A round up of this years news and next years plans!
Buzzard Barn Renovation Plans
After much consideration and careful planning we have decided to commence renovation of Buzzard Barn from November this year to be completed by June 2018. The intention is to retain all of the charm and character our guests, and we ourselves, love, and at the same time introduce modern fixtures and fittings. We will implement a modern damp-proof course, new wooden floors throughout, plaster, kitchen, bathrooms, windows, roof, log burner and some new furniture. If you would like to book Buzzard Barn between November and March 2018/19 please do so on our booking page. For April to October 2018 please visit Holiday Cottages.
Butterwell South Wing Bookings & Fishing Accommodation for 2018
Due to time constraints caused by our Buzzard Barn renovation plans and family circumstances we will once again sell Butterwell South Wing through our agent Holiday Cottages. If you would like to book Butterwell South Wing between November and March please do so on our booking page. For April to October please visit Holiday Cottages.
This year, and in 2016, we have been accommodating fishermen and other B&B guests in Butterwell South Wing as well as our double room downstairs in the main house. To ensure you are able to book the dates you want to come fishing it is IMPERATIVE that you book early as once South Wing is booked as self-catered (which it will do quicker it is now listed with Holiday Cottages) this only leaves us with one bedroom downstairs. To book your fishing and accommodation for 2018 please email or call us as soon as possible.
Due to commission payable to Holiday Cottages and our registration for VAT we are forced to increase our B&B single occupancy rate from £60 per night to £70 per night. Our B&B double occupancy rate will remain at £95 per night. However if you book your 2018 stay before 31st December 2017 then we can offer you a reduced early booking rate of £60 per night.
Nature Notes & Fishing Report from Butterwell
Our guests at Butterwell have enjoyed some great wildlife experiences so far this year.
Our normal three pairs of Canada Geese nested in the top field and promptly descended down river to the estuary with their newly hatched goslings in early May. Bird watchers have also been privileged to see Barn and Tawny owls hunting in the evenings before dark in June.
We have also seen our resident kingfishers every day in the last two months. They are now into their second brood at their nest in the bank at Top Pool. Quite uniquely they have been feeding on brook lampreys (lampetra planier), the smaller cousin of the larger sea lampreys (petromyzon marinus). These Brook Lampreys live entirely in freshwater and are present in a number of streams in the Camel catchment, including the small brook which joins the Camel just above Butterwell. Last year readers may have seen our footage of spawning Sea Lampreys taken at Butterwell: YouTube
We have also been blessed with a healthy run of sea trout and a good number of guests have seen salmon leaping in the pools in recent weeks. 5lb sea trout carefully returned to continue its journey to the spawning reds (pictured below).
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- Perfect Cornish cottage for a family
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- Kingfisher with brook lamprey at Butterwell
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- Buzzard Barn
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- Prime sea trout fishing on the River Camel
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- Butterwell South Wing
The exceptionally hot weather in June also brought out our very shy adders and grass snakes which were seen on a few occasions.
Our first season of lambing was quite tough but we are pleased to have three new healthy ewes and to have given junior guests first-hand experience of hand rearing orphan lambs.
Up there on the list of favourites have been the tiny fawn which was successfully reunited with its mother and some rutting roe stags. There have been good sightings of the otters at dusk by anglers.
We continue to see an improvement in the showing of spring bluebells and wild garlic in the woods under our land management scheme with Natural England.
Finally, our plantation of deciduous trees, under a Forestry Commission scheme, is now becoming well established following some care and attention by Sam.
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- Wildlife at your fingertips
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- Forestry Commission Woodland Generation Scheme
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- Feeding the lambs at Butterwell Farm
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- Snowdrop in our woodlands at Butterwell Farm
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- Family of mallard
New Check-in Time
Due to the addition of a fourth property and family time commitments we are changing our check-in time from 2:30pm to 3:30pm to give ourselves a little more time on a busy changeover day. Those with existing bookings your earliest check-in of 2:30pm will be honoured, however future bookings made will be 3:30pm earliest check-in.
All of our availability for 2018 is now open and available for booking. It is important to book early to avoid disappointment during busy periods.
Fishing is not available to book online. Please contact us directly for fishing availability before booking your accommodation.
If you have any questions about your accommodation or require any further information, then please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to seeing you at Butterwell soon.
With best wishes
Sam, Rachel & Jack
To see regular photos from Butterwell follow us on Instagram: BUTTERWELLFARM and Facebook: www.facebook.com/butterwellfarm
If you are interested in staying or fishing at Butterwell Farm please contact us today!