Entire home

Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife

Photo gallery for Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife

Exterior
Exterior
Dining
Living area
Living area

Reviews

9.8 out of 10
Exceptional
5 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 101 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Pet-friendly
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Halwell, Devon
  • Woodlands Family Theme Park
    ‪6 min drive‬
  • Royal Naval College
    ‪12 min drive‬
  • Blackpool Sands
    ‪16 min drive‬
  • Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.)
    ‪50 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

5 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Fifth bedroom

1 King Bed

fourth bedroom

1 King Bed

Master Bedroom

1 King Bed

Second Bedroom

1 Double Bed

third bedroom

1 King Bed

3 bathrooms

Family Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Ground Floor Ensuite

Toilet · Shower only

Shower Room

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden

About this property

Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife

Ritson Farm wraps its arms around the abundance of wildlife, with a garden that welcomes many species of birds feeding from the numerous feeders surrounding the property. With a neighbouring field of donkeys and chickens, what is there not to love? Enjoying simply stunning views of the surrounding countryside and ample space for all the family to eat al fresco, or in those chillier evenings take advantage of the family dining area and beautiful conservatory. Ritson Farm really is an amazing find for big family holidays in South Devon, it is within easy reach of Totnes and Dartmouth which in turn lends itself to exploring the English Riviera. Woodlands Leisure Park is only a five-minute drive away with the award-winning beaches of Blackpool Sands and Bantham in close proximity.

Ritson Farm has been a farm for nearly 300 years with the original farmhouse based in the nearby valley before it burnt down pre-1848. After burning down it was replaced with Ritson Barton which you can see on the way through the old farm when arriving at the property. Just after the Second World War, the new Ritson Farm was built which was latterly a dairy farm with Jersey and Guernsey cows. It now stands majestically in grounds that simply encourage you to stop, relax, unwind and make memories!

With its versatile bedrooms, cosy sitting room with access to the outside, and wonderful kitchen space there is plenty of room for everyone. With the owner having a workshop on nearby land and working as a most talented carpenter you will see many traits of his craftsmanship in the house. Indeed the window frames in the entrance hall are created from old ramps originating from the Dartmouth Lower Ferry and the kitchen island worktop has been made from a chestnut tree which had fallen locally.

A well-behaved dog is welcome. An EV charger is available for you, but please bring your own cable. We ask that make a contribution to the cost of charging your car. You'll find an 'honesty tin' in the kitchen.

Accommodation:

From the moment you enter Ritson Farm you will know that you have found the perfect retreat. The entrance hall (note the display of old keys on the wall, mounted on a piece of Oak dating back to the 14th century) leads you to the fully functional utility room, with every mod con, extra fridge space and also draws you to the family size kitchen with seating for everyone including a fully functioning gas Rayburn - the lintel above it having been reclaimed from Plymouth Dockyard! A large fridge freezer, dishwasher and electric hob are all laid out for ease of use.

The stunning conservatory leads to the glorious outside space and the downstairs double bedroom and en suite. Upstairs are four further bedrooms and two bathrooms: two of the bedrooms offer convenient sleeping arrangements, as the master bedroom offers a choice of either a king or twin beds, and a second room provides two singles which can be joined to create a super-king bed. The other two bedrooms of the four offer a comfortable kingsize bed and double bed. Please let us know how you would like the bedrooms configured when booking.

Ritson Farm is centrally heated and has a log burner for those cosy, chillier evenings indoors.

Outside:

The garden benefits from a large patio area complete with a barbecue and outdoor dining area for 10. A lovely lawn stretches the length of the house and is framed with pretty flower beds and the views stretch over the surrounding fields making this the perfect spot to sit and relax after a day at the beach.


Parking:

There is plenty of parking for 3+ cars on the drive. Ritson Farm also has a Type 2 Electric charge point that guests are welcome to use however guests will need to bring their own cable. We ask that make a contribution to the cost of charging your car. You'll find an 'honesty tin' in the kitchen.

Electric Car Charging is availble for a Donation


Nearby:

Ritson Farm is a short drive from the 2 closest village pubs The Old Inn in Halwell and the New Inn in Moreleigh. Further afield are the towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Totnes as well as the beaches at Blackpool Sands and Bantham


Please get in touch if you need any advice or tips on places to visit, walks (we're right on the South West Coast Path), pubs and restaurants, etc.

Towels and linen are provided, but guests need to bring their own beach towels.

Property manager

Dart Valley Cottages
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

About the area

Totnes

Located in Totnes, this holiday home is in a rural area. Salcombe Maritime Museum and Overbecks Museum and Garden are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Woodlands Family Theme Park and Slapton Ley Field Centre. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Newton Abbot Racecourse or Torquay United FC.
Map
Halwell, Devon

What's nearby

  • Woodlands Family Theme Park - 6 min drive - 6.1 km
  • Royal Naval College - 12 min drive - 14.3 km
  • Dartmouth Castle - 14 min drive - 17.0 km
  • Blackpool Sands - 16 min drive - 18.0 km
  • Slapton Sands - 18 min drive - 14.4 km

Getting around

  • Totnes Station - 16 min drive
  • Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) - 54 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Totnes Steamer Quay - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪Bay Horse Inn - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪The Dartmouth Inn - ‬11 min drive
  • ‪The Bull Inn - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Waterside Bistro - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Family home, tranquil setting, abundant wildlife located?

Situated in a rural location, this holiday home is 2.6 mi (4.2 km) from Woodlands Family Theme Park and within 9 miles (15 km) of South Devon and Slapton Ley Field Centre. Totnes Castle and Historic Buildings are also within 9 miles (15 km).

Reviews

9.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 22 out of 25 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 3 out of 25 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 25 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 25 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.0/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.0/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Working holiday

Ritson Farm is a great place to stay. It's very peaceful and we loved watching all the birds that visited the bird feeders right outside the kitchen window. Richard and Debbie are great host, very friendly and approachable. I would definitely stay here again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Hannah R.

A beautiful house in a great location

Ritson farm is a home away from home with everything you need for a comfortable stay. There is plenty of space for an extended family gathering or group of friends and a lovely garden for BBQs and games. We particularly loved watching the birds on the bird feeder and the thoughtfully provided binoculars and bird book. It is these little details that set Ritson Farm apart from the crowd.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carole S.

Wonderful Holiday

We had a fantastic holiday staying at Ritson Farm, there was plenty of room for 10 adults, the kitchen was well stocked with everything you could need, the beds were very comfy and it's was great having so many bathrooms with so many of us. We really appreciated the extra little touches like the basket of goodies and fresh flowers. The landlord was very helpful and quick to come round when were having problems with the electric car charger. Ritson Farm is set in a lovely quiet rural setting and it was easy to get to Dartmouth, Salcombe, Kingsbridge etc from there. We loved seeing and hearing the Donkeys in the field by the farm and also the free ranging chickens . We will definitely be booking to go back again.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

So comfortable

This was our second stay at Ritson Farm. Walking back through the door was a joy, especially when greeted with fresh flowers, eggs and a basket of home grown fruit and vegetables. The large kitchen-diner is perfect for a big family group, although you do have to be comfortable cooking on a Rayburn. Bedrooms are very well appointed and comfortable, and the large lounge with a selection of comfy chairs and sofas is fantastic. Added this year was a garden room in place of the old conservatory and this was a lovely improvement, with views over the flower-filled garden. But my favourite thing about Ritson Farm may seem a strange choice- it’s the huge utility room off the entrance hall! Wetsuits, swimming gear, bikes and boots all go in here and with a big sink and a drying rack it’s so easy to keep any mess out of the house, making for a much more relaxing holiday.

10/10 Excellent

James D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect family retreat

With all 4 of our children being 17 and older, having space to themselves is paramount for our family holidays, and Ritson Farm delivered that in spades. Plenty of places to disappear and do what they wanted to do without interference from siblings! The location is remote (think "quiet") and away from busy roads. It's central to everything in South Devon though, so all beaches and coastal towns are no more than a 30 minutes drive away. I can't rate the house (and owners) highly enough - absolutely wonderful in every way and we look forward to going back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

A wonderful week

We had a wonderful week in this lovely house and the grandchildren specially liked the donkeys and chickens.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Dawn K.

What a wonderful property, everything you need and amazing style.

What a wonderful property, everything you need and amazing style. Location great for Totnes and surrounding area and beaches nearby. Loved it.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Stella B.

A lovely week at Ritson Farm

Ritson Farm is a stunning property with plenty of space for large families. We were 6 adults and 2 young grandchildren. The pretty garden is peaceful and secure with rural views. Ritson Farm is in a rural setting yet close to several beaches, Dartmouth, Totnes and Salcombe are also a short drive. Owners are close by if any questions or issues. We would definitely stay again
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Lovely house,to stay at for a large group or family,

Every comfort you could wish for, large spacious kitchen area with dining room, comfortable lounge and large conservatory to the rear. This leads onto a large covered Patio. All bedrooms well equipted and spacious.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Peter M.

Delightfully situated superb farmhouse.

We visited Ritson Farm in April and were blessed with wonderful weather. Tastefully furnished spacious well planned accommodation, it provided our family of grand parents, parents and four grandchildren with privacy when needed and a huge farmhouse kitchen and conservatory in which to enjoy together time. Well equipped kitchen and utility room. Five pretty bedrooms with comfortable beds and linen. Three large bathrooms, two with showers and one with bath so a choice for everyone. Handy downstairs cloakroom. We, grandparents were nicely tucked away on the ground floor with en-suite facilities. Very peaceful. Everywhere immaculately clean. Debbie added some nice little extras which were much appreciated. Lovely waymarked countryside walks from the door. Within easy reach of the coast and pretty villages and towns. Dartmouth and Salcombe simply stunning. No time in a week to discover it all but we hope to return one day. Fantastic views, birdsong from every window and visiting wildlife made this a truly memorable family holiday.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Martyn M.

Comfortable, great location, peaceful, all facilities provided even good weather!

Comfortable, lovely views with donkeys nearby. Peaceful, great location and very good pubs and restaurants.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

David H.

Loved our holiday, loved the house

We, two families and two grandparents traveled the breadth of England from Norfolk to Devon with some torrid traffic along the way to Ritson Farm a place we had never stayed at so there was excitement but prepared for a reality check. We need not have worried as Ritson was such a relaxing place to stay at. With four boys and six adults we never felt like we were tripping over each other. Light and airy, a garden just big enough for some games and a super kitchen-diner made for easy living and coped with the bustle of holiday life. The upstairs bedroom and bathrooms were a perfect combination for our two families whilst grandparents occupied the ground floor bedroom, the latter proving to be a relatively quiet location. I will mention three adverse points but these in no way would put us off from booking again. Firstly, the dishwasher was rubbish, we practically serviced this three times clearing spray arms etc, perhaps better quality tablets than those provided might help. Secondly the ground floor bed is a double and for us too small. Finally, the flies. Ok Ritson is surrounded by farmland so flies sort of go with the territory but what a pain. Now back to the good stuff. Ritson is far from the madding crowds which is great yet its location is super for so many locations in the South Hams whether beaches, river towns of sea resorts. Ritson is a warm, welcoming house with nice arty touches. It swallowed our tribe and coped with a full on holiday frenzy, Well done, yes right on, yes Ritson!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Helen W.

A wonderful week

Ritson Farm felt like home from the moment we arrived. The living room is so relaxing and the kitchen a beautiful place to cook and eat. Kitchen was very well equipped and the whole house felt bigger than we’d expected, down to the lovely entrance hall to the enormous utility room which was fantastic for storing bags, doing washing and keeping our bikes. Upstairs was brilliant for the extended family, one family on one side of the staircase with 2 bedrooms and bathroom and same again on the other side. The little ones loved visiting the donkeys and the walk from the door down to the river and through the fields was idyllic. Great location for beaches, pubs and local sights. Thanks Debbie for your help when our car battery died! Hope to return.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Jo B.

Perfect place for a family stay

We had a lovely family holiday at Ritson Farm It is a beautiful, well appointed, spacious house, and all the five bedrooms are a good size. The communal areas are also very comfortable and the whole house is very well maintained. It has a large utility room which was really useful when we came back from the beach. The kitchen is large with pretty blue painted units, and if you like to cook it has all the kitchen equipment that you would require. The garden is really pretty and a lovely place to spend time. There is a lovely large patio with a big table and benches, and we ate outside every evening which was lovely. My only criticism would be there were not enough comfortable garden chairs for 10 adults to “lounge” in and spend time comfortably all together. The location is great for easy access to Totnes, Dartmouth and Kingsbridge and all the beaches in that surrounding area. There were also some lovely walks across the fields directly from the house which we really enjoyed. We had a lovely week, thank you.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Excellent family holiday accommodation

I saw the pictures of this property on the website, but held reservations because they often show the best bits and no negative points. However on arrival this property exceeded all my expectations. It is well equipped and the owners of the property were on hand without being in any way intrusive . Perfect for adults and children we had a fabulous week with our 2 sons, their wives and 3 grandchildren. The house is spacious with a good sized garden. We spent a week there in June 2021 and it certainly ranks amongst our best holiday destinations. Many thanks to owners Richard and Debbie.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Simon A.

A secluded owners home between Dartmouth and Kingsbridge

Covid destroyed plans for my entire family of 6 adults and two infants going to Tuscany. Glad , in the end , that it did as we found this great secluded farmhouse. Clean as could be wished for. comfortably accommodating us all. Great terrace and nice garden. Very well equipped . Only minor quibble the mattress in the second double bedroom was a bit hard, but after a good ay out it did not prevent us sleeping. Nice sitting room . A safe location if young children involved . I hope we might return -if the owners who were generally about, as it is their home on their farm, will have us!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ruth D.

Stunning house with many extras!

We have just had a fantastic week at Ritson Farm. The house itself was beautiful with plenty of space for 10 people. The location was excellent- so close to Dartmouth, Dittisham, Salcombe and Kingsbridge . The fresh flowers, food basket and veggie box were lovely extras as were the dog treats. Thank you
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Ann H.

A week at Ritson farm

We stayed at Ritson farm last week. The accommodation has everything you need for a very comfortable week self catering. With one of its bedrooms downstairs it's ideal for anyone taking an older family member. The adjoining bathroom is huge with a walk in shower. The kitchen has a massive fridge/freezer and opposite is a massive utility room with a further large fridge and under unit freezer. Hot water is plentiful and the beds very comfortable. We found the duvets hot and heavy but in fairness the weather was excessively hot. The opportunity to eat out on the covered patio and have a BBQ was particularly pleasant overlooking the beautiful garden with donkeys and their foals in the field behind. Both Debbie and Richard, who own the property and live near by, were very kind and helpful. We hope to go back.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Janet Y.

Family united!

It suited us perfectly: ground floor bedroom and bathroom for me (granny) - calm and quiet; one family and child on one side of the landing; the other with 9 week baby + 2 boys 3 and 6 on the other. A bathroom each - couldn't be better. Lovely terrace and garden; utterly lovely countryside. Furnishing family-oriented and comfortable. Household equipment all good.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Karen P.

Great house for large groups in a beautiful location

Spacious house for large group . Great to have outdoor space in the garden. Owners responded quickly to problem with electric car charger and were really friendly. Shame one shower was broken as we had chosen a 3 bathroom house for a 3 family group but the are 2 other showers. Bed in downstairs bedroom made very loud creaking noise but mentioned this to owner who said they would look into it. Lots of seating space which was good. Could have been cleaner - lots of cobwebs. In a beautiful area with stunning beaches and walks nearby but lovely and quiet in remote spot if you prefer a quiet time. Would recommend it.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Alison C.

Perfect staycation

The house is a good size and layout with everything you would need to stay as a group. Beautiful garden and great opportunity to watch the many birds coming to feed outside. Good location, secluded but not too remote and close to beaches and interesting towns. The owners were very friendly and came to help us out quickly when we called with a question. The perfect place for our staycation :)

8/10 Good

Carol C.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday at Ritson Farm

House garden etc. excellent. the weather was not too good but it is English summer! however, the accommodation made up for the weather. Manny thanks to the owners.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Sarah R.

Wonderful memories

We created wonderful memories at Ritson Farm with 3 generations and a dog! It was very comfortable and perfect for a large family. Location was great - close enough to towns and the coast. Facilities were excellent. It had everything any family could possibly need, including a boules set for the garden and a dog kit for your four legged friend!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Michael J.

BH2018/01289

We were really impressed with this lovely house, which felt more like a home than a holiday let. It is situated in rural surroundings with far reaching views of the beautiful Devon hills with a field of donkeys at the end of the garden and chickens wondering around.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Carol T.

Home from home.

We loved Ritson Farm. A great space for 3 generations to stay. The farm has a real homely feel often lacking in holiday rentals. We all had lots of space to relax. Kids loved the animals you can see and hear from the house. It had all the things we needed from a well stocked kitchen to logs in the basket. Our problem with working the range was sorted asap. It is also a great location for visiting lots of places Dartmouth, Totnes, Salcombe. All in all a lovely place and we throughly enjoyed our stay. Many thanks

About the host

Hosted by Dart Valley Cottages

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Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests