Wiltshire holiday cottages, sleeps 6
Four star graded accommodation placed in a rural retreat on our farm in the centre of Wiltshire with two and three bedroomed cottages that make use of renewable energy wherever possible.
We have been awarded a Green Tourism Badge for our efforts and have just completed installing Solar Photovoltaic panels on one of our farm buildings that will produce electricity for the cottages and the farm.
Our cottages have been tastefully converted from former farm buildings and we have constantly updated and improved them to offer a cosy contemporary and relaxed base from which to explore the area.
We have easy access to Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock ,Longleat, Salisbury ,Marlborough and Bath with a host of other world heritage sites in the area to see - and are in a great area for walking, canoeing, paragliding and all outdoor sports.
Rooms, food and facilities
We have:
* Three two bedroomed cottages with one double and one twin bedroom in each and one three bedroomed cottage with one double and two twin bedrooms.
Each has a living area with sofa, armchairs and a dining table together with a well equipped kitchen containing microwave, cooker, dishwasher, fridge and ample units.
All of the bathrooms are equipped with baths, showers and heated towel rails.
Outside is a barbeque and several garden areas with table and chairs on a patio or under a canopy of trees.
How to find us
2.5 miles East of Devizes in central Wiltshire, 7 miles from Pewsey Railway Station
How this holiday makes a difference
Environment
We are trying to reduce our carbon footprint by using as many renewable resources as possible to run our enterprise and we aim to recycle nearly everything we produce. We have an air source heat pump that produces four times the electricity it consumes to heat the water and we have recently installed solar panels to produce electricity from the sun to run the everyday appliances associated with modern living which we hope will upgrade our green tourism badge from bronze to silver.
We encourage wildlife on the farm by creating natural habitats where possible and conservation is high on the list of our priorities. We have several natural areas around the farm growing trees and shrubs that encourage all forms of wildlife and have committed ourselves to a Entry Level Scheme with Defra to protect the numerous number of trees we have planted over the years.
We have families of Roe deer that roam close to the cottages and two of the females had twins last year so you may see them going around in groups of three.
We named the cottages after birds that we see frequently on the farm, Linnets in the winter that tend to go round in groups and when food gets scarce we often see flocks of fieldfares foraging on the lower level fields for food. We have swallows in the summer that used to nest in the stables before they were converted and now nest in the new buildings and Kestrels that you can see hovering above the country hedgerows waiting to see if a meal shows itself. I have recently begun seeing again Yellow Hammers and Grey Wagtails which is nice to think they are coming back together with Gold Finches and Long Tailed Tits. We also have Buzzards on the farm and their distinctive call on a clear day is amazing when they glide in pairs on the thermal heat of the sun and you can see them towering above you almost out of sight.
Community
We always try to promote good local businesses to our guests as this cuts unnecessary food and product miles and helps the local community. We have a farm shop only one mile away that promotes local produce and that we often use ourselves. They have an onsite bakery where they make bread and pies and an onsite butchery that supplies local meat of every description.
We recommend The Kings Arms pub at All Cannings for good food and beer which is close to the canal and has ample parking space and a large garden area. They offer a good menu and are open 7 days a week whilst also specialising in themed menu evenings. We also recommend The Bridge at West Lavington that boasts the same criteria and there are many other local eating establishments that promote good local cuisine.
Our website offers a list of numerous activities from Hang Gliding from the hills not far from here to visiting local gardens in the area and many golf courses that offer a day's play. The main Visit Wiltshire website lists the many activities in our area on offer as well as a local shuttle service that takes in Stonehenge and Old Sarum together with others that show you Avebury, the Long Barrow and Silbury Hill.
Our local market town of Devizes is famous for the Wadworth Brewery and most of our local pubs serve a range of their beers. They also have a Visitor Centre and offer tours around the brewery for which advanced booking is advised.
We have a list in the cottages of pubs and restaurants in the area that we recommend locally and who serve local food of the highest quality.
Landscape
Having lived in the area for many years and been connected with the land my local knowledge is substantial and I often take ours dogs for long walks in the North Wessex Downs areas and beyond.
Wiltshire is famous for its White Horses carved in the white chalk. It is where the expression "chalk and cheese" originated, describing the huge contrast between the chalky uplands used for grazing sheep and the lush dairy country beneath used for grazing milking cows.
We also live in the middle of Moonraker Country because of a tale involving some locals hiding a smuggled barrel of brandy in a pond. They were caught in the act of fishing it out of the water by the excise men, but got away with it by acting extremely dim and claiming they were fishing for the great big cheese they saw floating in the pond, meaning the reflection of the full moon.
One of my favorite walks is from Alton Barnes White Horse (1812) via the Wandsdyke over to Tan Hill which can easily be done in 2 or 3 hours and gives splendid sweeping views of the Pewsey Vale and beyond, not to mention all the wild flowers you see along the route and the skylarks and other birds on the Downs.
The Kennet and Avon Canal is very close to Tichborne's and makes a very good walk on a lower level along the towpath between Pewsey and Devizes where you can see swans, ducks and moorhens in the summer months. As there are plenty of minor roads that cross the canal this means you can access the towpath from many different places.
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