Cathy Halley review 26 Nov 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Staying on the houseboat!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Rent a car because of the location of the houseboats.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
It minimized local impacts on the environment and it benefited the people who owned the houseboats and we went to Holsworthy quite often to eat and shop.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
I would give it an A+.
Amanda Curtis review 29 Oct 2011
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Spending a peaceful time in beautiful surroundings without a TV.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Have fishing lessons before you go!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the solar panels for electricity and recycling make you feel that you are helping.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Great, very comfortable boat and very relaxing time.
Tony Dunne review 22 Aug 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Simply sitting back, enjoying the peace and tranquillity.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Prepare as if you are going on a luxury camping holiday. Chances are you will get damp at some point but use the wood burner on each boat to keep up warmth and spirits!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We genuinely think we had very little impact on the environment. We spent money in local shops - although the nearby Waitrose was a temptation!
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Very high
Sloane Grogan review 22 Mar 2010
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Cycling around to Bude and beyond!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring a bike! Loads of quiet roads nearby.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Caro and Dermot seem to take great care to minimise environmental impact (compost heap, recycling faciilties, solar panels etc). We were really impressed by their efforts.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Couldn't have been more enjoyable. The boat was in great condition and went beyond our expectations.
Tony Rowe review 21 Jun 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The tranquillity and the wildlife really up close. We really were at one with nature. Watched a barn owl hovering and diving in broad daylight, across the lake from us and then all around the boat on numerous occasions. Many swallows flying and dipping in the lake, countless dragonflies and damsel flies, ducks, moorhen, the occasional shy deer in the field behind. Plus the sound of distant sheep and cows.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
You really don't need to go anywhere, just absorb the peace of the setting. If you do go sightseeing, Appledore is a really beautiful unspoilt village with several lovely galleries and Okehampton is also worth a visit. You only need to take the food you would like on the boat. The boat is beautifully equipped for cooking/cleaning etc. There is no mains electricity, so no chance of charging phones and cameras. A fly fishing line would be useful for catching trout in the lake, which you can then barbecue.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
We did eat and buy some food locally and also gift items. The whole ethos of the houseboat is geared up to reducing impact on the environment and helping to sustain wildlife, providing a huge wild meadow, lake, hedgerows, no go areas for humans. Solar power, environmentally friendly cleaning products, compost bin, recycling bins on site.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Exactly what was described in the adverts but much better when you got there. Everything was well thought out with great attention to detail. Very helpful but unobtrusive hosts, just what we wanted.
Louise Spackman review 17 Apr 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I think it was the solitude of the place, so relaxing and quiet, it was like escaping to another world for a week or so!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
A bike it really nice to have as there are some great routes near by. Also hunt out the local farm shops as much nicer than nipping into town and the supermarkets.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Very environmental conscious, not much contact with locals unless you buy from farm shops, visit local pubs etc.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
It was a great week, the location is great, the house boats are lovely and activity wise you can choose to do as little or as much as you like.
Paul Cox review 12 Apr 2009
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Fishing for Rainbow trout in a beautiful secluded lake.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Don’t bring hair straighteners, my daughter had a major shock when she realised there were no electric sockets available!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Local pubs enjoyed my currency as I purchased food and drink from them. Solar powered facilities on the boat and recycling encouraged.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Superb, even with two children used to a faster pace, they adapted to the change by drawing, reading and listening to music. The slowing down enabled me to relax (the fishing helped). Thoroughly recommend to others, I will be going back.
