Christian Holiday Farmhouse, Exmoor | Perfect Farm Stay, Sleeps 10

Christian Holiday Farmhouse, Exmoor — Near an 800-Year-Old Village Church

Ovis Farmhouse is home to Peter and Brioney Simpson, local pastors who open up their big farmhouse on the edge of Exmoor National Park to Christian guests throughout the year. It’s a genuinely working sheep farm rather than a converted holiday let, and that lived-in, welcoming character carries through everything from the Aga-cooked kitchen to the freedom to pray, sing or hold a Bible study in peace during your stay. Guests are given the run of their own guest living room, kitchen and landings, with the Simpsons close by if wanted but never intrusive.

Two and a half miles down the road, the village of Bratton Fleming has a parish church with a history stretching back well over eight hundred years. The village itself takes its unusual name from Erchenbold le Flemynge, a Fleming who was granted the manor here shortly after the Norman Conquest and made it his home, adding his own name to the older Saxon settlement of Bratton recorded in the Domesday Book. St Peter’s Church traces its first recorded rector to 1213, a man named William de Raleigh who went on to become a royal justice and, eventually, Bishop of Norwich and then Bishop of Winchester, despite a famously stormy relationship with King Henry III along the way — a remarkable career for someone who began his ministry in this small North Devon parish. The oldest surviving fabric of the church, in the north chancel chapel, dates from the 14th century, though the building has been rebuilt more than once since: the tower collapsed onto the nave at the end of the 17th century, and further major rebuilding followed in the 1850s and 1860s.

What makes St Peter’s particularly fitting for a stay at Ovis Farmhouse is its more recent history. Rather than the Anglican and Methodist congregations in the village continuing along separate paths, they eventually joined together to worship as one church, sharing the same building. When the old Methodist chapel and schoolroom were no longer needed, they were sold, and the proceeds helped fund a modern extension to St Peter’s itself. It’s a small, practical example of exactly the kind of broad, unfussy Christian welcome guests find at Ovis Farmhouse — different traditions, different backgrounds, gathered around the same table.

With Exmoor’s ponies, moorland and coastline all within easy reach, and North Devon’s beaches a short drive further out, Ovis Farmhouse offers a genuinely restful, unhurried base, hosted by pastors who understand exactly what a proper break looks like — and who know the value of a village, like Bratton Fleming, where different Christian traditions have learned to worship comfortably under one roof. For more options nearby, HolyHols lists further Christian holiday accommodation across the South West of England.

Perfect for:

Families and larger groups needing five bedrooms across two guest staircases
Guests wanting a genuine working-farm experience, including lambing season
Those seeking a quiet, prayerful space to relax without pressure or interference
Walkers exploring Exmoor National Park and the surrounding countryside
Anyone drawn to a warm welcome from hosts who are themselves in ministry

Location

Ovis Farmhouse, Bratton Fleming, Barnstaple, North Devon EX31 4TP

How to get there:

Normally by car.

Public transport option:

Train to Barnstaple; bus to Bratton Fleming; taxi from Bratton Fleming village to the farm, or all the way out of Barnstaple on the Bratton Fleming Road.

Nearest Towns:

Bratton Fleming village 2.5 miles, Barnstaple 8 miles, Combe Martin 10 miles, South Molton 12 miles.

Local Area

We are on a working sheep farm, with private access to amazing walks across the fields, through ancient woodland and along the river Bray. You may be able to see deer, buzzards, otters, kingfishers, foxes, squirrels, pheasants and a host of other countryside creatures. The woods are particularly stunning when the bluebells are in bloom. You can often hear owls at night.

Please follow the Countryside Code when out walking.

No heavy machinery is used on the farm as it is not agricultural, but you may hear the quad, the odd small tractor and a lot of sheep!

You may also have the chance to experiencing the lambing season, and even bottle-feed a tame lamb.

We are on the boundary of Exmoor National Park, with its many walks, ponies and areas of outstanding beauty.

Bratton Fleming shop, 2 ½ miles away, sells all the basics. The staff are friendly and helpful.

Barnstaple, 8 miles away, has a range of supermarkets: Tesco, Sainsburys, Lidle, Aldi, M&S etc.

Many pub meals are within a range of 5 miles.

Exmoor Zoo is just up the road, and we are within easy driving distance of Exmoor National Park.

A range of beautiful beaches are a drive away, including Westward Ho!, Woolacombe, Saunton, Instow and Croyde

Facilities

Hello. We are local pastors and Ovis Farmhouse is our home. It is a very big house with a separate guest living room and big kitchen/dining room on the ground floor for our guest’s sole use. There are 2 separate (and steep) staircases leading to private guest landings. On the 1st floor is a shower/toilet. 5 bedrooms and a shower/bath/toilet are on the 2nd floor.
A 3rd toilet is located in the front porch.

Sleeping provision consist of 1 triple room (a double and a single), a further double, and 3 single rooms. All bedding is provided. (Another single bed is possible, but please bear in mind there are only 2 showers and 1 bath!)

The living room is equipped with TV, board games, books and toys.

The big and beautiful dining room doubles up as a fully equipped kitchen, with an easy-to-use oil-fed aga. Just pop food in the ovens, or place pans on the hotplates. It’s that simple. There is a big table that sits 10, and an extremely useful ‘lazy Susan’ above the aga for drying clothes on rainy days. Toaster, microwave, airfryer and coffee machine are provided.

You will have your own fridge and freezer, washing machine and dishwasher located in the front porch.

Your break will be self-catering, but tea/coffee/sugar and all the basics are provided.

We have our own natural water supply of excellent quality, although the pressure may not be what you’re used to!

There is freedom to relax, pray, sing or have Bible study time in peaceful surroundings. There is a very large garden and a fire-pit. You can enjoy a picnic or BBQ. There are a couple of friendly chickens that wander around, and we have 4 tame sheep in the adjoining field. There are also 2 house cats, who aren’t allowed access to the guest areas.

There is WIFI and (limited) phone signal, and plenty of car-parking space.

When we are home, you are only likely to see us in the downstairs hall, or outside. We are happy to leave you to yourselves, or have a chat in you like.