Autumn at Butterwell: field notes from the farm

What a summer. The long, dry days gave us plenty to enjoy, and we made the most of them with some new additions both in the cottages and around the estate: parasols, reclining chairs and fire pits in the gardens – with complimentary marshmallows, of course!

Down by the river, new seating and a new swing became a magnet for adults and children alike. Families wild swimming, BBQ smoke on the evening air, and more than a few excited guests spotting our new resident beavers. It’s been a season of wonderful memories.

We recently spent a special evening at the Lost Gardens of Heligan with beaver experts and a screening of The Water Guardians, a film about reintroducing beavers to Cornwall’s rivers. It was fascinating, and we came away knowing much more about the remarkable new species living here on the farm.

Our nature cams have captured plenty of footage, but nothing beats encountering them yourself here on the river as many of our guests have done over the last few months.

If you’d like to learn more, we’d recommend a visit to Heligan and one of their beaver walks. Or simply spend an evening by the river here and try your luck. Dusk is the best time, and the same goes for our more elusive otters.

Autumn means logs. Cutting, splitting, transporting, stacking, drying and restocking every property is no small task, but there’s nothing better than a well-stocked woodshed going into winter. Keeping all of our guests cosy indoors by the woodburners, and also still making the most of our outside spaces with the fire pits, chimneys and outdoor stoves even when winter arrives.

The fruit trees are heavy right now: pears at Buzzard Barn, and apples in the small orchard behind Kingfisher Cabin and in the garden at Apple Tree House. Guests are welcome to help themselves, and plenty are. If we can find a spare day, we’re hoping to press some apple juice for the freezer. Fingers crossed.

Soon it will be time to bring in a ram and begin the annual cycle that leads to lambing in spring. Then the hedge cutter goes on the tractor. These yearly tasks keep us connected to the land and the seasons, and it’s a rhythm we love.

Beyond the summer additions to the gardens, we’ve been busy indoors too. All the cottages now have nespresso machines, and we’ve introduced seasonal duvets, lighter for summer and warmer for winter, so every bed feels just right whatever the weather. Kingfisher Cabin has lovely new bedding and Piglet in Bed towels too, both practical and pretty!

At Buzzard Barn, new barrel planters have given the outdoor space real character. Keep an eye out for another exciting addition arriving there this autumn…

We’ve had another summer of extraordinary reviews. We’re proud of our consistently high ratings, and the messages guests send us really do reflect the care we put into every stay. It’s almost impossible to pick favourites, but here are a few from the last few months:

“Butterwell Farm is literally a haven – beauty, nature, tranquility and calm surround you here. Nothing better than sitting with a cup of tea listening to the birds and watching the endlessly captivating river… So many reasons why Butterwell Farm is our ‘go to’ place when we need to reconnect with all that is good in life.” — Gillian

“Sitting on the veranda beside the log burner, glass of wine in hand, listening to nothing but the river and the birds was simply magical. This really is our happy place.” — Cat

“I saw fish in the crystal-clear waters of the river, A BEAVER, a Tawny Owl, and in the ancient woodland I stumbled across young roe deer nibbling grass in a clearing as the setting sun broke through the trees. This is a really special place and it was a delight to stay in Apple Tree House, on Butterwell Farm. Thank you!” — Joe

“Butterwell Farm is the perfect place to slow down, recharge and reconnect with nature.” — Scott

“This place is a reset for the nervous system.” — Isabelle

“This is our 5th visit to Butterwell farm and as usual we didn’t want to leave.” — Louise

“We have stayed four years in a row now and again we had such a lovely time… My husband even spotted a wild otter in the river this time too!” — Anita

“We absolutely loved our stay here, it truly is a hidden gem.” — Charlotte

Don’t be shy! As a thank you to returning guests, we offer a loyalty discount on your next stay. Just reply to this email and we’ll send it over.

Christmas is less than 100 days away, and we still have festive availability. It’s a magical place to spend the holidays: log burners lit, frosty walks by the river, and every cottage decorated with a real Christmas tree.

August began much as July ended: hot and dry, with low, clear water that tested everyone’s patience. On a couple of days we stopped fishing altogether, as water temperatures had climbed beyond the point where it was fair to handle fish. Cooler nights thankfully steadied things, and for the rest of the month temperatures settled back to a more comfortable 16–17°C. A welcome drop of rain in the final days lifted levels by an inch or so. Hardly a spate, but the fish will be grateful for it, and so are we.

The conditions clearly put some anglers off, which was a shame, because the sea trout kept moving throughout. They weren’t inclined to hang around, but they rewarded those who put the hours in. Wayne Heard, Ian Armstrong, Richard Ellingworth and Robert Fidgen all landed fresh peal between 1 and 2lb. Fish of the month went to James Gibb, who took a superb 6lb sea trout from the tail of one of our pools in the early hours, after a long spell with little to show for it. A fine reward for persistence.

Elsewhere on the river, Bodmin and Wadebridge angling clubs completed their final gravel cleaning day of the season, bringing the total to nearly 3km of spawning gravels cleared in the upper Camel this year. These beds were completely choked and are now open to spawning fish once more. The volunteers have worked extremely hard, not only on the gravels but on the considerable paperwork needed to do this work within the regulations. A big thank you to everyone involved.

The little lift at the end of August turned out to be a sign of things to come. In the second week of September we had our first heavy rain in months, and the river rose by around 20cm and took on a slight colour before dropping back quickly. A few drizzly days have followed, but nothing substantial. It’s still been a dry month overall, though noticeably wetter than July and August, and the river is starting to feel like autumn.

Salmon fishing opened on the 1st, and while none have been hooked yet, they are certainly here. Fish have been seen showing, and several anglers have had salmon turn to the fly, which is encouraging so early in the season and in such low water.

The sea-trout gave us a good send-off in the final weeks of their season. Owen and Steve Sheehan each took a peal, and Ian Armstrong netted a lovely fish of around 3lb in the early hours. The fish of the month goes to James Christoforou, who landed a brace of sea-trout in broad daylight, James also lost 2 sea-trout one of which was estimated to be at least 6lb, a rare feat when most of the season’s fish come after dark.

Elsewhere on the river, the beaver has been busy again, coppicing a few more young aspen along our banks. There’s still no sign of a dam or lodge on our stretch, so for now it seems to be visiting to feed rather than settling in, but we’re keeping a close eye out.

By the time this report arrives the sea-trout season will have closed, but salmon fishing continues until 15 December. With fish already in the river, the first proper autumn spate should bring them on the take, and we’re hoping October delivers it.

Daytime salmon fishing opened on 1 September and runs until 15 December. As soon as we get appreciable rain, fresh salmon will start pushing into the system, and after a summer of low water, the first proper spate could be well worth being here for. There’s also still time for a last few nights on the sea trout before their season closes at the end of September.

Beats are limited, so if you’d like to be on the water when the river rises, get in touch now and we’ll do our best to fit you in.

Don’t forget to check out our latest updates and wildlife videos on Instagram and Facebook.

Warm wishes,

Rachel & Sam x
Butterwell Farm, Cornwall