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Each boat has 2 ensuite (shower/wc) cabins, full galley, salon, sun decks. All boats have "boat houses" on shore with ensuite shower/wc for Clouded Yellow and Painted Lady, allowing for additional space to spread yourselves. Each boat has bbq and picnic areas and each is secluded and completely private.
Activities: Fishing is available at no extra charge (organic Rainbow Trout) and binoculars are available for bird watching. A beach is only 20 mins away by car for surfing and swimming and a reservoir is within 8 miles for sailing and windsurfing. Other activities in the area include cycling, fishing and horseriding.
Family friendly: The houseboats are particularly suited to two families wishing to holiday together yet in separate accommodation. Ensuring the entire 35 acres for the children to explore. Suitable for children over 5. The woodland, stream and oak lined hedges provide hours of fun for adventurous children and hours of peace for parents!
By train: Newquay is 40 miles away, Exeter is 45 miles and Plymouth is 55 miles.
By road: Head into Devon towards Exeter. Take the A30 towards Okehampton. We are approx 20 miles from Okehampton.
We have been awarded the Silver Green Tourism Business Scheme Award. The nature of the houseboat accommodation offers the visitor the unique opportunity to co-exist with nature. The visual impact of the houseboats and the lake are an additional feature to the surrounding area.
The boats operate on electricity from solar power, have marine toilets (water efficient), instant hotwater units and a woodburning heat system supplied from site. We make sure that the guests are aware of the solar power system and as such that there is a limited supply depending on the daylight hours. Water on the boat has to pumped off the boat via electric pumps so we ask visitors to keep showers short and not to run taps unnecessarily. We have onsite composting and we have recycling bins for cans, plastics, bottles, glass, newspapers, paper, cardboard. We use Ecover products and leave them for the guests to use.
We are encouraging new wildlife such as hunting birds, wetland birds, hare, deer, barn owl, rabbits and voles by planting 13,000 trees, creating a 4 acre lake and wetland, not interfering with the wildlife balance. The lake was developed particularly with conservation areas in mind. Specific areas have islands and marsh bog areas that are not accessible to walkers. We instruct visitors not walk in certain areas and to respect the birdlife especially when there are chicks present. We manage our hedgerows to encourage wildlife. Hedge trimming to a minimum in order to allow a natural habitat for animals and birds.
We employ local staff and local agricultural contractors for work such as hedge trimming, topping rushes, land management. We have also employed a local cleaning company. We also encourage guests to shop in the local farmers market.
Blagdon evolved from nothing but a couple of Devon fields into a home and business for the O'Neill family. Dermot and Caro first bought the 35 acres which were being grazed by cattle in 2002. They planted 13,000 young trees of mixed local varieties and dug a 5 acre lake. Blagdon is at the end of the original Bude Canal at Blagdon Moor Wharf and so barges seemed to be the most appropriate form of craft to have on the lake. Encouraged by delighted visitors the first boat was joined by two others. We are proud to offer visitors the opportunity to experience the real countryside.
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