If, like us, you’re into UK staycations that are full of character and offer something extra special, then I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy a stay in The Barn at Lower Birch Farmhouse in Stoke Rivers, North Devon. Surrounded by a pretty patchwork of rolling fields, this beautifully renovated barn makes a peaceful couples’ retreat where you can truly switch off and unwind from the regular everyday busyness. The U-shaped interior is deceptively spacious, bursting with pops of colour and charming 70’s retro touches.
You really don’t need to travel far in the UK to have an epic adventure. Whilst staying in this beautifully restored barn in Stoke Rivers, we discovered some fantastic North Devon gems along parts of the South West Coast Path – i’ll share some suggestions later.
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Location of Stoke Rivers
The Barn is tucked away in the small village of Stoke Rivers in North Devon. It’s fairly remote, so be prepared for some classic single-lane country roads with grass sprouting up the middle!
Coming from Somerset, we’re quite accustomed to these kinds of roads. But if you’re not, just take your time, go slow, and be prepared to reverse. Stoke Rivers is roughly a 20 minute drive from Barnstaple, which is the largest town in North Devon, a great base for shopping and dining if you want to venture out.
Kitchen and dining area at The Lower Birch Farmhouse Barn
How pretty is this bright and airy kitchen? I loved the huge vaulted ceilings, muted green cabinets, and that vibrant pop of colour from the orange Le Creuset stove-top kettle.
Not only was this kitchen a delight for the eyes and spotlessly clean, it was also extremely well equipped. If you felt like it, you could easily knock up a full Sunday roast!
Our lovely Airbnb hosts, Katie and Julian, provided a wonderful welcome hamper that included a pint of fresh milk, a bottle of prosecco, half a dozen eggs (from their hens), and a delicious loaf of homemade sourdough bread.
There were also all the essentials like salt, pepper, vinegar, oil, tea, coffee, and sugar – and even glass Kilner jars stocked with rice, pasta, and oats. (That’s a lovely touch we’ve never seen at other Airbnbs!) Under the Belfast sink, you’ll find cleaning supplies, and if you do cook up a storm, there’s a dishwasher to do the hard work for you.
As for dining, the 70s-style wooden drop-leaf table and chairs make a perfect spot to enjoy a tasty meal together.
The barns living room
Down the other end of the open-plan space is a lovely lounge area. James especially appreciated the “Cream then Jam” art, as he’s the only one in our household who agrees with that! The rest of us are team Cornwall.
It was a ridiculously hot weekend during our stay (although the barn stayed perfectly cool) so we didn’t get to light the wood burner, but I can imagine just how cosy it would feel with the fire roaring. Katie and Julian provide plenty of logs too, with more available for a small fee if you burn through them all.
The navy blue sofa is comfy enough for two people to sit back and relax. After a long day walking part of the South West Coast Path, we loved chilling here with Celebrity Gogglebox and some cheesy game shows on the smart TV (you can log into your Netflix account too if you want to continue your current series binge). On the bookshelf, you’ll find a good selection of books and local guides for inspiration on walks and activities. Perfect if the British weather turns bad and you’d prefer a cozy reading day back at the barn.
Retro industrial styled bathroom
This fairly small, monochrome bathroom oozes so much character. The white subway tiles and geometric floor tiles pair perfectly with the moody black walls, exposed copper pipework, and quirky industrial aesthetic that they have going on in here. Whilst the high-cistern toilet and the enamaled bucket style basin added a real retro charm to the room.
There’s a large walk-in shower in here with both a monsoon shower-head and a regular shower hose option. The only small gripe we had was that the mixer tap was a bit fiddly to adjust to the perfect temperature. But once set, the water pressure was fantastic and there was no shortage of hot water for both of us to shower. Our hosts had thoughtfully provided some hand soap and shower gel for us to use too, which was beautifully displayed in a couple of amber glass bottles.
I also loved the bright yellow sliding barn door, they used the exact same brackets we did when building our own sliding barn door.
Spacious Bedroom with an extra surprise!
Not only is this airy bedroom spacious, there’s also a free standing bath tub in here – and its pink!
The pretty freestanding, dusty-pink bath is tucked into the corner of the room and sits right beneath the window. It looked so inviting, and as someone who can happily spend an hour soaking in a hot bubbly bath, I was super excited for this. Sadly it was just way too hot during our stay to put it to good use!
We both found the kingsize bed comfy and quickly drifted off to sleep after our long day of exploring North Devon. The bed was dressed beautifully in blue linen sheets, a yellow cushion, and a pretty ditsy floral throw. The only thing we noticed was that the linen was a bit scratchier than cotton – so if you have super-sensitive skin, you might want to pack your own.
If you’re staying for a little while and want to unpack your suitcase, there’s a wooden chest of drawers and exposed hanging rail behind the door, providing plenty of space to unpack and feel settled.
You’ll also find a hair dyer and iron in the bedroom should you need it.
A minor suggestion
If there was one thing we’d change, it would be to add blinds to the yellow corridor by the entrance. It’s not a busy spot at all, but other guests at the nearby shepherd’s hut and glamping tent might pass by when walking to their cars.
It’s no issue during the day, but at night the windows face directly into the bathroom, so if someone was outside just as you switched the light on, they’d be able to see you.
Outside space at The Barn
The barn comes with a spacious courtyard which is completely private. Theres some flourishing plants out here, including a fiery Acer tree, along with a bright pink bistro set, and small fire-pit. It’s a lovely extra space to enjoy your morning coffee together in the sunshine or toast marshmallows under the stars at night.
Sadly you can’t enjoy the views of rolling fields from out here as it’s enclosed. It looks like the Shepherds hut comes with the best views.
Parking space
There’s your own dedicated parking spot right outside the barn, so you don’t need to worry about parking or having to carry your belongings far. To get to it, you’ll drive past the main farmhouse, but Katie and Julian provided detailed directions and photos beforehand, making it super easy to find.
Things to do near Stoke Rivers
Where do I start? North Devon is a dream if you love walking and the outdoors. During our stay, we tackled a fantastic (but challenging) walk along the South West Coast Path – more on that soon!
We also visited Tarr Steps (although the circular walk was closed for bridge repairs), but we still had a lovely wander and enjoyed a delicious cream tea at the pub.
Depending on where you’re coming from, some other great options include:
- The Valley of Rocks near Minehead (30 mins drive)
- Lydford Gorge to see the Whitelady waterfall (1 hour 15 mins drive)
- Dunkery Beacon – the highest point in Somerset (45 mins drive)
- Wimbleball Lake – where you can see an impressive dam (55 mins drive)
Otherwise you could head into the coastal towns of Ilfracombe or Combe Martin, or try surfing at Woolacombe Bay. Barnstable is the largest town to explore, making it a good option if you want to peruse the shops.
Final thoughts on our stay
Our stay at The Barn in Stoke Rivers didn’t disappoint. It made a wonderful North Devon bolthole for two, and we only wish we could have stayed longer to soak up more of the barn itself and this gorgeous part of Devon. Our hosts kindly allowed us to stay a couple hours longer as nobody else was checking in that day, which was a lovely surprise and very appreciated.
If you’re looking for a peaceful, spacious, fully equipped base in a fantastic location for exploring North Devon, we’d definitely recommend a stay in The Barn at Lower Birch Farmhouse. We loved it!
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