During that time it has actually played witness to numerous unique occasions consisting of the birth of Juliet Cleave (née Tom) who, together with her other half Chris, is beginning a brand-new chapter in the home’s captivating life story.
After ending up being uninhabited in December 2020 following the death of Juliet’s mom, Claudia, the choice was required to sensitively refurbish Tom’s Cottage – however not at the cost of character – and share its peaceful aura with paying visitors desiring homely self-catering accommodation.
Read more: Meet the increasing variety of ladies in Cornwall relying on farming
“There’s a lovely feel to the place so we decided to see if guests would like to holiday here,” says Juliet, whose family have actually been farming within the parish of St Kew for 8 generations. “I’ve got such fond memories of maturing here so I hope that households will have as numerous great times in this location as I did.
“My parents were very hospitable people so always had friends over for supper or Sunday lunch. Whatever the occasion, everybody always had a good time here.”
Once breeders of pedigree Red Ruby Devon livestock under the Kew prefix, Juliet and Chris have actually just recently retired from the market and now let their land to a brand-new entrant on a Farm Business Tenancy (FBT).
“My father and grandfather kept Devons long before I can remember,” Juliet includes. “And then by chance during my own farming career, I went into the breed and managed to secure the same pedigree prefix that my father had – so I was registering cattle under the same herd name as my father and grandfather before me.”
Tom’s Cottage, which is thought to have actually been constructed someplace in between 1814 and 1844, entered into the Tom family’s ownership throughout the Second World War and was the marital home of Juliet’s moms and dads Henry, who passed away in 2000, and Claudia from 1956.
In a potted history of the location, Juliet describes: “Grandfather Tom purchased the farm and house on daddy’s behalf while we was serving overseas throughout World War Two, so Tom’s Cottage has actually remained in our family for about 80 years. The farm touched other land throughout the valley that the family farmed, which is the reason that it was acquired, and grandpa understood that my daddy had constantly had his eye on the property due to the land and your home’s circumstance, character and appeal.
“From purchase until 1956, Tom’s Cottage was occupied by a member of the family’s farm staff and his housekeeper. Both were then moved to another nearby dwelling for the house to be freshened up for my freshly married parents to move into. I was born in one of the bedrooms, and my husband and I continue to live in the valley.”
Tom’s Cottage has actually been thoroughly brought back by Juliet and Chris in a modern rustic design, with all mod cons consisting of main heating and superfast broadband just contributing to its ageless appeal.
Using regional labour and providers as much as possible, Juliet confesses that the restoration did take longer than anticipated – mostly due to hold-ups related to the Covid pandemic. “It’s taken a great deal of rewiring, replumbing, installing a new heating system and replacing doors and windows. We are trying to nudge into the luxury side of the market, but not at the cost of ruining the character of the place.”
Outside, there are no instant neighbours and the wraparound gardens develop a peaceful space that enables you to relax from day-to-day tensions while listening to birdsong or, additionally, the noise of kids’s laughter as they romp together on the yard.
Sleeping as much as 8 individuals in 4 light and large bed rooms, there’s pillows aplenty for the entire family to rest their heads after a hectic day invested checking out the surrounding shoreline and countryside.
Options for an outside experience are limitless, with Tom’s Cottage being just a 5 to ten-minute drive from the little fishing town of Port Isaac (the setting for the much-loved tv series Doc Martin ) and a quarter of an hour from the rolling browse at Polzeath, Arthurian legend at Tintagel Castle, the winding Camel Trail linking Padstow to Bodmin and the rugged appeal of Bodmin Moor; while the Eden Project near Par and Lost Gardens of Heligan near Mevagissey are within a one-hour radius.
Juliet says: “It’s a real getaway from the world, yet it’s a house you can have fun in with family, and you’re still only five minutes from Port Isaac or 15 minutes from Polzeath. It seems strange that you can feel so chilled out while having everything on your doorstep – it’s the best of both worlds.”
And visitors will never ever lack regional fruit and vegetables to taste and remove, Juliet includes, with a huge selection of farm stores in the instant area consisting of Trevathan at St Endellion, Boscastle Farm Shop, St Kew Farm Shop, Hilltop Farm Shop near Camelford and Sea View Farm Shop near St Teath, with Strawberry Fields near Lifton just half an hour’s drive away.
For puts to red wine and dine, Michelin-starred chef Nathan Outlaw’s New Road and Fish Kitchen dining establishments in Port Issac, the St Kew Inn, St Tudy Inn and Port Gaverne Hotel are simply a couple of tips.
Juliet continues: “We are always looking to work within the local community and encourage guests to sample the delights of the area; all to make a visit to Tom’s Cottage sustainable but also one to be repeated!”
It’s still early days for Tom’s Cottage, having actually just been open for business given that August in 2015, however a flick through the visitors’ book exposes absolutely nothing however favorable vibes – and adjectives such as ‘amazing’, ‘fabulous’, ‘lovely’ and ‘wonderful’ are utilized regularly, with the pledge of return journeys too.
During the peak summertime season remains should be a minimum of one week long, with much shorter off-peak breaks likewise available.
Juliet says: “As a former breeder of pedigree cattle, I am the type of person that takes pride in their job so reading those reviews definitely boosts my motivation. I’ve got to do everything I can to make sure that I am providing the right experience for our guests.”
She includes: “All my working life I’ve been happily out in the fields and never involved with tourism. My sister, however, runs Cornish Tipi Weddings nearby and has built that business up from scratch, so now there’s definitely a bit of entertainment and sibling rivalry in the dynamic as now, later in life, I am joining in!”
Looking ahead to the very first complete season for reservations, Juliet is enthusiastic that Tom’s Cottage will completely fit the meaning of a ‘hay-cation’ – called by Expedia Group as one of 5 travel patterns for 2023. Rustic trips are on the increase, based upon insight from the business’s brand names Stayz, Wotif and Expedia, with need for remain in the countryside, transformed barns or remote farmhouses anticipated to continue growing over the next 12 months.
“I’ve come across several articles recently saying that staycations have now morphed into hay-cations,” she says. “I believed there should be a ‘but’ coming someplace to rule us out, however there wasn’t! That’s us!
“Obviously a lot of people are delighted to get back to overseas travel and be sure of some sun, but I think it’s also worth remembering what’s on your doorstep.”
But despite what the market professionals state, Juliet and Chris won’t be resting on their laurels in promoting the family worths so ingrained in the thick stone walls of Tom’s Cottage.
Juliet includes: “We’ll be taking a look at how we can contribute to the experience without ruining anything. From the ‘comfort tweaks’ based upon visitor feedback and almost chose modification in dog policy, to continuous concerns of minimizing our carbon footprint while offering visitors an euphoric time in Tom’s Cottage and its natural environments.
“All I want is for our guests to have a good time here and enjoy their holiday with us, that’s what’s driving me. If it wasn’t a place that I believed so heavily in and had such a deep connection to, we wouldn’t be doing it. Some houses are happy and lift the spirit, and this is one of them.”
She concludes: “It’s an ongoing project, but at the end of the day we just want life breathed into the place again because that’s what Tom’s Cottage is all about.” Tom’s Cottage is let through Classic Cottages.
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