We have recently had a great set of guests stay with us, a group of six friends (plus a baby) who all used to go to school together. They wanted a lovely, spacious base to explore East Devon from and to spend the weekend reconnecting with each other, with a few excursions (mainly food related) thrown in for fun. They asked me to come up with some suggestions of what they could do for this weekend and I thought I would share some of the ideas that I came up with. I pulled together a rough itinerary so here is it… (I did find it quite difficult to narrow it down though!)

Friday

Arrive from 3pm and immediately settle in at Quantock Barn with tea and homemade cake, provided for by us. Take in the views from the patio (especially if it’s not raining) and choose which of the bedrooms is yours.

I recommend getting a food delivery (all the of supermarkets deliver to us) so you can relax at the Barn and not venture out that evening, especially if you have had a long drive. Or perhaps, if you are super organised, order an amazing takeaway from High Grange – a high-end cookery school just down the road from us, who over the Winter do “High Grange at Home” meals to collect on a Friday night.

Saturday

Have a relaxing, lazy morning with coffee and breakfast, using the wonderful open space to chill and slow down.

Spend the rest of the day exploring Lyme Regis, which is only 20 minutes away by car. There are plenty of cute shops on the high street, I really love the book shop here and there are so many amazing coffee/lunch spots. I recommend lunch at Swim which is right on the beach and has a great menu with a large variety of options. It is also very child and dog friendly, so great as a casual lunch spot.

There were a couple of wild swimmers in this group, and Lyme Regis is a really great place to go for a dip – for those that are brave enough! You can book the Shoreline Sauna for a great experience right on the beach too.

For coffee or hot chocolate after the cold swim, there are lots of options but one of my favourite spots is the Whole Hog. A tiny coffee shop at the bottom of the high street, that also makes great fresh doughnuts…

In the evening, have a movie night back at the Barn, watching the latest things on Netflix or watch one of the selection of DVDs available if you are feeling old school. Or enjoy having a glass of bubbly in the hot tub and listen to the owls/watch the stars. There is also a firepit which is great for toasting marshmallows over.

Sunday

There were a couple of options for Sunday as I really couldn’t narrow it down.

First option was brunch at Heron Farm which is only 10 or so minutes away. This vineyard with kitchen is a great little spot with fantastic food and if you have children, a great playground. I then suggested heading back to the Barn to really make the most of the relaxing space, to get back into the hot tub or just enjoy the peace and quiet.

Option two, for those with a little more energy, was to walk to Stockland village and have a Sunday lunch at The Kings Arms. The walk is about 3 miles if you are going cross-country and avoiding lanes as much as possible. On the way back you could take the shorter route via the country lane. The food at the Kings Arms is great and all homecooked, using local and seasonal produce.

Option three was for those wanting to explore a little more or needed some more sea air. Branscombe is a little further away (around 30-35minutes by car) and is a very picturesque village with a lovely walk down to the beach. The beach has a spot for coffee, and another sauna for those wanting to brave the sea again. There is also a great pub option for after your Sunday walk – the Masons Arms which again serves great food.

Monday

Have a leisurely morning in the Barn with check out at 10am but eke out those goodbyes with a final coffee and cake at Otter Valley Field Kitchen literally 5minutes down the road. A great place to sit and enjoy the view of the rolling Devon hills one last time, with a great coffee and homemade scone. It is also just off the A30 so the perfect location for everyone having to get back on the road to head home after a wonderful, relaxing weekend.

There you have it! The perfect weekend in East Devon (in my opinion) and also loved by our guests.