Overview
Families, listen up: if you’re still defaulting to Airbnbs or eye-wateringly expensive hotels that merely tolerate little ones, you’re missing a trick. The English countryside “resort cottage” is the parenting hack no one talks about enough and Flear Farm in Devon absolutely nails it. Tucked into a ridiculously pretty valley, this cluster of 12 dog-friendly cottages delivers that rare sweet spot: proper space (think separate bedrooms, stairgates, baths, and kitchens that can keep up with constant snack demands) paired with genuinely brilliant shared facilities
Inside, the cottages strike a charming balance between whimsical and wipe-clean practical – think paintings of mice, ducks and dragonflies on the walls, toy baskets and mini rocking chairs ready and waiting, plus all the essentials (kids’ plates, cutlery, bed guards) quietly taken care of. It’s cozy, yes, but crucially built to survive actual family life. And with choices sleeping 2 through to 9, there really is a base to suit every brood
What really elevates Flear Farm, though, is how effortlessly it keeps children entertained without you having to overthink a single second of it. The indoor playbarn alone is the stuff of rainy-day legend: a huge, joy-filled space packed with a trampoline, climbing frames, swings, soft play, table tennis, foosball, ride-ons and a two-storey Wendy House complete with a play kitchen. Add in the heated indoor pool (kept blissfully warm), a hot tub dialled to kid-friendly temperatures, outdoor play areas, and animal feeding with goats, ponies, pigs and free-roaming chickens, and you’ve got a full itinerary without ever leaving the grounds. And then there’s the bit parents will love most: how much easier everything feels. The honesty shop is a stroke of genius – open 24/7 and stocked with genuinely good frozen food (think rich beef chilli, steak and red wine pies, Goan curry sauces, ice creams, wine, and emergency essentials like nappies and toothpaste), meaning dinner can be as low-effort as you need it to be. Outside, communal BBQ areas, picnic spots and a sun-drenched hot tub terrace create an easy, sociable rhythm to the days, while spa treatments and babysitting options offer that elusive chance to properly switch off
We checked into Flear Farm with our own Tiny Travelers in tow so you don’t have to rely on brochure photos alone – read our honest review here
Mama
Get in touch
Nearest station
The closest train station is Totnes (20 miles away)
Best time to visit
With plenty of activities for rain or shine, this is a year round destination
Favourite room
Whether you’re looking for a large family home or a cosy cottage, there’s something for everyone
If you’re travelling with a large group or for a special occasion, the gloriously restored Georgian country house is one for you. Sleeping 10 across 5 bedrooms (plus plenty of space for cots), you also have access to a private outdoor pool and magnificent valley views, or Duck’s Quarry adjoins two cottages to sleep 9
If you only need 1 bedroom (there’s plenty of space for a cot in the living rooms) choose The Dairy
If you’re looking for a 2nd or 3rd bedroom: 1843 (sleeps 3), Cartwheel, The Linhay, The Mangers, Quarry (sleep 4), Ducks Nest (sleeps 5), The Granary, Orchard Lodge, The Stables, The Stalls (sleep 6)
Nearby
Pastel hued villages, wild moorlands and Caribbean clear coastlines are all on your doorstep, plus the market town of Kingsbridge (lined with restaurants, cafes and pubs) is a mere 10 minute drive away
Price
from £96 p/night in low season and £127 p/night in high season
Meet the family...
Rosie
Parent to Tiny Traveller aged 14 months
The cottages were beautifully decorated, simple but stylish, safe for children, yet at the same time luxurious. Everything we could possibly need for the children was provided; from stair gates and highchairs to travel cots, cutlery, and a basket of age appropriate toys. There’s an indoor heated pool, hot tub and steam room open 24/7, which was bliss for those early morning wakeups. Above it is an enormous play barn with a Wendy House, trampoline, soft play area, dozens of push along bikes, climbing frame on padded Astroturf, and much, much more!
Worth waking the baby for
01
Pennywell Farm
A fabulous farm, hosting furry friends and views over Dartmoor National Park. Tiny Travellers will love bottle feeding, micro pig cuddles and pony pampering, plus getting from A to B on tractors and the rainbow railway ride
02
Blackpool Sands
A splendid stretch of sands with crystal clear waters, Blackpool Sands is ranked as as one of Conde Nast Traveller’s best beaches in the UK. Home to a gourmet beach shack, serving locally roasted coffee, cake, organic kids meals and local wines
03
Paignton Zoo
From gorillas to giraffes, rhinos to red pandas, and cheetahs to crocodiles, Paignton Zoo houses over 2,000 animals across 80 acres of botanical gardens. A wild and wonderful time is guaranteed for the whole family
Reviews from other parents
Our trip to Flear Farm was nothing short of magical - for kids, adults and dogs alike. The setting was straight out of a storybook, with the roaming chickens and animal feedings a real highlight for our little ones. The play barn is the best equipped I've ever seen, and handily open 24/7! We stayed as two groups of friends in the interconnecting Ducks Quarry cottage, and loved how it gave us our own privacy but also space to enjoy together. Flear manages to be both intimate and charming, but also brimming with things to do - and the location is a real gem too!
Mama @frankie1204, Tiny Travellers 2 & 4 years old
