Dear Mummy, we had the most amazing start to 2018 with a trip to Coombe Mill in Cornwall. After the rush and chaos of Christmas, it was a welcomed break. I joined my folks and escaped from city life by heading into the countryside.
When we first started blogging 4 years ago Fiona at Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays, who owns the farm and runs their twitter feed, took us under her wing and introduced us to the lovely blogging community of #CountryKids. She’s a parenting blogger too you see. Since then we’ve been joining in with her linky on her family-run website and sharing each others adventures. Fiona’s photos each week on her blog are amazing and show children like me enjoying themselves on her farm by embracing nature. I’ve kinda grown up with her online, so it was a real treat to meet her in person at her holiday farm.
We stayed from the 27th Dec to after New Year in the period called ‘Crimbo Limbo’, the time that people hibernate indoors eating the leftover turkey and living on Quality Street. We didn’t want to waste away my holiday staying indoors watching Christmas movies so decided to welcome the New Year as we intended to, as a family in the great outdoors.
Escaping the daily grind and getting away from it all was our key criteria and during our stay at Coombe Mill we helped farmer Nick with the feed runs in the morning, held chickens and drove a tractor (sort of!) We saw goats, sheep, Limas and rabbits on the 30-acre estate. Gazed in awe at majestic deer on a frosty morning. My folks loved seeing me happy and the other side of the fence interacting with the farm animals and learning all about them.
On top of the daily feed run Coombe Mill provides a host of other fun activities from crafting to miniature train rides. We discovered a magical fairy garden and large pirate ship play park where I pretended to be Tinkerbell and my folks were Peter Pan and Hook! There was a den building area next to an amazing river with a troll bridge and trampolines. We were lucky with the winter weather as most mornings were frosty and bright and even the rainy days didn’t dampen our spirits as we played in the indoor play barn and crafted at the activity hour in the games room.
We stayed in the 400 year old stone cottage called the Watermill, converted from the original 16th Century mill which sleeps up to 7 people with 3 bedrooms (one ensuite) with comfortable beds. The interior was farmhouse chic with exposed stone walls and views of the farm. Downstairs was the pièce de résistance – a large wood burning stove with a flume that towered past the balcony landing, the main reason why we booked this property. We all snuggled up on the comfy sofas with soft rugs and enjoyed the warmth of the fire after our winter walks. The kitchen was well stocked with all the facilities you could need for a stay and the open plan dinning room was large enough for us to play at, read the morning papers and enjoy our breakfast.
We were most impressed with the hospitality and Farmer Nick, Fiona and their kids were all so friendly and accommodating. Helping us out when we had a question and going the extra mile to make our stay comfortable and one to remember. They even heated up the cottage before we arrived after our long journey.
As we stayed over New Year, the family even held a NYE party in the games room for all the guests with food, bubbly and fireworks which was unexpected and memorable. We weren’t worried that we forgot anything as there was a borrow room on site filled with waterproofs, toys and DVDs that you could borrow for free. Also there was a freezer at reception which was stocked with food incase you didn’t fancy cooking from scratch. There were supermarkets in the town nearby and we made a point of staying in the cozy cottage to eat but we heard that the pubs and restaurants served fabulous food.
When we weren’t having fun exploring the farm we headed to some of Cornwall’s most beautiful destinations. We visited Fistral Beach in Newquay and Readymoney Beach in Fowey. But ran out of time to visit Polzeath and Padstow which are in close proximity too.
We had fun visiting the blustery Boscastle to see the Witchcraft Museum and nearly got blown away and also visited Camel Creek on one of the rainy days and enjoyed the large indoor soft play and rides.
We’d love to return to the area as the Eden Project, Cornwall’s Crealy Theme Park, The Camel Trail, Dairyland Farm World and the historic Tintagel are nearby. Also if you love the stories of King Arthur, many of the folk law stories come from around the area too.
A lot of guests we met were repeat visitors and we can see why, with some of them even traveling from overseas to stay! We too had a lovely time at Coombe Mill and would stay again in a heartbeat. We’d love to head back in the summer and see the beaches in their full glory and enjoy the farm activities in the warm weather. For our first visit to Cornwall it was an amazing place to stay.
Have you stayed in Cornwall?
Love Bella x
Why not Pin for later?
SaveSave
dearmummyblog.com 
Aw thank you Bella and a big thank you to Mummy too, what a lovely review of staying here on the farm. I’m thrilled you managed to join in with so much and discover so many of the less obvious areas at Coombe Mill too. You have such a lovely happy smile and really embraced every new experience which is how to make the most of your holiday. We loved your fun fox mac and matching boots too. I’m so pleased you enjoyed your stay and I do hope we see you again in the summer sometime you are all such a pleasure to have stay.
It’s a magical place to stay with children isn’t it. We loved our trip a few years ago and my son still talks about it now #CountryKids
I always dislike the time between Christmas and New Year and normally end up getting fed up, this is a great idea to use this time to get away as a family. It looks like you all had a fantastic time, we definitely would love to visit to farm this year #countrykids
Ahh I follow Fiona and Coombe farm and we were looking at staying last year. I definitely think that we will make sure to visit in the new couple of years, it looks amazing!
Aaaawwww this was our new years 2 years ago and it was amazing! Looks like you had a fantastic time too xx
How beautiful – the Watermill looks so cosy. I would love to go to Cornwall. #CountryKids
We are so lucky that my in-laws live in Cornwall. They moved there 14 years ago so we go and stay with them every year. They live in Bodmin so we have often passed the signs for Coombe Mill. It looks so lovely there. Sarah #CountryKids
We’re hoping to visit Coombe Mill this year. Great to read you blog and get an outsider’s view – so much going on there, Fiona is a blogging superstar isn’t she! She really helped me get involved in the blogging community. My sisters have recently moved to Cornwall so we’ll be visiting a lot more in future.Coombe Mill here we come! #CountryKids
I love the look of Coombe Mill and we are hoping to visit this year too – great to read an outsider’s review. Fiona’s amazing isn’t she, a real help getting me into the blogging community. My sisters have recently moved to Cornwall so we’ll be down there more often in future. Coombe Mill here we come! #CountryKids
That bunny looked positively cuddly! I’d love for you to link them up with me on Instagram, Lola has a pet community at #ShankYouPets
#AnythingGoes
It’s so rustic but so homely looking, I’m glad you had a great stay.
How lovely does Coombe Mill seem to be – I always love seeing all the pictures people post from there, with all the animals and your room! I’m not sure I would ever want to leave.
Oh it looks beautiful and that log fire, the perfect treat for winter. I love Cornwall and actually we’re off this weekend for my birthday, I can’t wait.
Aww, that looks super super cosy! I love it! So many adorable animals too x
It sounds like you had an amazing break there. Definitely a holiday full of adventures! Coombe Mill looks gorgeous, I would love to be tucked up by the log burner with a book.
Coombe Mill sounds such a fantastic place for a family holiday – especially if you get to cuddle those giant rabbits. The place also looks super cosy; I’m loving those exposed brick walls!
C x
I think it is so sweet that she invited you to stay at the farm at Cornwall and how gorgeous is it? I love the rustic feel of the accommodation and it looks like you and Bella had such a wonderful time x
This looks fabulous nothing better than a stay away, going out adventuring then coming back to a nice snug base
Awww how lovely to go to Fiona’s pad, looks a lovely place to stay and interact X #anythinggoes
I love the idea of going away between Christmas and New Year, you had exactly the right mindset x
Oh it looks so blissful! What a lovely relaxing but fun time it sounds!
What an adorable and cosy-looking place! That fairy garden is so cute too! I’m so glad you and your family had such a lovely time! xx
I would love to stay in that stone cottage! I love the rustic feel, the cozy atmosphere and warm lights. If I could live there, I would!
Aah Fiona is one of my blogging idols – She’s been so welcoming and helpful to bloggers for years now. I would love to think that we will visit Coombe Mill one day.
oh this just looks ideal I know my kids would love it such a beautiful place
This sounds like a lovely holiday and I really love the watermill cottage. It sounds so cosy and warm. I would love to go back to cornwall again.
What a beautiful place to stay! I’ve seen a few people stay there in the past and keep meaning to visit myself!
What a great thing to do in that limbo period between Christmas and new year. It looks beautiful there too.
Looks like a fantastic place to stay with your whole family/ The children will definitely have fun.
Ah what a fantastic way to see in the New Year, I absolutely love the cottage! Great family trip for you all 🙂
Wow it looks so homey and welcoming here. So cozy, and the watermill looks amazing! Looks just like the break I need xo
What a fantastic time to have a little holiday. That period between Christmas and New Year is so topsy turvy that it is a great idea to have a break. I love how you have built up a relationship with Fiona and her farm. Oh and Bella, you look so happy holding that cute little bunny! xx
I would never have thought about going on holiday at this time of year. Looks like you had a wonderful time and its so close to so many tourist destinations too. I am not surprised they have so much repeat visitors theres always so much to do to keep the kids happy! x #CountryKids
Awh this looks like such a lovely place, the rooms looks so cosy! xo
amazing service and glad the hospitality is up there. there definitely was plenty of things to do.
I admire your initiative of getting out of the house and spending the holidays surrounded by nature. And Cornwall couldn’t have been a better choice. The coombe mill farm sounds like a lovely place where children can learn a lot about animals.
Wow, those shots are truly amazing. I really appreciate your feedback about Coombe Mill farm and learned something about your informative piece about it.
Coombe Mill Family Farm looks gorgeous Dawn. I have fond memories of farm based holidays when I was little, and have been looking for something like this for the Summer to take Little Button to. There’s nothing like an outdoorsy adventure filled holiday to set off all the smiles. Isn’t Bella adorable! Thanks for joining us for the #DreamTeam xx
We stayed at coombe mill Christmas 2017. I love how you say you’ve grown up with Fiona, my kids are being the same. #countrykids is one of my favourite link ups. It is such a special place and Fiona is lovely on epic scales!! I’d love to go back, maybe in the summer just to get a different warmer experience! Thank you for linking up to the #familyfunlinky
looks great. I’m not sure I’ll ever get across the ocean to Corwall, but if I’m ever in the neighborhood, stopping in to say hi to Fiona and the animals will be the first thing we do! #familyfun
I’ve seen so many posts about Coombe Mill as well as reading Fiona’s blog and it looks like a truly magical place all year round. Glad you had a great time x
#FamilyFunLinky