Taw
Devon, United Kingdom
Welcombe Meadow
- Safari tent for 6 from £124 per night (read our low price promise)
- Two double and two single beds
Suitable for children of all ages
Pets welcome
Overview
Welcombe Meadow is at once disconnected and packed with kit – books and board games, plenty of plugs, a TV for movie nights snuggled under blankets on the big squashy leather sofa and WiFi too (ask for it to be switched off if you’d prefer to go back to basics). It’s slap bang between the moors of Exmoor and Dartmoor and surrounded by wildflower meadows where rabbits and deer roam. The two tents here are named after local rivers (the one next door being Torridge) – both of which you can walk along – and are angled to enjoy the view, but close enough that you could take over both for a big family bash. Cook together on the wood-burning stove or have the pizza oven wheeled over to your tent and gather at the table for campfire feasts. You've also got a large grass area where you can roll out the mats for a morning yoga session or play games with the family. Lying back in the hammock to stare at the million-tog duvet of stars above you is a real treat – only the neighbouring sheep and cattle break the silence.
Creature comforts are plentiful, with mains water feeding the hot shower and a proper flushing loo. You’re close to the stoned access path – no chance of muddy boots here – and a short stroll from the communal area with its fire pit for crackling gatherings. Walk over the rope bridge and off across the fields, or venture further to the beach at Woolacombe or to cycle the Tarka Trail; keen fishing folk will relish the closeness to Bideford for crabbing on the quay, or fly fishing on the River Mole. Owners Bob and Mel are happy for you to roam or ask for advice – they’re both technology teachers who’ve turned their hands – and skills – to creating a peaceful place to stay. They’ll put together barbecue or breakfast hampers with homemade bread and Mel’s legendary cakes, and they'll point you in the direction of the great community store in the village for the rest of the essentials.
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 pm
- Check out: 12 pm
- One of the double beds is in a cabin style arrangement
- Please bring wellies and a coat to explore the farm
- Torches are provided
- Mobile phone signal
- WiFi
- A complimentary basket of firewood is provided, then additional available at £5 per basket
- Up to two additional tents per safari tent can be pitched for £25 per tent per night (up to 4-man tent), please call to enquire & book. Bring your own tents and bedding.
- Sleeping arrangements
- Two double and two single beds
Extra space available
Space for 2 babies no charge. Travel cots and high chairs are provided
Space for 2 pets from £25 per pet per stay must be well behaved
Cooking
- Wood-burning stove
- Two ring gas burner
- BBQ
- Fire pit
- Fridge freezer
- Fully equipped kitchen
Washing
- Shower pod attached to tent
- Flushing toilet in pod attached to tent
- Bathroom toiletries provided
Heating, lighting & bedding
- Bed linen and towels provided
- Wood-burner
- Electric blankets
- Electric lighting
- Solar lights on pathways
- Plug sockets available, plus one external
Entertainment
- Range of board games and local guides
Getting there
Welcombe Meadow, Welcombe, High Bickington, Umberleigh, Devon, EX37 9BJ
By car
From the M5
From Junction 27, take the A361 head towards Barnstaple. At the second roundabout take the first exit onto the B3227, South Molton. Drive through the town, after sharp right turn, turn left onto West Street - B3227 to Torrington. Take this road to Umberleigh, turn right after bridge onto the A377. Turn left onto the B3227, Atherington. In village turn left, opposite church, to High Bickington. After approx 1 mile turn very sharp right, just after white house on right. Follow lane for 400 yards. Welcombe Meadow is on the left.
From Barnstaple
Take the A377 towards Exeter. After approx 4 miles, after garage on right, turn right onto the B3227, Atherington. In village turn left, opposite church, to High Bickington. After approx 1 mile turn very sharp right, just after white house on right. Follow lane for 400 yards. Welcombe Meadow is on the left.
Parking is around 100 yards from the safari tents
By public transport
You can take the train from Exeter St. Davids to Barnstaple and it runs every hour. Get off the train at Umberleigh and Welcombe Meadow is a five minute drive. The owners are happy to collect guests from the station. P.S. You will need to let the conductor know that you want to get off at Umberleigh - it doesn't always stop!
The nearest bus stop is a half a mile into the village but only two buses run per day
Food & Drink
At Welcombe Meadow
Locally blended tea, coffee and milk all provided
A range of breakfast and meal hampers are available, with locally grown and sourced produce where possible
Pizza oven (can be wheeled over to your tent) - must be organised with the owners in advance
Local shops
There is a great community shop in the village, 5-minutes away, offering a good range of food and drink, plus coffee and cakes. The shop also sells arts and craft gifts which have been made by locals in the local community.
Pubs & restaurants
Broomhill Sculpture Garden (30-minutes) - Fabulous venue for tapas and slow food
The Boathouse, Instow (30-minutes) - Great food with incredible estuary views
The George, High Bickington (5-minute walk) - Good food, great beer and amazing atmosphere with only a short walk from Welcombe meadow
Activities
At Welcombe Meadow
Explore the farm and venture over the wobbly bridge
Games room with basketball, climbing wall, table tennis, skittles, maps and much more!
Large grass area next to the tent where you can play games, laze on the hammock or even have a picnic
Places to visit
There are a host of great local towns and villages, South Molton, Torrington and Barnstaple plus some lovely smaller spots.
Take time to visit RHS Rosemoor, just 15 mins away or Dolton Mill on the Hartland peninsular for fantastic displays of flowers and gardens.
For the children there are lots of great activity centres, including The Big Sheep, The Milky Way, Funderzone, The Waie Inn and Quince Honey Farm, South Molton.
Other attractions include all the fabulous beaches, Wollacombe, Croyde, Saunton, Instow, Westward Ho!, Puttsburough plus loads or others.
Exmoor and Dartmoor are just 30 minutes way in opposite directions, both visible from the farm.
Outdoor & active
We have some amazing costal walks, taking in local towns and villages, or more remote but with stunning views. Venture onto the moors, Exmoor and Dartmoor, or talk a stroll by the local rivers Taw and Torridge. There is the Tarka Trail for cycling, only 15 minutes away, stretching from Braunton, along the coast to Meeth and the reclaimed quarry pits. Along the route are great beaches, places to eat and enjoy the scenery.
Many beaches offer surfing, paddleboarding and other watersports. Try a fishing trip from Bideford or go crabbing along the quays. You can book a fly fishing session on the Mole, a small local river, or go coarse fishing at Staddon Moor Fisheries, day tickets available.
For the more adventurous, try a flight from Eaglescott Airfield, or have a round of golf at Libberton Golf Club. Alternatively pamper yourself at High Bullen with it’s golf course, spa treatments, swimming pool and new Laura Ashley Tearoom (booking advisable).
Other activities include glass bead making in the village, a trip to the Adventure Centre in Bideford where you can climb the high ropes, practice your archery skills – paintball as well.
Meet your hosts
Meet Bob and Mel
Mel & Bob are both teachers who aspired to do something a little different, Bob’s family have a farm in North Devon and this offered the perfect opportunity to branch out. After selling their house in Plymouth the couple, with their son Oliver, moved into the farmhouse (with Bob’s Mum!) and started their business, both still teaching in local schools. The site has been running for 5 years now, Torridge being the latest tent. It has allowed the pair to put into practice their experience (Mel’s background is hospitality and teaches food technology, Bob’s is engineering and design). Mel and Bob gain great satisfaction from seeing their guests enjoying what they’ve built up and giving fabulous feedback.
Wildlife & environment
Welcombe Meadow is situated on a small farm, although not run as a working farm ( the land is rented out to a local farmer.) Guests can expect to see sheep and cows in the adjoining fields. Located in a meadow, guest will also see buzzards, kestrels, owls (if up early enough!) plus rabbits and if they’re lucky foxes and deer which are regular visitors to the site. Common woodpeckers have been seen on the woods, plus a red kite. The site has no street lighting, only low-level solar lights on the paths meaning that on a clear night the night sky is amazing. There is also an abundance of wildflowers in the meadow and hedgerows, these include: common birdsfoot trefoil, primroses, wild garlic, valerian, foxglove plus many more. There are established trees all around the farm supporting a myriad of wildlife, including a rare elm by the stream. The farm, although not organic, is managed with conservation in mind. Mel and Bob use minimal sprays and wherever possible encourage wildlife, with hedgehog houses, a bug mansion and low impact farm management.
Our guests say...
Absolutely fabulous, even though the weather was disappointing, the safari tent was cosy and comfortable for all 5 of us. Loved having the log burner and the electric blankets were a real luxury. Mel and Bob were welcoming and passionate about their creation with little touches added to make our stay extra special.
12/08/2019John
We had a wonderful stay at Taw with our 2yo daughter and dog. Mel and Bob were really welcoming hosts and the tent was stocked with cake, tea bags and milk on arrival. The decor inside was lovely and felt so homely and you really do have all the luxuries whilst having the benefit of waking up surrounded by nature. We found the location beautiful and a fantastic base for exploring North Devon. We would definitely recommend it.
02/08/2019Charlotte
An absolutely amazing experience. There were so many thoughtful little touches I lost count of them all. Here are just a few: electric blankets on the beds, egg hunt for Easter, pizzas with home made wild garlic pesto, well stocked games room with maps showing places to visit.
21/04/2019Alexandra
We spent a cosy December night here and were warmed by the log burner and copious blankets. The tent is full of creature comforts, roomy enough for six and has everything to cook big dinners. There's tons of space around and Bob and Mel are very welcoming, relaxed and happy for you to roam.
03/12/2018Patrick for Canopy & Stars
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Booking Terms
Canopy & Stars low price promise
Book with us in confidence knowing you won’t find that place cheaper elsewhere. All of the prices we display are set and matched by our Owners. (In this world of foreign currency, we do have to say 'subject to exchange rates' for some of our European places.)
What does ‘from price’ mean?
Our ‘from price’ is based on a four night stay in low season and designed to help you to compare different prices across our collection. Some of our Owners vary their nightly rates and check in days throughout the year, so it may differ from the rate quoted below the calendar. It is quite common (although by no means universal) for places to charge a little more in peak season or for shorter stays, to cover changeover costs. Consider booking longer stays during the cooler months if you’re looking for the lowest nightly rates.
Agency Terms & Conditions
Except where otherwise specified, we Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd Company No 09088366 of Merchants House, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RW act only as an Agent in respect of all bookings we take and/or make on your behalf. Sawday’s Canopy & Stars is part of the Alastair Sawday’s Group of Companies. We accept no liability in relation to any contract you enter into or for any services or arrangements you purchase (“Booking(s)”) or for the acts or omissions of any supplier(s) or other person(s) or party(ies) connected with any Booking. For all Bookings, your contract will be with the supplier of the Booking in question, and in most cases this will be the owner of the property you’ll be staying at (“Owner(s)”). When making your Booking we will arrange for you to enter into a contract with the Owner of the Booking. Your Booking with us is subject to these Agency Terms & Conditions and any specific booking conditions of the relevant Owner(s) you contract with. The Owner’s booking conditions may limit and/or exclude the Owner’s liability to you.
You may decide to make more than one Booking with us at the same time. The price charged in total for more than one Booking will always equal the prices charged separately for each individual Booking. All Bookings are available to be purchased separately at the same price as they are when more than one Booking is made. This means that any multiple Bookings do not constitute a package as defined in the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992.
By making a booking, you agree that:-
- you have read these Agency Terms & Conditions and agree to be bound by them;
- you consent to our use of your information in accordance with our Privacy Policy;
and
- you are over 18 years of age and where there may be age restrictions in place, you declare that you and all members of your party are of the appropriate age.
The Canopy & Stars online booking system enables Guests to make Bookings 24 hours a day. A Booking is confirmed on receipt of a 25% non-refundable deposit for all Bookings with check in dates of more than 10 weeks away. For all Bookings that have a check in date of less than 10 weeks before check in, payment for the Booking will be required in full and the entire Booking will be non-refundable. The Canopy & Stars telephone booking line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm. When using the online enquiry form, for those Properties without online booking, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the Booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours (Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm). Online or email enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment. Therefore, if possible, we do recommend that you book on the Canopy & Stars website using the online booking system.
1. Booking and payments
1.1 In order to confirm your chosen Booking, you must pay a non-refundable deposit as required by the Owner of the Booking in question (or full payment if booking within 10 weeks of the date of your check-in).
1.2 Your Booking is confirmed and a contract between you and the Owner will exist when we receive payment of the deposit and send you a booking confirmation on the Owner’s behalf. This booking confirmation will normally be sent out within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, and will contain the details of your Booking and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk). Please check your confirmation carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately. As we act only as booking Agent, we have no responsibility for any errors in any documentation except where an error is made by us.
1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. We automatically take the balance payment using the same card as used to make the deposit payment. It is your reponsibility to advise us if we should use a different card and to contact us by telephone (0117 204 7830) to arrange for alternative payment method. If the balance payment does not successfully go through as there is a problem with your card, such as it expiring, then we will contact you to try and take alternative payment. If we have been unable to take payment after two weeks of the balance due date, then with regret, we will notify the Owner who may cancel your Booking.
1.4 Except where otherwise advised or stated in the booking conditions of the Owner concerned, all monies you pay to us for a Booking will be held on behalf of the Owner(s) concerned.
1.5 Credit Card payments are processed via Alastair Sawday’s Publishing Co. Ltd who provide merchants services facilities to Sawday’s Canopy & Stars Ltd.
2. Cancellation and Amendment by You
2.1 Any cancellation or amendment request must be sent to us by email (bookings@canopyandstars.co.uk) and will be considered and responded to within one working day of receipt. You are also advised to confirm all changes to our Customer Services Department by calling 0117 204 7830. Please ensure that you have received written confirmation of any changes to your Booking prior to travel. Whilst we will always try to help, we cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
2.2 Amendments and cancellations can only be accepted in accordance with the booking conditions of the Owner of your Arrangements. The Owner may charge the cancellation or amendment charges shown in their booking conditions (which may be as much as 100% of the cost of the Arrangements and will normally increase closer to the date of departure). The Owner may charge cancellation or amendment charges in accordance with its own booking conditions, however for the sake of convenience only, we have outlined the Owner’s charges at clause 2.3 and 2.4 below. Please note that these are the Owner’s own cancellation and amendments charges, not Canopy & Stars’, and therefore the Owner may vary their charges as they wish, without notice to us. The correct charges will be notified to you at the time of your cancellation or amendments.
2.3 Owner’s General Cancellation Charges:
2.3.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.
2.3.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.
2.3.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.
2.3.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.
2.4 Owner’s General Amendment Charges:
2.4.1 Alterations to your Booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations are subject to availability and may incur a £30 adminstration fee.
2.4.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.
Special note: Generally Owners will charge the above cancellation and amendment charges, however we must stress that these are a guide only and charges may differ from those shown here depending on the Owner. The exact charges will be notified to you by the Owner at the time of cancellation and/or can be found in the Owner’s own booking conditions which are available from the Owner on request.
3. Changes and Cancellations by the Owner
We will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if the Owner needs to make a significant change to your confirmed Arrangements or to cancel them. We will also liaise between you and the Owner in relation to any alternative Booking offered by the Owner but we will have no further liability to you.
4. Complaints
Because the contract for your Booking is between you and the Owner, any queries or concerns should be addressed to them. In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner as soon as possible. If you don’t follow this procedure there will be less opportunity for the Owner to investigate and resolve your complaint and so make your stay as enjoyable as possible. Delays may also mean that amount of compensation you may be entitled to may be reduced. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback. It’s important to us and the Owner to know that you’ve enjoyed your stay or if anything could have been improved.
5. Pricing
Canopy & Stars reserve the right to amend advertised prices at any time on behalf of the Owner. We also reserve the right to correct errors in both advertised and confirmed prices.Special note: changes and errors sometimes occur.
6. Information & Accuracy
The information and prices shown on this website are varied from time to time and may change between the time you first view a property and make a Booking. You should check that all the details are as you expect prior to making a Booking. It is always possible that, despite our best efforts, some of the properties (including the features and extras available) may be incorrectly described and/or priced. If we discover this is the case after you have made a Booking, we reserve the right to contact you with details of the correct information and/or pricing and will give you the option to:
(1) proceed with the Booking based on the correct information and/or pricing, which may require the payment of an additional amount by you;
OR
(2) subject to availability, change your booking dates to dates when the pricing can be honoured ad so no additional charge to you. In the event that a lower price can be offered for alternative dates then the difference would be refunded;
OR
(3) cancel the Booking. If we do not receive your instructions within 5 days of contacting you, we reserve the right to cancel your Booking without liability to you.
7. Our Responsibility for your Booking
Your contract is with the Owner and its booking conditions apply. As Agent, we accept no responsibility for the actual provision of the Booking. Our responsibilities are limited to making the Booking in accordance with your instructions and acting properly in accordance with our legal duties as an Agent. We accept no responsibility for any information about the Booking that we pass on to you in good faith. However, in the event that we are found liable to you on any basis whatsoever, our maximum liability to you is limited to twice the cost of your Booking (or the appropriate proportion of this if not everyone on the Booking is affected). We do not exclude or limit any liability for death or personal injury that arises as a result of our negligence or that of any of our employees whilst acting in the course of their employment.
8. Pets
Not all properties accept pets. If you wish to take your pet on holiday, please advise us before booking and we can check whether pets are accepted at the property. You must obtain the prior consent of the Owner before taking any pets to the property. A nightly charge may be made by the Owner for each pet and additional terms may apply.
9. VAT
Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable, the tax is included in the advertised holiday rental price.
10. Visa, passport and health requirements.
Unless you tell us otherwise, we assume that all members of your party are British citizens who hold or will hold full British passports valid for the entire duration of the Arrangements you chose to purchase. Information on visa, passport and health requirements, where given and applicable, is so given on this basis. Requirements may change and you are therefore strongly recommended to check the up to date position with the Owner of the Booking, Passport Office, appropriate embassy or consulate or your doctor as applicable in good time before the commencement of your holiday.
11. Insurance
You are strongly recommended to take out personal travel insurance for all members of your party. It is your responsibility to ensure that the insurance you purchase is adequate and appropriate for your particular needs. Please read your policy details and take them with you on holiday.
12. Special requests
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the Owner, but unfortunately, we can't guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
13. Group Bookings
Not all Owners accept Bookings for a single sex group (for example, a stag or hen party). Guests wanting to make such a Booking should check with us beforehand to enable us to check whether the Owner is prepared to accept the Booking. We will then advise you accordingly. In event that an Owner does not accept this type of Booking then it is with regret, that the Booking may be cancelled and cancellation fees may apply. It is the Guest’s responsibility to enquire with Canopy & Stars and/or check on our website beforehand to make sure that this type of booking is permitted.
14. Maximum Numbers
Please note that except by prior arrangement confirmed in writing, only the number of persons specified on a booking confirmation may occupy a property. Most owners reserve the right to refuse admittance or revoke a booking if this condition is not observed and you are unlikely to receive any refund.
15. Your Responsibilities
Please note that you have a contract with the Owner of the property. As such you are under a responsibility to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner whilst staying at the property with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. You are responsible for informing the Owner of any losses or damage to the property as soon as possible. Please note that you will be liable to pay the Owner for any losses or damage to the property caused by you or a member of your party (except reasonable wear and tear). Some Owners will also require damage deposits. You must also leave the property by the check-out time specified on your booking. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period and/or refuse any future bookings from you. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property. As agent, we will have no liability to you in these circumstances.
16. Governing Law and Jurisdiction
These terms and conditions have been drafted in accordance with and are governed by English law and the courts of England and Wales have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any and all disputes arising out of these Agency Terms & Conditions.
17. Discrepancies
In case of a discrepancy between these Agency Terms & Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Agency Terms & Conditions shall prevail.
18. Validity clause
In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Agency Terms & Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Agency Terms & Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.
Absolutely fabulous, even though the weather was disappointing, the safari tent was cosy and comfortable for all 5 of us. Loved having the log burner and the electric blankets were a real luxury. Mel and Bob were welcoming and passionate about their creation with little touches added to make our stay extra special.
12/08/2019