Three Pound Cottage

Devon’s most famous author, Agatha Christie, wrote 88 novels and 19 plays!

2020 brings the 100th year anniversary of Agatha Christie’s first novel “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” which she wrote whilst staying on Dartmoor at Haytor, not too far from our Dartmoor Holiday Home, Three Pound Cottage.

Devon’s most famous novelist wrote 82 detective novels and 19 plays including the Mousetrap.  She also wrote 6 romance novels under the pseudonym Mary Westmacott.  You probably knew that already, but did you know she was one of Britain’s first “stand up” surfers in 1922 at Waikiki in Honolulu?  I didn’t until I read this fantastic article about Agatha Christie with some amazing old photo’s.

Make sure you visit Torquay and see some of her childhood haunts for yourself whilst staying at Three Pound Cottage, the self catering holiday home from home.

12 Jan 20

If you had been in Lustleigh on the 4th you would be excused for thinking there was a raucous shindig going on.  It may have seemed like it but instead it was the critically important custom of Wassailing the village’s Orchard.

Beltane Border Morris

What’s Wassailing?  Wassailing is the ancient custom of scaring away evil spirits and waking up the apple trees to ensure a good crop, particularly for cider making!  It generally takes place on twelfth night and involves singing, dancing, merriment and drinking, it’s like the circle of life.

The Wassailers were the excellent Beltane Border Morris, seeing them perform is one of our top ten things to do whilst staying at our self-catering Dartmoor holiday home, Three Pound Cottage.

10 Jan 20

A Cosy Cottage Christmas

Well it’s Christmas at Three Pound Cottage, and look what Santa delivered… brand new Sofas – this Dartmoor Holiday Home must have been a very good cottage this year!

New Sofas

Michaela and Brian were thrilled “Santa must have spent months, with several site surveys, to find just the right sofa’s for this gorgeous quaint holiday cottage, particularly because the cosy wood burner meant he had to use the front door instead of the chimney!”

The new sofa’s are a different style so Michaela is looking forward to shopping for new cushions and throws to bring it all together.

26 Dec 19

Merry Christmas

Brian and Michaela wish all their guests, past, present and future, a very

Merry Christmas

Joyeux noël

Fröhliche Weihnachten

 and a happy new year full of joy, and possibly a holiday at Three Pound Cottage, the Dartmoor holiday home.

24 Dec 19

Wray Valley Trail

Friday the 20th December saw an early present for cycle enthusiasts, the final 4km section of the Wray Valley Trail between Lustleigh and Wray Barton was finally completed and opened.

The 11km Wray Valley Trail is a multi-use off road path linking Bovey Tracey, Lustleigh and Moretonhampstead to give easier access to the beauty of the Wray Valley.   The route largely follows the disused railway line between Newton Abbot and Moretonhampstead which was closed in 1964 after almost 100 years of service.

Trail Bridge

The construction of the Trail required the installation of two 25 metre long steel bridges to replace old railway bridges crossing the main road.

Don’t worry, if you’re not a cyclist, this community path is for walkers and equestrians as well.  Why not take a stroll along the Trail whilst holidaying at Three Pound Cottage, our self-catering cottage is perfectly placed to explore the beautiful Wray Valley.

22 Dec 19

Hot on the heels of The Telegraph newspaper listing Lustleigh as one of the best villages in England,

May Day celebrations in Lustleigh

Devon Live has compiled a list of 18 Devon towns & villages so beautiful that not only would you want to live there, but you’d want to move there instantly!

Guess which one is top of the list – Lustleigh.  That will come as no surprise to anyone who has enjoyed a Dartmoor holiday staying at our self catering holiday home, Three Pound Cottage.

It’s not just the beauty of Lustleigh that keeps our guests coming back year after year.  No, it’s more than that.  It’s the warm welcoming good hearted community and the fantastic food served in both the village pub and the village tea room.  Of course, we believe the holiday cottage itself plays it own important part also.

16 Nov 19

Woooooooooooooooooo!

Devon is not only famous for cream teas, cider, sunshine and beaches. It is also steeped in folklore, strange ‘appenings and spooky tales.  If you don’t believe us, check out this article listing the 41 most haunted places in Devon.

Needless to say, Dartmoor features greatly with the usual suspects of Kitty Jay, Hound Tor, hairy hands and Wistman’s wood amongst other lesser known Dartmoor Legends.  It was a surprise, however, to see one of Brian’s younger haunts, The Church House Inn at Torbryan is the most haunted pub in the South West (he reckons he often saw the ghostly monk after his third pint of Bishops Tipple)

Rest assured, your sleep will not be disturbed by spooky shenanigans whilst staying at our Dartmoor Holiday Cottage – or will it?

31 Oct 19

Duke of Cambridge visits Devon

His Royal Highness Prince William will be visiting Chudleigh on Emergency Services Day.  That’s this Monday!

He will be given a guided tour of Harcombe House, which is only 10 miles from our self catering holiday cottage.

Owned by the Firefighter’s Charity, Harcombe House is run as a centre to support past and present members of the UK fire service community who are suffering from mental health, physical health or social wellbeing issues.

06 Sep 19

Hunter’s Tor gives fantastic views

Its official, the walk around Lustleigh Cleave is one of the best walks in Devon.

Devon Life’s article details the 4 mile circular walk as well as giving credit to Lustleigh’s idyllic Tea Room and excellent Pub.  It’s an amazing walk combining expansive views of stunning scenery with riverside and woodland – no wonder it’s number 2 on our list of holiday must do’s when staying at Three Pound Cottage, the Dartmoor Holiday Home.  Best of all, you can walk straight from the holiday cottage’s front door and finish in the village pub.

For other great walks in the area check out the walking page in our things to do section.

01 Aug 19

Rare Pied Flycatchers

As well as seeing the 30m waterfall when you visit Lydford Gorge, you may be lucky enough to spot a Pied Flycatcher.

Thanks to National Trust Rangers and Volunteers, 2 pairs of these rare birds are now breeding at Lydford Gorge.

Lydford Gorge is only 27 miles from Three Pound Cottage so why not plan a visit whilst staying at our Dartmoor Holiday Home.  Our self catering cottage is ideally situated for exploring all Dartmoor has to offer, and further afield.

19 Jul 19