North Barn is an 18th century stone building set on the banks of the River Dart – originally a corn collection point for flat bottom barges to take the corn across the river to the Stoke Gabriel mill.
From the 1940’s Whitestone Farm became an apple farm for wholesale Bramleys, and North Barn was used for apple grading and storage.
There is an interesting painting in the barn done by one of the of the pickers.
Nowadays North Barn is a bright and airy open plan livingspace – pared back, beautiful and romantic! The atmosphere is fresh and light, with skylights that make even the dullest of days seem bright. The patio doors open up on to a large deck area overlooking the river from an elevated height thus giving you great views across the River Dart.
The access road to North barn is shared but once you are up the steps from the yard and through the barn doors you enter a space all of your own.
Jilly and Peter live in a house down the same lane and are always available if you need anything or any local information.
There are so many interesting things to see and do in the area [once you have got used to the lanes!] and wonderful walks too.
The Maltsters Arms in Tuckenhay is a favourite pub – with outdoor eating in the summer. Beside the river.
The Waterman’s Arms in Tuckenhay is also a good pub by the water… you need to book either of them in summer.
In Cornworthy – the Hunter’s Lodge Inn is a favourite village pub – with a small outdoor eating area, good food and good company!
The pubs in Dittisham (10 mins by car, 45 mins on foot along the lane) are the Ferry Boat Inn by the water’s edge – with good bar food and a friendly atmosphere [take your drink down on to the pontoon!]
Dittisham Post Office/pub/shop/B & B/restaurant/cream teas and general ‘hub’ is in the Red Lion Inn run by French Brigitte and Penny – open every day with local cheeses, eggs and vegetables, and is licensed. Do support it, only two miles away.
Anchorstone Cafe in Dittisham … which is a brilliant lunch restaurant… very popular so book in early.
Crabbing off the pontoon in Dittisham is a favourite for children – bait available from the café in summer.
Dittisham also has an hourly ferry service to Dartmouth – half hour journey in each direction. An up-to-date timetable is displayed on noticeboard outside
Something we highly recommend is booking Riverford Farm Field Kitchen for the most amazing lunch of your life on your way here! After you have turned off the A38 – on the way to Dartington – you turn left to the vegetable fields … you won’t need to eat again that day! Then stock up with your holiday food at their nearby farm shop afterwards further on down the Totnes rd.
For a good walk – go to GREENWAY, Agatha Christie’s House now National Trust [one of Jilly’s wooden heads is in the ‘snug’ upstairs] Get the ferry from the Dittisham jetty beside the Ferry Boat Inn which operates on an ‘on demand’ service – just ring the bell outside the FBI pub!
Other walks are printed out in the barn info file.
Coombe Farm Studios where Lara Riley runs art courses, is walking distance from us on the way to Dittisham, with a small gallery.
Very good award-winning wine and cheese is made at Sharpham Vineyard in Sandridge Barton – up the river – for a tasting session and an outdoor lunch in summer, also well worth a visit.
Totnes [20 mins by car]- has a popular market on Friday and Saturday mornings, and a farmer’s market on Saturdays too. Totnes has many good shops and restaurants… Some even have ‘Transition Totnes’s own green currency!
Dartmouth also has a w/e market.
Totnes ‘retro’ cinema is a wonderful experience! – only open at certain times so best to book.
Dartington Hall, with its C14th historic quadrangle, gardens, shops, gallery, small cinema and the White Hart Bar/Restaurant is just 25/30 minutes from here, a VERY special place. The many live performances in the Great Hall are wonderful.
The Dartington Cider Press Centre has the best of SW England’s Crafts.
Dartmouth – 25 mins by car – has a spectacular natural harbour and there are many excellent shops, pubs and restaurants. The ‘Flavel Centre’ has a cinema.
From Dartmouth you can travel up river to Totnes by boat, book fishing trips and get the car ferry over to Kingswear on the other side.
Children love the steam train from Kingswear to Totnes
Woodlands Leisure park is also fun on the way to Dartmouth
Sailing lessons and boat hire can be arranged from the Anchor Stone Café, Dittisham and Dartmouth Waterfront.
You are welcome to borrow our rowing boat or 3-man canoe. We can provide life jackets.
Our neighbours – Blackness Marine – do boat storage and anchorage.
We go swimming in the river a lot in the summer – but it is best on Spring Tides as our patch of river frontage is very shallow and very tidal … take care !
For horse riding got to on Dartmoor.
Cornworthy Church – very simple and very beautiful – is always all open [you
can see Jilly’s Angel’s Wing in the Lady chapel.]
For the best beaches see the booklet in the barn – there are so many to choose from of different kinds … rocky, pebbly, sandy etc…
If you would like all of the links and phone numbers for the listings above please let us know and we will send this as a pdf.
From the yard there are steps up to the big barn doors.
There is a wooden deck overlooking the river which catches the morning sun and is an ideal place for breakfast – with the water’s edge only ten yards in front. The deck has a table with a bench seat and an outdoor sofa. It is a perfect spot for viewing the bird life on the tidal estuary – bring your binoculars!
In the large entrance hall, there is a comfy single bed, like a separate bedroom. Because of the deck the barn is probably not suitable for very young ‘climbing’ children.
The kitchen, dining and sitting areas are all integrated so that the spectacular view can be appreciated from any spot. We have our own spring water.
The barn is well equipped – all electric cooker with ceramic hob, quiet fridge with small freezer compartment, microwave, and a small dishwasher.
This is an old barn with wooden worktops etc. There are basic essentials in the cupboard + cafeteria etc, hairdryer and cushions for the deck seats etc…
The low level sleeping platform is also in the main room, the view can be seen from the bed through the huge windows that form most of the end wall of the barn. The king size bed has a sunken mattress and can be a little awkward
for the elderly or infirm to get in and out of – apologies! There are curtains to
draw around it, and a black out blind for the Velux above, but it is not possible to completely black-out the barn. Some guests like to bring sleep masks.
The double bed will be made up + towels, bathmat etc for two – let us know if you would like the single bed made up as well.
There is a travel cot for babies – please bring your own bedding for that.
The bathroom has a washing machine, basin, loo, bath – with shower attachment – but there is no stand-up shower.
The hot water is heated by an off-peak immersion heater, with a day-time over-ride when required.
There is a TV with DVD, a radio and CD player, and a record player for you to enjoy our 60’s collection! There is also connection to broadband/internet… although a little slow sometimes… the password is Whitestone
Most mobile phones can get a signal, but other mobiles may mean you have a hearty walk to the top of our steep drive – very good exercise!
The barn is heated by 3 night-storage radiators, and a wood burning stove that keep it toasty warm in winter. [Logs are provided for free, but PLEASE replace them from wood pile underneath the barn when you leave… thanks.] All logs and heating bills are included.
The hot water tank is on an off-peak system with two switches on the wall above the heater in the hall. This should give you hot water morning and evening, [the red light comes on when it is heating] -but if you go swimming in the river and need hot water in the middle of day – then press the right hand switch which will over-ride the off-peak, [but please turn it off at bed-time.]
