Christian Holiday Cottage, Exmoor

Christian Holiday Cottage, Exmoor — Near a Church Built on Silver

This Christian holiday cottage, Exmoor, was once a farm-worker’s cottage at Stowford, buried down a single-track lane on the western edge of the National Park, with tall hedges around a large garden and Exmoor’s open moorland at the top of the lane. It sleeps five across two bedrooms, simple and comfortable rather than luxurious, and makes an easy base for both Exmoor itself and the North Devon coast, with Bratton Fleming, Challacombe, and Combe Martin all within a few miles, and Exmoor Zoo just half a mile up the lane.

Combe Martin, eight miles north at the coast, holds one of the more unexpected churches in Devon. St Peter ad Vincula is one of only fifteen churches in England dedicated to “St Peter in Chains,” and its scale, a 99-foot Somerset-style tower rising over a village of one long street nearly two miles from end to end, was paid for by medieval silver mining wealth. Combe Martin’s silver is said to have helped fund Crown Jewels and to have paid towards the war costs of both Edward III and Henry V, an improbable amount of national history bound up in one small Devon parish.

Inside, the church holds a genuine rarity: a fifteenth-century rood screen with its original painted panels of saints largely intact, one of relatively few in England to survive the Reformation’s iconoclasm, and still under active conservation today. Local folklore also points to the nave’s slight but deliberate lean to the north, said by tradition to echo the tilt of Christ’s head on the cross, a small detail worth looking for on any visit, alongside a font dated to around 1427 and a sixteenth-century oak poor chest.

Inland, up on Challacombe Common, stands the Longstone, the tallest standing stone on Exmoor at around nine feet, part of a wider Bronze Age landscape that includes the Chapman Barrows, a row of a dozen burial mounds strung out along the ridge above the village and still visible on the skyline today. Nobody now knows exactly what the stone marked or why, but people have been leaving their mark on this particular stretch of moorland for well over three thousand years, long before any church tower rose above Combe Martin.

Lynton and Lynmouth, on the coast to the northeast, are worth the drive for the Cliff Railway alone: a Victorian funicular opened in 1890 that still runs entirely on water power, no electricity or steam involved, carrying passengers up and down the 500-foot cliff between the two villages. Lynmouth itself was rebuilt after a devastating flood in 1952, and the harbour and coastal path today give little sign of that history beyond a small memorial and museum telling the story.

The wider South West region is worth browsing for anyone planning a longer trip, and the Historic England listing for St Peter ad Vincula has more detail for anyone keen to look closer before visiting. Between silver-funded church towers, standing stones on the moor, a water-powered Victorian railway, and Exmoor’s own quiet wildness, there’s a surprising amount of history packed into this small corner of North Devon.

Perfect for:

Families and activity holidays, with Exmoor Zoo half a mile up the lane
Clergy and church staff, already priced in as regular guests here
History lovers keen to see Combe Martin’s silver-funded church and rood screen
Walkers wanting easy access to Exmoor, Woolacombe, and Lynton/Lynmouth
Anyone drawn to ancient landscapes, with Bronze Age barrows close by
Dog owners, with one well-behaved dog welcome for a small charge

Location

Park Cottage, Stowford, Bratton Fleming, North Devon EX31 4SG

Arrive by road on A399 and turn off and down single track road to this retreat.

(It would just be possible to take train to Barnstaple and then bus which is not very frequent, to the cross roads at to top of our lane. But we think that you really need a car to enjoy all the interest and amenities around).

Nearest Town(s) Bratton Fleming and Challacombe

Local Area

There are village stores 2 ½ miles in either direction. One in Challacombe where there are also cream teas and where the Black Venus pub does excellent meals. The other village store is in Bratton Fleming which also has a small café. There are excellent eating places in other villages around. There are choices of supermarkets and shops in Coombe Martin, in Barnstaple and South Moulton.

The cottage is on the western edge of Exmoor and surrounded by countryside on all sides. It is buried down a single-track lane. All the wonders of Exmoor open out at the top of the lane. It is half a mile walking distance to the Exmoor Zoo.

The beach at Coombe Martin is 8 miles north, and all the North Devon coast opens up to Woolacombe to the west and Lynton/Lynmouth to the northeast. There are all sorts of holiday attractions in the broad vicinity, brochures in the cottage.

Facilities

Park Cottage is simple, comfortable and well equipped but not luxury. It is ideal for family and activity holidays or a retreat. It was a farm-workers cottage with large garden surrounded by tall hedges.

It sleeps 5 in two bedrooms. One with twin beds and a basin, the other with double bed and two children’s bunks. There is a baby’s collapsible cot. All bedding and towels are provided.

There is a bathroom with loo, basin and bath with shower over.

We have superfast broadband and TV. There is one step down on the path into the property and quite steep stairs to first floor.

The kitchen has an electric cooker, microwave and fridge, kettle and toaster with a large walk-in larder. The outside toilet also has a washing machine, dryer and small countertop freezer.

There is car parking in the lower drive and in the upper gate off the road. The garden which is all around the property has a large rear lawn – ideal for children to play.

Additional Photos

Click to expand

A charming white cottage with blue trim sits at the end of a stone path, surrounded by bushes, green grass, and trees under a partly cloudy sky—an inviting Christian holiday cottage nestled in the tranquil beauty of Exmoor.

Cosy living room in a charming Christian holiday cottage near Exmoor, with green upholstered chairs and sofas, a wooden coffee table, a wood-burning stove in the fireplace, and patterned curtains on a window letting in natural light. Warm lighting from wall sconces adds to the inviting ambience.

Cosy living room with three green armchairs, a wooden coffee table, a fireplace with a clock above it, a small television, books, and decorative lighting. Light yellow walls and patterned curtains complete the space in this charming Christian holiday cottage nestled in the heart of Exmoor.

Bright bedroom in an inviting Christian holiday cottage with a double bed, light bedding, folded towels, floral curtains, a window, dressing table with mirror, lamp, chest of drawers, and framed wall art. The soft pink carpeted floor adds warmth and charm to this peaceful retreat near the heart of Exmoor.

A cosy bedroom in this charming Christian holiday cottage near Exmoor features a double bed in the foreground, neatly made with white polka dot bedding, two folded towels on top, a wardrobe, chest of drawers, and a single bed in the background. Walls are cream-coloured.

A small bedroom with two single beds covered in pink bedding, a wardrobe at the far wall, a small basin, and framed pictures on cream-coloured walls—perfect for a restful stay in this charming Christian holiday cottage nestled near Exmoor.

A cosy bedroom in this Christian holiday cottage features two single beds with pink bedding, a wooden wardrobe, a chest of drawers, and a window adorned with floral curtains. The room also offers two ceiling lights, a soft pink carpet, and a picture on the wall—creating a welcoming retreat after exploring beautiful Exmoor.

Bathroom in a charming Christian holiday cottage near Exmoor, featuring a round glass shower, brown toilet, pink basin, and pink bath. A white chair with a towel sits by the bath. The room has wood-effect flooring and a window with curtains.

A bathroom in this charming Christian holiday cottage near Exmoor features a corner shower, toilet, basin, bath, and a window with curtains. There is a chair with a towel and book for relaxing moments, while the floor has wood-effect vinyl. The light walls are complemented by elegant tile accents, creating an inviting retreat after exploring Exmoor’s stunning landscapes.

Small kitchen in this charming Christian holiday cottage, with a cooker, microwave, sink, dish rack, kettle, mini fridge, and a window with floral curtains overlooking the peaceful Exmoor countryside. Various utensils and cleaning supplies are arranged on the worktop for your convenience.

A cosy kitchen in this charming Christian holiday cottage features a cooker, microwave, sink, and dishwasher. Colourful curtains hang over a window above the worktop, looking out onto the peaceful Exmoor scenery. A tea towel is on the wall, and various kitchen items are neatly arranged.

A small kitchen in a cosy Christian holiday cottage, complete with a sink, dish rack, toaster, kettle, microwave, mini fridge, and utensils. Floral curtains frame a window overlooking the lush greenery of Exmoor.

A narrow room with wooden flooring, yellow walls, three chairs by a window, a dark cupboard with a mirror, a table with two chairs, a fire extinguisher, and a white door—these inviting features create the warm ambience of an Exmoor Christian holiday cottage.

Narrow room with yellow walls, a floral tablecloth-covered table, chairs, a dark wood cabinet, a bench with red cushions, a wall mirror, a map of Exmoor, and wood panelling. The room has wooden flooring and a window with floral curtains—perfect for relaxing in this charming Christian holiday cottage.

A bright sunroom in this charming Christian holiday cottage boasts large windows overlooking Exmoor, a door leading to a garden path, a chair draped with a beige blanket, a small table, and a pink flower pot on the windowsill.

A small conservatory in this Christian holiday cottage features large windows, a cushioned armchair covered by a beige throw, and a wooden side table with a pink flower vase, offering tranquil views of the lush Exmoor garden outside.

A bright sunroom with white walls, pale blue trim, tiled floor, a cushioned chair, and large windows overlooking a green garden—perfect for relaxing in this charming Christian holiday cottage on the edge of Exmoor.

A white house with a conservatory sits beside a lush green garden, surrounded by bushes, hedges, and trees under a bright blue sky—an inviting Christian holiday cottage nestled in the tranquil landscape of Exmoor.

A grassy garden with lush green ferns, bushes, flowering shrubs, and tall trees surrounds this charming Exmoor Christian holiday cottage. A wooden picnic table sits in the centre under the shade, perfect for relaxing whilst enjoying the partly cloudy sky.

A grassy back garden with trees, a wooden shed on the left, a washing line, ferns, and a picnic table in the background sets a peaceful scene reminiscent of an Exmoor Christian holiday cottage. The corner of a white house is visible on the right.

A garden with a paved path, trimmed grass, bushes, and dense green trees surrounds this charming Christian holiday cottage. A house wall is visible on the left, and the garden extends into the distance under a cloudy Exmoor sky.

A white house with a sloping roof sits at the edge of a grassy garden, surrounded by tall green trees on the tranquil outskirts of Exmoor. Perfect as a Christian holiday cottage, this serene retreat features a wooden picnic table placed on the lawn in front of the house, inviting peaceful outdoor gatherings.

A grassy path runs between a tall hedge and a wooden fence, leading to a white shed. Ferns grow along the hedge, and fields with trees stretch out under a blue sky with scattered clouds—an idyllic scene reminiscent of a Christian holiday cottage nestled in the tranquil heart of Exmoor.

Costs

We like to keep costs low and the weekly rates are in a wide range from minimum off-peak £476 and maximum £695 peak season.

Rental Maximum: £695/per week

Rental Minimum: £476/per week

We give a reduction for two people occupancy and a small discount for repeat bookings. We have already priced this cottage with clergy/church staff in mind and we have many who are regulars.

Energy Provision:

The cottage is all electric. There are night-store heaters and an immersion heater for hot water…. Mira electric shower. All costs are included in the rent.

Availability

The cottage is available from March to end of November.

Arrival and Departure times:

Our cleaner completes for you to arrive after 2.00pm and we ask you to vacate by 10.00am on your day of departure.

Booking arrangements:

We book Friday to Friday as that is when our cleaner is available. Out of season we can sometimes accept long weekend breaks.

Pets:

We accept one well behaved dog with a charge of £15

Contact the Owner

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:

Name: Hazel Mather
Phone Number: 01271 850598
Email Address: edwardmather@outlook.com

Website: parkcottageexmoor.wordpress.com/

Park Cottage, Stowford, Bratton Fleming, North Devon EX31 4SG