Bradworthy: ancient, good-sized village (church, pub, shops, cafe/tea room) round a big square in the middle of Devon’s least populated, least changed farmland big, gently rolling fields, huge skies 4 miles from a main road, between the rivers Torridge and Tamar, close to Cornwall. The Tamar Lakes (fishing, sailing, windsurfing), 3 miles; good sandy beach at unspoilt Sandy Mouth (Nat. Trust), about 8 miles; Bude (more tremendous beaches), 10 miles; unique Clovelly, 8 miles; Hartland’s great cliffs, about 12.

... about a mile north-west of Bradworthy, a detached, single-storey house, converted from a 400 year old barn on a 20 acre smallholding (pygmy goats, pony and donkey to pet and feed, two soppy dogs), over which you are welcome to walk. Lawn with bench. Inside, well done, smart and comfortable, with lots of vaulted beams, exposed cob and stone-work. Living/dining/kitchen (dishwasher, washer-drier, microwave, freezer) with wooden floor and ‘living flame’ electric fire; two bedrooms - a double with TV/video and en suite shower-room (suite), and a zip-linkable twin; smartly tiled bathroom (suite).