What do you do when your husband announces that he’s off to Belgium for work? Piggyback onto his trip? Stay home alone? Or book yourself and the kids into a B&B and let someone else do the hard work?
A child friendly bed and breakfast | Weeke Barton
I chose the latter, so last week the children and I braved the M5 and headed down to Devon. Our destination? The child friendly bed and breakfast Weeke Barton.
We discovered child friendly bed and breakfast Weeke Barton through i-escape kids, a website that has a handpicked selection of stylish family hideaways all over the world. There is everything you could ever imagine, from eco-retreats through to boutique hotels. Each place is given a star rating for how family friendly it is and details all the child equipment available. They even go so far as to specify what age group the accommodation is suitable for. Every place they recommend has been visited by one of the i-escape team and they detail the highs and lows of the accommodation. Weeke Barton is given two stars, which means it is the best in the region for children. So this meant I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. However, you never totally appreciate a place until you actually visit.
A rocky start
Travelling with two small children is never without its dramas. And this trip was no exception. Sat nav is a wonderful invention, but isn’t always to be relied upon. As I discovered when I got my car stuck trying to turn right down a steep narrow country lane on Dartmoor. We’d have been there a while, if it hadn’t been for a tattooed youngster on a tractor. He sat on the car to give my wheels traction and soon we were on the move again. That evening I checked the arrival instructions sent by owners Jo & Sam prior to the trip. In bold letters it said, DO NOT DRIVE UP NEADON LANE. Note to self, always read emails properly.
Sheer comfort & luxury
After the car incident I felt a little frazzled. But, we arrived to beautiful scenery and complete peace and quiet. The only sounds were the birds singing and my children (!) My first thought, on arrival to this luxurious B&B, was that the kids would break everything in sight. But I quickly worked out that Jo & Sam have been very clever. Every quirky, decorative item was, in fact, indestructible. Around the communal areas there are numerous books, toys and puzzles, things to keep little hands amused and out of mischief.
The house itself has been beautifully restored and with impeccable taste. Muted colours, sheepskin rugs, retro art and natural textures fill each room. Everything has been done to a high standard, but that is also eminently practical. Wood parquet flooring, a stone dining table and child friendly tableware meant I didn’t need to worry about my kids being kids. They’d also kindly covered Laurie’s chair and booster seat with a cloth for when he, inevitably, spilled/threw his food.
Our room
There are five rooms in the B&B, each named after the children who first stayed there. Orla and Avalon are the largest and have room for a foldaway bed and cot. We stayed in Avalon’s room, with it’s delightful window seat, huge king size bed and fabulous bathroom. Daisy and I shared a bed, and Weeke Barton provided a cot for Laurie. Now, I’m not someone whose ever used a baby monitor, instead I rely on my children’s ability to scream loudly if there is something wrong. However, on the journey down I suddenly realised not having one could be a mistake. Thankfully Avalon’s room was directly above the eating area and lounge, so I could eat my dinner safe in the knowledge that I’d hear them.
A beautiful bathroom
I always think one of the best parts of going away is having a great bathroom. And ours fulfilled my high expectations. A deep bath, rain shower and fragrant St. Kitts Herbery toiletries were a real treat. After getting us stuck on Dartmoor a deep bubble bath helped me relax. Daisy didn’t get quite the same experience as Laurie just threw water at her.
Someone else doing the cooking
I cook a lot of meals. So for me a real holiday is one where someone else does the cooking. On our first night Jo cooked our evening meal. The food was simple fare but so delicious. Laurie and Daisy enjoyed their pasta and sauce followed by yoghurt fruit and honey. And I loved my organic chicken and leek pie with a garden salad followed by peach, pistachio and polenta cake.
A hearty breakfast is the sign of a good B&B and Weeke Barton’s excelled. There was a choice of homemade granola, cooked and freshly made bread/toast. All their food is locally and responsibly sourced and I discovered that the salad came from Jo & Sam’s 12 year-old son’s garden, amazing. You eat communally, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I was happy to be offered a glass of wine by fellow guests from Weeke Barton’s Biodynamic selection of vinos.
Coco the dog
Aside from the beautiful scenery, sheer luxury and delicious food, Weeke Barton’s biggest draw is Coco the Springer Spaniel. And this comes from someone isn’t the biggest dog fan. You see, I’d brought with me a whole range of toys to entertain the kids, but all they wanted to do was throw play and catch with Coco. Naturally I was happy to sit back, relax and watch them. Daisy came away from our trip asking,“mummy please can we get a dog.” I won’t repeat to you my reply.
Aside from playing catch with Coco, we also visited nearby Killerton and toyed with visiting the beach at Exmouth, but the UK weather didn’t allow it. We had a wonderful escape from the big smoke, enjoyed filling our lungs with clean air tasting the best of Devon’s fare. And we definitely decided that Weeke Barton is not only an eco-friendly bed and breakfast it’s also a dog friendly, child friendly and everything in between friendly. In fact it was so friendly we’ll definitely be taking Dad there soon.
Weeke Barton | A child friendly bed and breakfast | The facts
- Highchair & cot provided
- Separate child friendly meal times
- All rooms are large enough to fit a cot in
- Jo & Sam can recommend tried and tested babysitters
- A small number of toys, books and games on site, plus a large garden to run around in, children’s DVDs and a boules pitch.
- There is lots to do in the area such as the Miniature Pony Centre or Castle Drogo plus lots of walks on Dartmoor than can be done from Weeke Barton.
Weeke Barton | An eco-friendly bed and breakfast | The facts
- Biomass boiler
- Biodynamic wines
- Organic & locally sourced food
n4mummy highlights
- Coco the dog provided all the entertainment my children needed.
- Delicious organic food
- Deep bathtub and plenty of water
- Complete peace and quiet (except for my children!)
To visit child friendly bed and breakfast Weeke Barton please click here, and to discover other amazing child-friendly holidays from i-escape kids please click here. When you book through i-escape kids you are guaranteed the best rates and always receive a little extra too.
If you’re looking for somewhere to go without the kids, then click here to read about my recent parent escape to an eco-friendly hotel in Paris, Hidden Hotel. 
We were gifted two nights stay at child friendly bed and breakfast Weeke Barton free of charge, but all opinions as always are my own.