‘The Upper Arches’ is self catering holiday accommodation in Devon. The let is situated just off the beautiful Taw Valley in the green rolling hills of central Devon. The luxury accommodation is a former barn and is believed to be built at a similar time to the main house, (Nethercott) and original farm buildings. ‘Nethercott’ falls on what was the Portsmouth Estate and was built by the Earl of Portsmouth in 1862.
In 2010 the conversion of ‘The Arches’ began and the building itself was completed in Mid-2012 (although development to the grounds and gardens continues). A local architect and builder were employed for the design and construction and wherever possible local materials have been used. Construction is of stone, oak and slate and the exterior retains its traditional character and appealing brick arches. Despite being double glazed all doors and windows are custom made from solid oak to match the charm of the original building. The interior of the houses retains this style but also with the inclusion of modern materials, (stainless and glass) giving a ‘twist’ of new and old. The open plan, upside down, layout is exceptionally spacious providing 2 self-contained exceptionally large lets for large families or groups.
The dwelling is a quiet retreat away from the hassle of the city and is conveniently situated for countryside activities. If you require a luxury stay then forget damp caravans or pokey wooden huts in packed campsites and stay at a location of true quality. To make your stay the most enjoyable much care was taken during construction. We have concentrated our utmost to provide accommodation of the highest standard and have included small improvements such as wall soundproofing, light blocking curtains and low temp central heating to all rooms as standard.
The Upper Arches let has 3 bedrooms, with either king or super-king beds, (we can supply little beds for little people) with 100% cotton bed linen (and towels in bathrooms). All rooms have luxury extra deep pile carpets, solid oak furniture and 22” HDTV. Each Let has total sleeping capacity/max occupancy of 6.
Upstairs, the conversion has its own fully fitted kitchen with hob, oven, microwave, Large Butchers Block Island with integrated fridge, additional small fridge freezer, toaster etc and is very open/spacious in design, (being 45’ approx. long). The dining/lounge areas have 50” plasma TV and surround entertainment system. The lounge/dining area have leather seating for all guest and solid oak dining tables.
There is a Large BBQ / Garden area to the rear of the property which is shared with the Lower Arches. Access is gained directly by a door at the rear of the property.
Further details
For the enjoyment of all guests, (both current and future) we ask all visitors to abide by the following rules/policies. Guests may collect keys from 16:00 on day of arrival and should vacate the property by 09:00 on the day of departure. Smoking in all areas of the accommodation is prohibited, (smoke alarms are fitted to all areas). We currently operate a no pets policy. We ask all guest to refrain from wearing outdoor footwear on the Oak floors/Stairs and Carpets. Some of the bespoke Oak furniture is very expensive so we therefore ask guests to use mats on the tables at all times and to avoid putting hot items on the wooden surfaces. Additionally, wood is easily marked please do not write or cut on the surfaces. Any Damage, missing items (or excessive cleaning costs) will be chargeable. A deposit may be required. The barn conversion does not provide good Wheelchair access. We ask that guests respect other visitors and refrain from excessive noise.Large Banquet table and BBQ provisions are provided in the shared garden to the rear of the property.Young Children should be supervised at all times in and around the accommodation.N.B. Max occupancy is 10, unless previuously agreed additional persons will be charged at £50 / person / night.
Further details outdoors
We have an on-site Shared Gym in a nearby building offering commercial grade gym equipment should you wish to keep fit during your stay.A stroll down to Eggesford will allow you to take the train, visit the Garden Centre or the Bar and Excellent Restaurant at the Fox & Hounds. River fishing is also available at the Fox and Hounds.Chawleigh Village is situated 1 mile up the road where there is a Village shop, Church and 2 pubs, (both serving food). The local area, forest fields and River, has a wealth of Wildlife. If you are into nature spotting you may see Fallow Deer, Red Deer, Kingfishers or even Otters. A Slightly longer walk and you will find yourself in Chulmleigh. There are several shops and restaurants along with three pubs and local facilities. 'Nethercott' has over 450acres of grounds to be explored, (please discuss with ourselves the best locations/walks). Mountain biking may be enjoyed at one of the local forests. Shooting supplies, (i.e. ammunition etc.) can be sourced less than a mile away at 'Blue Fox Glade' who can also provide clay shooting. The proprietor here also runs clay shooting competitions and paintball. We provide a welcome pack for visitors, if you have any specific requirements please contact us and we will do our utmost to meet your needs.We can provide a laundry service should you have washing.There is plenty of parking for multiple vehicles should you have friends to visit.As TV reception is sometimes not the best in rural Devon a collection of DVD and Blu Ray is also available. Enjoy a Selection of films on Blu-Ray or DVD on the Home Cinema Package. Both lets also have a selection of books and some games are also available. Access the Internet through Wi-Fi or network.
