7th April in Mrs Tiggywinkle (3 bed/sleeps up to 5 +cot) £1463 ⬇️⬇️*NOW BOOKED *
https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/cottages/mrs-tiggywinkle

And..Or...
w/c 7th April in Jeremy Fisher ( 5 beds/sleeping up to 10 +2 cots) £2862...perfect for sharing ⬇️⬇️
https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/cottages/Jeremy-Fisher

Come and enjoy the farm , cuddle and bottle feed the lambs, walk the goats, ride Costello the donkey, meet our baby guinea pigs 🤞😀...PLUS...experience ALL of our extra Easter activities including our Easter egg hunts with the one and only Big Yellow!🐣

Please call us for details or simply book online
https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/the-farm

18/01/2024

Taa dah....It's book time again!!...how has it been a year since we did this?
Many of you will know that for many years now, we have chosen a "farm" book to share... which we love ( and always for different reasons) and, which then goes on to form the basis for a new farm challenge or activity.
This year the wonderful Julia Donaldson has won out again, and by recommendations from our 'families' we are pleased to introduce....
*Night Monkey Day Monkey*...the lovely story of how we are all different. How important it is to learn about each other and accept and celebrate our differences! ...( you can see why we chose it now huh?...how great is that! 😉)
The book will be available to borrow from reception as always, so please just ask. There will also be a new fun challenge to do involving hoops and bananas!! ...crazy I know!!!... and currently in progress but hopefully ready for February Half term,...PLUS some extra focus this year on nocturnal animals..so even MORE Bat Walks this year Farmer Roger 😄 ( he loves them really!)
See you all soon xx

08/01/2024

Fabulous to get a mention in The Times ....we have some VERY proud animals this morning!

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/40-of-the-worlds-best-family-holidays-for-all-ages-qfws5xwwb

06/01/2024

An early Easter this year means early lambs!!...hoping ours will be with us for the 22nd March ( mother nature allowing and all that!)
For those of you who haven't experienced Spring on the farm yet, here's a little flavour....

02/01/2024

A huge "Hello 2024" ....
Once again, we partied until the small hours, conga' d around the Christmas tree with our wonderful guests .....( well those that weren't seeing in the new year in their Hot Tubs! 😄) and looked back on a wonderful Christmas full of festive fun!

Farmer Christmas was incredible and "wow'd" the crowds on Christmas Eve and a HUGE well done to our Nativity cast of 23 who should all be on the West End stages!!

We look forward to another busy year ahead with some new animal arrivals including lambs, guinea pig babies??, goats and a donkey!! Watch this space ...eeek , exciting.
So here's to a very happy, healthy 2024 full of many new memories. See you all soon x

23/12/2023

Christmas 2023 here we come!...
Cottages are ready, our lovely families have arrived and settled in, the farm stockings are waiting to be hung and we just have 1 more sleep until our wonderful Costello has a staring role in our annual farm Nativity and our animals and "farmers" get a special visit from the one and only.... Farmer Christmas🎅
On behalf of all our team, ( 4 legged and 2 legged) we would like to thank each of you for your never ending support for our business. It means the world to us and we are extremely grateful. We hope to see many of you again soon and as always meet some new faces, but in the meantime wish everyone a very very Happy Christmas xx

27/11/2023

And the trees are going up!!
6 done, 2 to go! ...WHAT a team 🥰
Last shout out for our Pre Christmas weekend THIS weekend (Friday 1st Dec).
If anyone is looking for something a bit different? a chance to make special memories ? and even meet the one and only FARMER CHRISTMAS 🎅 then please give us a call or drop us a message
Prices from just £350 for a family of 4 for up to 3 nights including private hot tub and twice daily farm feeding activities for the children.
OK...back to it!

13/11/2023

Fancy a magical weekend?
Our annual Pre Christmas event is running on Friday 1st December with prices starting at just £362 for a family of 4 !

🦌Come and make reindeer food
✨️See the farm lit up for Christmas
🎄Cosy Decorated cottages and festive treats
🐐Jingly Goat walks
❤️Mini Pigs in blankets cuddles

🎅PLUS...meet our wonderful FARMER CHRISTMAS who is hoping to pop in on Saturday on his quad bike to meet our 'farmers'!!
https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/booking

05/11/2023

A fabulous Bonfire weekend which involved some seriously good 'Guy 'building skills ( well done to all our farmers!) , marshmallow toasting treats and fire (and star) watching.... on what was a perfect Autumn evening.
No fireworks here too ...other than sparklers which our animals (and so many of our children) really appreciate. Perfect for those who hate all the loud bangs at this time of year.
It was lovely to see everyone enjoying themselves and having a great time. Thankyou to all involved ( particularly Rhys and Dave) and everyone who came and joined us this weekend
Next year due to the October half term dates, our Bonfire do will be a week later so make sure you book in for Friday 8th November if you'd like to join us. ( 3 cottages booked already!!)
Quick breather and time for a cuppa before we gear up for our Christmas activities. Looking forward to seeing many of you soon. X

30/10/2023

We're not quite finished with October as we still have lots planned for our halftermers this week.
Half Term so far, has been filled with Ghostly goat walks, decorating pumpkin biscuits, trick or treat nights, outdoor crafts, spooky trails around the farm, bat walks and of course LOTS of animal fun and hot tub time relaxing!

Our hugest of thanks however, as always, must go to our pumpkin carving judge : the one and only Witch Grizelda, who dutifully flies in each year and who has the unenviable job of choosing a winner and a runner up. She really is a superstar ✨️...and a very big well done to Samuel Whiskers and Peter Rabbit cottages . To impress Griz is quite some achievement 👏

Thanks also to our wonderful team, including Kirsty and Matt from Tangled With Nature who have been running our Forest School sessions with fantastic results.
Finally thankyou to all our "spooktacular" farmers who once again made half term so much fun.

If you missed it this year, we are booking already for 2024..eeek, but if you can't wait that long then our Bonfire and Pre Christmas weekend are just around the corner!!
In the meantime ,we thought you might like a quick look at the last couple of weeks...

24/10/2023

Some VERY important October news for you all and most definitely NOT scary 😀 ....
We are delighted to share that the newest member of North Hayne Farm was successfully delivered on 8th October 2023 weighing 8lbs.
Our hugest of Congratulations to Farmer Katy ( and Andy) on the birth of their beautiful daughter Charlotte.
We wish them all every happiness.
A few pics for you all...###

18/10/2023

October Half term is almost upon us and there are a LOT of spooky fun 'goings on' happening here at the farm over the next 3 weeks....watch this space for updates....We can't wait to see you all.

For the team however, October means CHRISTMAS..eeekkk ( I know!!!) . Anyway, so here at headquarters we are already working on it and thought we ought to shout about it.

For those of you who are still wondering what to do this year, we have 3 cottages left for the Christmas week and 4 for New Year. (Discounted breaks available please enquire)

Full weeks available to book now Or short 5 night breaks bookable from 26th October.

https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/booking

Come and experience North Hayne festive magic and escape the usual seasonal stresses by joining us for a really special holiday.
Includes....

🎅* A magical Christmas Eve with carols, mincepies and a visit from our incredible Farmer Christmas
🎁*Present for every child
🎄* Fully decorated cottages
🥂*Hot Tub time,
✨️*Our own amazing( unrehearsed ) Christmas Eve Nativity down at the barns!!
🐇*Twice daily Animal Feeding ( including Christmas Day!) for those that need to burn off energy or keep to a "routine"
🐐*Festive Jingly Goat walks
🐹*Little Pigs in blankets (guinea pigs cuddles!)
🧘*On-site therapists for much needed pampering
🍺Fabulous local pubs, walks and beaches.
🎉*Local Christmas events, pantomimes and days out

https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/details/young-ones/special-events

Nb; We are Autism Friendly and Dementia aware so please don't hesitate to call to discuss any specific needs prior to booking if that helps. We recognise that holidays can be so 'much more' with just a bit of extra care.X

https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/inclusivity

Ps..update...Our Pre -Christmas weekend this year will be running on Friday 1st December 🥳 Feel free to get in touch for more details ###