Vacation Rental Description
Our house is surrounded by 3 acres of beautiful mature south facing gardens including a productive Victorian walled garden. Thomas Hardy stayed here as a young architect and met and fell in love with Emma Lavinia Gifford. The romance led to the novel "A Pair of Blue Eyes", and to some of his finest poetry.
Guests are welcome to enjoy a drink in the guests sitting room, or on our viewing deck overlooking the Valency valley and sea.
The house has been recently updated and decorated in period style. It is centrally heated throughout. Guests have their own Sitting Room which they can use during the day with seasonal log fires. They can also help themselves to fruit from the fruit bowl.
The walled garden supplies ample fresh fruit and vegetables in season, as well as free range eggs. Breakfast, cooked on an Aga, is served in the Entrance Hall and consists of a wide range of Cornish produce including our home made marmalade and preserves.
Prices include a full cooked breakfast and a daily newspaper of your choice except Sundays (No delivery!)
Guests are very welcome to explore and enjoy our beautiful mature south facing garden. We believe that many of the older trees and shrubs were planted by Rev. Manning who was the first Rector to live here. The grounds extend to 3 acres and contain a wide variety of plants. The woodland garden has magnificent rhododendrons, azaleas and camellias under planted with meconopsis and primulas. Further up the slope stroll along the herbaceous border to Hardy's Seat- a place as peaceful today as when Thomas and Emma sat here over 100 years ago. Behind the high stone wall travel back in time to the walled kitchen garden and see where we tend our freshly grown produce. We serve fruit from the garden whenever possible and our free range hens produce the freshest eggs.
All dietary requirements catered for please advise when booking.
Facilities
- Amenity Parking
- Refrigerator
-All Bedrooms have a Colour TV, Radio alarm, Hair dryer, Towels, Bathrobes, and a well stocked Hospitality tray.
EMMA'S ROOM: Now with a King size bed with en-suite shower and the original 'thunder box'. Views of lower garden and croquet lawn.
THE RECTOR'S ROOM: One super king double bed, which can be arranged as two single beds. Views of the garden. En-suite bathroom with a luxury whirlpool bath and shower over. If you would like twin beds please advise us on booking.
MR. HARDY'S ROOM: Antique carved double bed, En-suite bathroom with large power shower. Views of the surrounding countryside.
THE OLD STABLE: The Old Stable is situated at the rear of the house and has its own separate entrance. Breakfast is served in the house.
Recently converted and centrally heated throughout and with its own wood burning stove. It has a king size double bed, a sofa bed and its own ensuite with a bath and shower.
Activities
Beaches
The North Cornish coast is well known for its Surf and for those looking for beaches there are several to choose from. Heading north there are: - Strangles, Crackington Haven, Widemouth and 2 beaches at Bude.
Bude - 13 miles
A thriving seaside town with two beaches, and for those who like to give the beach a miss, you have the Canal to walk along side. There is an interesting museum and a wide range of shops. The Rebel cinema is only 9 miles from here.
Wadebridge - 15 miles
With its new Bypass this has become a rejuvenated town. You can hire a bike and cycle to Padstow along the Camel trail (A disused railway track) and in the opposite direction to the foot hills of Bodmin Moor. Wadebridge has a cinema and many small delightful shops.
Travel Options
- Nearest Airport : Exeter at 60 miles distance;
- Nearest Train Station : Bodmin Parkway at 32 miles distance
- Nearest Town : Camelford at 8 miles distance
- Travel Info: The Old Rectory is within an hours drive of the M5 at Exeter. From the M5 at Exeter keep going until you get to junction 31 where the Motorway divides into two the A38 and A30. Take the left lane marked A30 to Okehampton - Launceston - Bodmin.
When arriving in Cornwall stay on the A30 for about 2 miles past Launceston and take the exit marked Kennards House(A395). To North Cornwall, Wadebridge, Camelford and Bude. You will then drive over the dual carriage way and turn left.
After a few miles on this road you will drive through a village Pipers Pool. You will then pass through a wind farm and then on the right you will pass a plantation and a Pub on the right called Wilsey Down at Hallworthy. Here there are two right turns. You need the second right (B3262) Marked Otterham Station and Bude. (The first one is marked Canworthy Water do not take this one)
Keep on this road until you come to a T-Junction turn right to Bude (A39)
Take the next left marked Boscastle, Crackington, Marshgate and Tresparett.
Keep on this road until you come to a crossroads and turn left to Boscastle
Up the hill over the brow and you will see the Atlantic ocean on the way down the hill you will see our road sign and a sign to St Juliot Church and Lesnewth follow this and you will come to our entrance about ¾ of a mile on the right hand side. Drive down the track beside the farm.
There is ample room for turning and parking outside our house.
If you are in Boscastle we are well sign posted from the B3263 Boscastle to Bude road.
