The Arbour Folly is a pet-friendly accommodation nestled within expansive grounds In Abbotskerswell, Devon, offering an ideal holiday base in an area providing the perfect blend of nature and comfort.
Ground Floor:
Bedroom: Kingsize (5ft) Bed Ensuite: Walk-In Shower, Toilet
First Floor:
Open plan living space.
Living area: Freeview Smart TV
Dining area.
Kitchen area: Electric Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer
Electric central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Welcome pack and doggy extras. Back garden with terrace and garden furniture. Grounds (shared with other properties on-site). Private parking for 1 car. No smoking. Please note: No children.
The Arbour Folly is an unforgettable holiday retreat in a rural location. This reverse-level one-bedroom lodge with its own private sun terrace accessed from the upper living area, is nestled in the picturesque village of Abbotskerswell, in beautiful Devon. This pet-friendly haven invites you to enjoy the cosy ambience exuding warmth and charm while feeling at home amid the beauty of the Devon countryside. Dog throws are provided as well as an outside warm water tap for washing your muddy pooch after a day of exploration. A force free trainer and behaviourist is on site if required.
The Arbour Folly offers more than just accommodation, the perfect base to discover your local surroundings. A quintessential village pub and village amenities are just a leisurely stroll away. The lodge’s location provides convenient access to both the invigorating rugged moors and the nearby seaside, the options are endless. Returning after a day of adventure feels like coming back to a peaceful oasis, with the rural setting offering respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, allowing you to unwind in harmony with nature. As the sun sets after a day of exploration, you’ll realise that this lodge is more than just a place to stay, it’s a retreat that weaves together comfort, natural beauty, and the joy of adventure, creating memories that will linger long after your holiday.
Local attractions that are waiting to be discovered include Dartmoor National Park, offering rugged landscapes for adventurers to hike, bike, and explore its beauty. The historic market town of Totnes boasts eclectic shops, a medieval castle and a vibrant arts scene along the banks of the River Dart, while Babbacombe Model Village captivates visitors with intricate miniature reproductions of famous landmarks in landscaped gardens.
The stunning English Riviera offers sandy beaches amongst charming seaside towns with opportunities for water sports! Why not visit Buckfast Abbey? A tranquil Benedictine monastery with stunning architecture and serene gardens that takes you back in time. Take time to enjoy your surroundings and the joy of nature in the idyllic surroundings at The Arbour Folly.
With wide sandy beaches, remote moors, and chocolate-box villages, Devon is a stunning holiday destination at any time of year. It’s also a haven for bird watchers, offering a rich variety of landscapes and habitats, with dozens of nature reserves and over 200 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
One of the county’s highlights is the Exe Estuary, a vital breeding and feeding ground for thousands of wildfowl and waders, including avocets, redshanks, snipes, little stints, and sandpipers. Surrounding the estuary are several nature reserves, such as Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve, where reedbeds, meadows, ponds, and saltmarshes support large populations of black-tailed godwits, dunlins, grey plovers, red-breasted mergansers, and wigeons. With its family-friendly sandy beach backed by dunes, it’s a fantastic spot for a day out.
Just 15 minutes from Exeter, Haldon Forest is a vast conifer plantation that supports five species of breeding birds of prey: goshawks, hobbies, sparrowhawks, buzzards, and kestrels. A bird hide and viewing point, managed by Forestry England, offer the chance to see these impressive raptors up close. The forest is also home to nightjars, crossbills, and a variety of butterflies. Walking and cycling trails, play areas, treetop rope courses, and picnic spots make it an excellent destination for families and nature lovers alike.
Owned by the National Trust, Lundy, an island in the Bristol Channel, is easily reached by boat from Ilfracombe or Bideford. From April to July, thousands of seabirds arrive to breed, including puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, and Manx shearwaters. The island is also a magnet for migrating birds, with rare visitors from as far afield as North America and Siberia recorded annually.
Slapton Ley, the largest freshwater lagoon in southwest England, is separated from the sea by a narrow shingle ridge known as Slapton Sands. Surrounded by reedbeds, marshes, and woodland, it provides a rich habitat for birds such as Cetti’s warblers, reed warblers, sedge warblers, and grasshopper warblers. On the water, look out for great crested grebes, gadwalls, and water rails. Other wildlife in the area includes otters, badgers, dormice, and several bat species.
Exmoor National Park offers a remarkable diversity of habitats, from moorland and farmland to ancient woodland, rivers, and dramatic coastline. The open moors are home to Dartford warblers, linnets, and whinchats, while the woodlands host pied flycatchers, tree pipits, redstarts, and all three British woodpecker species. Along the rivers, look for grey wagtails, dippers, and kingfishers. The coastal edges are frequented by curlews, ringed plovers, turnstones, and occasionally knots, ruffs, and curlew sandpipers. Visitors can also enjoy walking and cycling routes, canoeing and kayaking, charming historic villages, Dunster Castle, and of course, Exmoor’s iconic wild ponies.
Located in the heart of the county, Dartmoor National Park is more rugged and wild, with dramatic granite tors and deep river valleys, perfect for a day of exploration. Bird watchers should look out for ground-nesting species like meadow pipits, skylarks, and stonechats. The moor also supports ring ouzels and red grouse, and is one of the best places in the UK to hear the distinctive call of the cuckoo in spring. For those wanting to cool off after a hike, Dartmoor has some of the finest wild swimming spots in the country.
