I usually celebrate my birthday in one of the many West End clubs that London has to offer but this year I had the pleasure of spending my 23rd Birthday, in the most idyllic setting at Odle Farm.
Odle Farm is located in a little town called Honiton in Devon. As a child I spent many of my summer holidays in Dartmoor, so I am no stranger to Devon and it will always have a special place in my heart.
My boyfriend and I stayed in a little Cottage called Honeysuckle and it was just as pleasant as its name. Our cottage was a little bit more modern than ones that we have previously stayed in but it decorated with the most delicate trinkets and ornaments, making it feel like our home away from home.
Odle Farm is a family business and our host Karen, was there to make sure that all of our needs were taken care of. The cottages are self catered but you can order home cooked food from the team; which is exactly what we did when we arrived in the pouring rain to find that despite remembering to bring alcohol, we didn’t bring any food with us. I guess we remembered the necessities.
We woke up on Saturday morning to see that the clouds had lifted and the sun was starting to peep out over the meadows. I took a moment to admire the great British countryside, as living in London made me forget how beautifully green England can be.
We spent the morning Brunching in one of the many rustic but homely Cafes that you will find in Honiton, followed by having a peak around the antique stalls and boutiques that line the high street. After spending a few hours exploring the little town of Honition, we replenished our alcohol and non-existent food supply and hurried back to our Cottage because we knew that there would be something special waiting for us when we returned.
All of the cottages at Odle farm come with their own private outdoor hot tub. An outdoor hot tub in the middle of the winter may not sound appealing but with winter sun shining and the hot tub reaching highs of 40 degrees, if you closed your eyes it felt like you were in Dubai.
We spent the eve of my birthday by the fire and when the night came, we ventured out to our hot tub for some strawberries and champagne.
It was a beautiful evening in January, not a single cloud in sight, and we were able to see the most wonderful display of stars. There is something magical about watching the stars at night with your best friend, and doing it in a hot tub with strawberries and champagne made the experience even better.
On the morning of my Birthday, we had Breakfast on our patio and for the first time in a while, I felt relaxed. The only thing to disturb my thoughts were the Birds tweeting in the distance, but I liked it.
Odle Farm is perfect for couples wanting a romantic getaway, friends looking to unwind or families with young children who like to explore the greater outdoors.
I plan to return to Odle Farm in the summer and if you would like to treat yourself to this country escape, contact Odle farm here: Bookings@odlefarm.com
