All about us
Welcome
Hello! We're Liz and John and Meadow Barn Farm is our home, together with Joe and Jake and all the animals. We've lovingly nurtured the land here and created a selection of unique holiday homes for guests to enjoy. Built around our passion for sustainability and low-impact living, the farm is a special place we think you'll love.
Our story
We met in 1995 at the University of the West of England in Bristol. We must have had some kind of collective dream of a future together but we had no idea where it would lead.
As soon as we graduated we got a job as a couple on Richard Branson’s Necker Island. At this time there was only a small team working there and we shared all the duties including teaching water sports and hosting the lunches and dinners. Mostly though we spent our time making sure that the guests and families who came had an experience that they would never, ever forget and the party never stopped.
We did two stints on Necker and also spent time at the South African Virgin Property of Ulusaba (a private game reserve in the Sabi Sands, South Africa). We were extremely lucky to have had these experiences and will never forget them!
On our return to the UK, we lived on barges, above pubs and eventually in our own house in London. Liz worked for what was the Ian Schrager hotel group, rising to Assistant F&B Operations Manager for both Asia de Cuba restaurant in St Martins Lane Hotel and various restaurants in The Sanderson Hotel. John helped open a John Torode restaurant in Notting Hill and then went to help a friend launch an award-winning pub on Fleet Street.
Returning to Devon
In 2005 we got married. Two years later Joe arrived, the first baby to be born in Kings College Hospital on Christmas day 2007. It was time to leave London as John became a partner in the multi-award-winning Peach Pub company. We headed to Oxford where Jake was born in December 2009 and off we went again, settling in Surrey for the next seven years where John co-owned and ran a pub with Peach which was very successful.
Life was good in Surrey but we always knew that we wanted to head back to Devon if we possibly could. Our dream became reality in 2016 when we purchased Meadow Barn and seven acres with it.
Meadow Barn Farm is a very special and ancient place. It is part of High House Farm (East Portlemouth’s oldest building). There is a scheduled ancient monument on the land – people have been here for thousands of years.
The views look over Dartmoor and towards Dartmouth. It is part of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and for obvious reasons. The South West Coastal path runs close by, Gara beach (Seacombe / Rickham Sands) is a short walk away. Head north down Holset Lane and you quickly arrive at one of the most beautiful creeks on the Salcombe Ria. Head west and you will find Salcombe’s famous beaches and the little foot ferry that will take you across to this beautiful waters-edge town.
The focus at Meadow Barn Farm is on low energy and a slow pace of life. We don’t use fossil fuels if we don’t have to, we walk or cycle when we can, we use traditional methods where possible and we always favour the local.
Devon farm holidays
We were unsure whether we qualify as a proper ‘farm’. Then we looked out the window and saw the pigs, sheep, chickens and all the vege we grow and decided that we do.
Guests at the farm will be sure to come across our mischievous chickens, Devon Large Black pigs, Devon Closewool sheep, some very curious Ouessant miniature sheep, Rudy the dog.
We almost always have eggs and sometimes pork available at the gate and for our guests. We also sell milk from Dartmouth Dairy. Call or email hello@meadowbarnfarm.com to check what we have in stock.
Off-grid holidays
The ‘outdoor’ accommodation at Meadow Barn Farm is off-grid. What we mean by this is it does not have mains electricity and is not hooked up to any networks (gas, phone, internet etc). The loos are very comfortable and clean and are water-less. The feel is a basic one, in a beautiful place. The emphasis (and ethos) is on spending time alone or with ones you love, close to nature and close to the sea. We are not about technology or mod-cons. That said there are sockets available near the house where you can charge devices if you need to. Driftwood Cabin has its own UPS point.
We believe our off-grid set-up will allow people to get away from it all more easily and spend time resetting themselves with their family/friends or alone. Gara Rock Hotel is very close by and has very fast internet should you need it. Most phones pick up 4G around here but we don’t guarantee it.
We're here to help
Our local knowledge is intimate and we are happy to help you out in any way we can so that you make the most of the area. We can pick you up, drop you off, provide you with maps, bicycles, foodie knowledge as well as free-range products from our farm. Meadow Barn Farm is a hive of nature and a very, very peaceful place. We look forward to sharing it with you.