'Darling Buds of May' peaceful idyll

This characterful 17th Century farmhouse is located on the edge of the historic village of Heddington, 17 miles west of Marlborough and three miles south of Calne. The Grade II listed house lies between the pretty village church and the open countryside at the foot of the Downs. Area of Natural Beauty. Suitable for hen parties & family gatherings; peaceful and private, this beautiful home provides the perfect setting for precious get-togethers, of families & friends. ... Darling Buds of May! The space WELCOME... The Farmhouse is set in its own extensive gardens and paddocks on the edge of the Village. There are no near neighbours, so calm and privacy are assured. There is virtually no through-traffic down the lanes; and in cloudless weather the sunsets are gorgeous… and because there is no street-lighting, at night the moon and stars are vibrant. We are in an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) (the North Wessex Downs), and the North Wessex Downs are a Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI). --- SLEEPING... In summary:- FIVE GOOD DOUBLE BEDROOMS ONE GOOD DOUBLE SOFA BED TWO PORTABLE SINGLE BEDS (v comfortable). TOTAL: Absolute MAX is 14 adults / large kids Also:- FIVE TOILETS (two with baths, and one with full height purpose-built excellent shower). --- DETAILS of the ACCOMMODATION We have five generous double bedrooms and comfortably can sleep 10 in the main bedrooms… (Two Super-King Doubles, two King Size Doubles, and one standard Double bed). Plus another two people on the comfy King-Size sofa-bed in the ground-floor Play Room as required, (a nice room with effective curtains). Plus we can provide two further single futon-style beds (which can be set up in any of the main bedrooms as you decide) ... making a grand total of 14 people. (We also have two cots for babies (not bedding), and three high seats). We DO provide all sheets for all the beds (including the sofa bed and singles), plus all duvets, as well as towels. All the beds will be made up in advance in accordance with your wishes, in time for your arrival. Three of the bedrooms are on the first floor consisting of:- The Blue Room - a King Size bedroom with chest o' drawers and garden views and family bathroom next door with shower over the bath. Further along the corridor is the French Room with an antique Provence style double-bed. Next door is a spacious family bathroom with a free standing bath with shower hose attachment. Large green plants make this bathroom a lovely relaxing place to be. At the end of the corridor is the Master Bedroom with Emperor/ Super King size bed and wardrobes and chest o' drawers for clothes. There are is a separate powder room on the first floor. On the first floor landing, TWO separate sets of stairs lead to each of the two spacious bedrooms at the top of the house (Attic at 2nd floor). (One set of stairs is hidden behind the door at the top of the main staircase; the other set of stairs more obvious at the end of the corridor)... The bedroom ceilings are adorned with ancient beams and both are very spacious. In one of these rooms there is a King Size bed; the other there is a Super King size bed. (Please note there are steep stairs to access to the two attic bedrooms. Both sets of stairs have good strong hand-rails. However, the stairs may not be suitable for very young children). We have two bathrooms / shower rooms (including WC) on the First Floor, plus an extra WC... ... while on the Ground Floor we have a WC / shower room, as well as an extra WC within the Boot Room. So in total:- we total FIVE toilets in the house, of which two have a Bath plus Shower; and another of the toilets has a full-height Shower (a good one!). ENTERTAINMENT... A large classic Drawing Room offers a more formal space with its open wood fire (logs provided) and tuned-up baby-grand piano - plus guitars -please help yourselves! Next door is the cosy Snug Room which is ideal for relaxing and watching TV in front of the (electric) log fire. The traditional kitchen opens onto the light and airy Garden Room where 12+ people can comfortably dine (or up to 16 with the other table added). Beyond the Garden Room is the Play Room, also ideal for relaxing and watching TV, plus the King-Size sofa-bed mentioned above. Through the sliding glass doors of the Garden Room is the extensive Garden Terrace, for alfresco dining, BBQ (we supply the gas bottles) and relaxing in fine weather on the long wooden tables under the curling vine roof, and making use BBQ as well as the log fire grill, the seasonal paddling pool and ... ... The HOT TUB (for six)! Located beside the Garden Terrace. Wood fired. (We provide your first night of logs. After that we ask you to put a tenner in the honesty box for further logs). Fill the small wood-burning furnace to the brim and after two whole loads (2-3 hours) the temperature is now perfect for your hot-tub-therapy. (Please note that we provide a good supply of wood for the Hot Tub and fireplaces; but if you find you need extra logs, we invite you to help yourself to extra baskets at the cost of £10 each... there is an 'Honesty Pot' by the Visitors' Book inside, so please remember to bring a little cash with you, just in case. Thank you). So... Why not partake Glass of wine (using the plastic glasses provided!)... turn on the disco lights and the air-bubbles... and you'll never want to get out of the Hot Tub! GARDEN, DRIVEWAY, & DOGS... All rooms overlook the large private garden. Ample off-road parking for 10+ cars in the private drive. Please feel free to park where you like, there should be no reason for anyone to get blocked in, there's loads of space in the main drive, and also near the back door where the logs are stacked. Dogs are welcome anywhere downstairs, and can conveniently sleep in the large but cosy Boot Room where the boiler happens to be situated. Please do not let the dogs go upstairs, if you can bear it! In terms of dogs generally, the garden is large and the borders porous. A roaming dog is probably at a v small risk of escaping the garden. But we have never had an actual problem with disappearing dogs, maybe because there is nowhere for them to go. If a dog is a real explorer please consider using a very long lead and keep a watchful eye. The lane behind the house only leads to a one single house and ends at an informal car park at the top of the hill. Perhaps we get one car every half hour? Being ramblers and the occasional farm vehicle? Fresh hen and duck eggs are available each day from our own poultry (during the season). Our own naughty (but much loved) cocker spaniel Skye... has tried to make the occasional jail-break to visit the pheasant pens at Christmas time, but has never come to any harm and it's basically never been a problem. KITCHEN... In the Kitchen we have ample surface space for preparing food as well as the generous kitchen-island. The washing machine is by Bosche, and the Aga keeps the kitchen cosy in winter, plus the Neff hob and oven. We provide small quantities of sugar, salt, pepper; and shower gel, shampoo, soap and hair dryers, to get our lovely Guests get started... There is a Bean-To-Cup 'Espresso Coffee' machine, made by APTLITON and which has a function to grind beans first, and then make all manner of espresso, cappuccino etc as requested. So, if you are great real-coffee lovers, please bring your own coffee beans. We also do provide a cafetiere. We also leave Guests a small "welcome basket" for your arrival, including a bottle of Prosecco (usually found in the fridge) and some snacks, either a cake or chocky biscuits or sea salt crisps and an assortment of freshly laid duck's and hen's eggs from the 'Clucking Ladies' outside in the hen-pen (when the season is right -- usually spring to autumn). There is a walk-in Larder, plus two freezers and two fridges on site, as well as the fully functioning Laundry with tumble-dryer (Samsung), washing-machine (Miele) and ironing equipment. GARDEN... (more)... The garden is interlaced with mown pathways which are fun for kids to explore. Try the pitch-and-putt golf green and the paddling pool! And see what you think of "the Willow Igloo" - a rather eccentric home-grown project we started during Lockdown, but a great fun play area for the younger kids. There is also a small duck pond which is informally fenced for safety reasons, but please do keep a vigilant eye on any small children. ... AND PUBS etc? Walk straight from the house and past the pretty church to the historic “Ivy Inn”, only two minutes’ walk (so sorry ... sadly temporarily shut as it is being sold by the brewery); or head out along the numerous bridleways and footpaths to explore the downlands – mainly designated as “Right to Roam” -- and which provide public access for walking, picnics, observing nature and watching the sunset. The whole an Area of Natural Beauty (AONB)... and interlaced with Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), in particular parts of the chalk downlands where orchids and other rare flowers can be found especially in Spring and Summer. Also Right to Roam (pls see OS map). Nick & Lucy our local farmers in the Village (and winners of 'Farmer of the Year Award 2024') sell by arrangement the MOST delicious Wagyu hamburgers and steaks of varying sizes up to the five-star "Flintstone Steak" feeding 14 people. Let us know and with a little advanced notice we should be able to arrange for you / put you in touch. Loads of great pubs within a short drive. particular favourites include:- The White Horse at Compton Bassett (intimate and trad -- very charming. Good food). (Apologies, temporarily closed as it is in the process of being sold to a new operator). The Rising Sun on Bowden Hill on the way to Lacock - a big thriving pub, good atmosphere and great views. (Lacock itself is well worth a visit anyway, lots of good pubs, a historic location for numerous period movies including Pride & Prejudice; a mellow and beautiful place, with the historic Lacock Abbey). The Dumb Post (a fave) at Bremhill. Large but also intimate, good food, great views, great atmosphere. The Foxham (at Foxham) - simply excellent fresh seafood delivered every day from Cornwall. Other attractions include Bowood House (historic house, adventure park and golf course); Fascinating village of Avebury, with its concentric stone-circles dating back to 2500BC; The historic town of Marlborough with its charming double-width High Street, charming architecture and boutique shops; The City of Bath - unique ... is 40 mins drive, or 10 mins on the mainline train from Chippenham. Devizes is a lovely market town with lots of Georgian architecture and featuring the famous 29 canal locks at Caen Hill, on the Kennet & Avon Canal. Anyway... ... Thank you so much for your patience in reading through all this! 🤣 We really look forward to greeting you ... and your glamorous group! With best wishes, Charlie & Kitkat Guest access Please see our REVIEWS since May 2023 in the Photograph section. Apologies, but it's just that we are graduating from being assisted by a SuperHost, to becoming our own Individual Host from July '24. Then we will be able to start generating our own Review Stream. :-) Guest access is via the key safe outside the garden door... Couldn't be easier, all very user-friendly! Other things to note Paddling Pool (15 ft) HotTub (wood-burning, logs provided) BBQ (gas - bottles provided) Large outside dining Terrace Garden room:- Indoor dining space Chip n' putt Golf Croquet Football net ... and PRIVACY The chalk grasslands (much of it designated SSSI – site of special scientific interest) are well known for its variety of rare species of flora (including wild orchids and other indigenous wild-flowers); and fauna, including several deer species along with rabbits, hares and a variety of birdlife including skylarks and other song birds, as well as red kites and buzzards. The panoramic views are spectacular the whole year round. For those less dedicated to steep hill-climbing, preferring more gentle gradients, it is possible to drive about a mile to the top of the hill where the tarmac stops at the informal (free) car park, and explore the site of the bronze age fort at Oliver’s Camp and the mixed woodland beyond, as well as the evocative Civil War battlefield of Roundway Down (1643), and the Devizes White Horse. The whole downland area is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Maps and numerous suggestions for interesting local rambling are provided as part of the “Welcome Pack” you will find on arrival, as well as suggestions for pubs, restaurants and local attractions. Guest access:- Guests have full and private use of the entire farmhouse, gardens and parking during their stay. Other things to note There are animals on this property. You are welcome to bring up to three well behaved dogs. We ask that they are kept off furniture and downstairs. We also ask that you clear up after your dog on departure. Kitkat and Charlie are very happy to receive messages, any question is valid, so please do not hesitate to ask even the simplest query. We are based in the Secret Cottage, 200 yards from Church Farm. We might pop in to say "hi" at the start of your stay if we are around... --- and we are available to help at a moment's notice (you have our mobiles) --- but generally we won't get in your hair, so please go ahead, and enjoy. All the best. : -)