Mudpie Fridays >> Cornwall >> Glynn Barton Cottages – Family Farm Stay in Cornwall

Glynn Barton Cottages – Family Farm Stay in Cornwall

Over the October half term the boys and I visited the beautiful Glynn Barton Cottages, a family-friendly farm stay in Cornwall. We always really enjoy a family holiday in Cornwall so I was looking forward to spending some quality time exploring. One thing which I didn’t expect was that by staying at Glynn Barton Cottages I also found a holiday where there is so much for the children to do that I also get a little bit of a break. Is that not what every parent wants? Here is why you should also consider a stay at Glynn Barton Cottages and our review.

AD – We were invited to stay at Glynn Barton Cottages in return for this review, all words and opinions are my own.

Where are Glynn Barton Cottages Located?

Nestled in farmland and rolling countryside Glynn Barton Cottages is located only a few miles from Bodmin. Making it the perfect location to visit if you want to spend time walking the moors, you can even reach the Cardinham woods directly from the property. Because it is in the middle it also means that both the South North Cornwall coast are within easy reach. Ideal for a family holiday in Cornwall.

Glynn Barton Cottages has been run for the last six years by owners Pippa and James. Having two boys themselves they completely understand what families are looking for when it comes to a holiday. Before your arrival, Pippa will send out directions on how to find the cottages. Once you turn off the country lane into the woodland area everything is clearly sign-posted and I found the cottages extremely easy to find.

What sort of accommodation can you stay in at Glynn Barton Cottages?

There are two main different types of holiday homes at Glynn Barton Cottages. There are the beautiful grey stone cottages and the glamping tents with private hot tubs. The cottages range from one and a half bedrooms in the Tack Room where we stayed up to four bedrooms in the Granarys Mill. There are eight cottages in total all finished to a very high standard. So much so that Glynn Barton Cottages has been given a Silver award for the Best Self Catering in England 2022. As well as being named in the top three Self Catering providers in England! Which is a massive achievement.

There are also four glamping tents, two that sleep six in three bedrooms and two that sleep five in two bedrooms. Located close to the animals with views across the countryside. Just as well appointed as the cottages they come with a family bathroom, wood wood-burning stove and a smart TV.

Glynn Barton Cottages Review our Accommodation – Tack Room Cottage

We stayed in the Tack Room cottage, which sleeps three in two bedrooms. It has lovely spacious rooms which have been decorated to a very high standard and was spotless when we arrived. You enter into the main living area. Which is made up of an open-plan living space with an airy dining area that is open to the old wooden beams above. Along one side there is a fully equipped modern kitchen. That includes a dishwasher, full-size fridge freezer, microwave and electric cooker. There is ample storage space in the kitchen area and everything you need for a self-catering break. For ease, we ate in every night and it had all the crockery and utensils we needed.

Just off of the living area is the ground floor master bedroom. This has a double bed and generous windows that run along the side of the room, giving ample natural light. Next door is the stylish family bathroom with a full-size bath and shower. The second bedroom is on the mezzanine above which can be reached by a ladder. For this reason, it is only suitable for children over the age of ten. This large twin bedroom can be either made up as a king bed or two singles. When we stayed this was Charlie’s domain and he loved that he had his own mezzanine area. The room itself has several original beams and built-in storage along the side in the eaves.

The cottage had lots of room for the three of us. Despite visiting in October it was very warm with central heating, It was the perfect space to relax after our days out on the ample sofas. Enjoy a family meal at the dining table. And when I managed it have a quiet cup of tea looking out of the windows across the gardens and acres of woodland beyond.

Glynn Barton Cottages Review – Facilities

Before I get to the long list of activities you can partake in there are a couple of other things which are designed to make your life easier when staying at Glynn Barton Cottages.

Online Guestbook

This is such a great idea as it contains everything you could possibly need all in one place. From arrival instructions to departure. Details of all the things to do both at Glynn Barton Cottages and also details of days out close by. With the days out split by category, you are bound to find something suitable for your family. In the booking process, Pippa will send you a link to this so you can view all the information in advance. In our cottage, there was also a QR code which gave us quick access to the guestbook which I used a lot during our stay.

Honesty Shop

There is a small honesty shop which allows you to pick up the things you have forgotten and pay at the end of your stay. It has most of the essentials as well as some lovely local produce. Stocking essentials such as milk and butter, as well as beer, wine and cider. Of course, the boys were impressed with the range of ice cream on offer. If you arrive late or have been out all day and want a quick solution to dinner they also offer Fees Food frozen meals. Which are homemade tasty meals that all you need to do is pop in the oven. There is also a baking box in the honesty shop that you can borrow if you want to make some sweet treats with the kids.

Baker Tom

You can order in advance of your stay fresh bread and a whole host of treats from Baker Tom. He also delivers while you are at Glynn Barton Cottages. We had some scones, croissants and pano chocolates for our arrival. Then order the crusty French stick and rosemary focaccia to have midway through our break.

Washing Machine Room

You can never guarantee the weather on a holiday in the UK. So I was pleased to find that you can have access to a washing machine. There are four in total so you should be able to use one if needed. Useful if you want to enjoy the great outdoors without fear of running out of clothes.

Parking

When looking to book family-friendly holiday accommodation in Cornwall I always look at the parking situation. Especially if I am travelling with the boys on my own. As I am a bit of an over-packer. There is plenty of parking very close to the cottages, literally right across the lane. With the glamping, you can park right next to your tent.

Things to do at Glynn Barton Cottages Review

There is so much to do at Glynn Barton Cottages much of which is mentioned on their website. But it is not until you are actually there that you realise how much fun there is for the children. The boys were always keen to get back from a day out so that they could play or try something new out. The best part is that the activities are suitable for such a wide range of ages. Running through from toddlers into teenagers. The boys were aged 11 and 7 when we visited and had a blast, there is something for the whole family.

Animal Feeding

With any farm stay in Cornwall, there are of course farm animals. Several mornings a week all the children are invited to join Pippa or Caroline in feeding the animals. There is such a wide range including a wallaby, donkeys, sheep, pigs, chickens, goats and alpacas. There are also two shetland ponies although we did not feed these on our visit as they are relatively new and settling in. The welfare of the animals is of utmost importance and they have lovely big enclosures and lots of shelter. The boys really enjoyed this experience. Even Charlie who I thought may have outgrown it. Animal feeding is included in the price of your stay.

Young Farmers

For those aged 8 and over there is also a Young Farmers session which is held once or twice a week depending on demand. This is where a group of six children get the chance to learn more about the animals and help with grooming and looking after the donkeys or ponies. There is an additional cost of £10 per child for this. The boys really enjoyed looking after the donkeys on our visit and I would encourage you to sign up for this.

Indoor Heated Swimming Pool

The indoor pool was a huge hit with the boys. Sessions can be booked in advance via a link you are set with your confirmation. This means that there is only one family at a time using the pool. The boys really enjoyed having it to themselves. As well as the pool there is also an outdoor hot tub. Just like the rest of Glynn Barton Cottages the pool area and shower room were spotless and extremely well-kept. With plenty of seating and also play pen to keep the tiny ones in if required it has everything you need.

Games Room

Another of the boy’s favourites the games room comes with a pool table and table football, both perfect for older children. There is also a selection of books and various other toys designed for younger guests. The fact that the games room is inside means that it is a great alternative to some of the other activities when the weather is misbehaving. Normally when we go away I need a whole heap of £1 coins but here the tables are free to use. It also gives children the chance to play with friends they have made during their stay at Glynn Barton Cottages.

Archery Barn

We need to get one of these at home! The archery barn was our first stop. There are two bows and targets and a selection of arrows with plastic suckers at the end. We revisited it time and time again and had our own little competitions which I regularly lost.

Nature Trail

If you are looking for a way to encourage the kids away from the play equipment and to spend more time exploring Glynn Barton Cottages then there is a nature trail. I would suggest doing this on the first day or so of your stay as it will help you get your bearings. You can pick up a sheet in the honesty shop and try and find all the pictures of animals, birds and insects located around the property.

Mud Kitchen

In the little woodland area, you will find a mud kitchen with lots of utensils and pans to allow your little ones to make mud pies. There’s also some drain pipe which can extend to water play collecting rainwater.

Toddler Ride Ons

Perfect for small children there is a ride-on area underneath the games room. Which is a great location if you have a reasonable age gap. Although Harry is too old for this area now I can remember a time when he would have happily played on all day on the various cars and trikes. While Charlie would have been up in the playroom. There is also a couple of wendy houses. Plus there is a sheltered area so they can be kept dry in the rain.

Children’s Play Area

There are several different play areas which cover a wide range of different ages. The boy’s favourite was the giant outdoor fort which had plenty of climbing opportunities, a zip line, a fireman’s pole and scramble nets. There is also a toddler play area with a pirate ship, baby swing and seesaw. Along with a sand pit with a couple of sit-on diggers which Harry was particularly fond of. Right in front of the play area, there is a hedge maze which is so much fun to get lost in.

Outdoor Games

Charlie spotted the all weather tennis court first and was very excited by the fact that he could play tennis. However, he soon realised that the rest of the family wasn’t very good. Thankfully he made friends with another child and happily went up to play. There is also croquet and table tennis which we played during our stay. Racquets and balls are provided and available for the kids to help themselves in the washroom.

Indoor soft play barn

This is one for the younger children under the age of six. Soft play is always a hit and with seating for the adults it is great for a rainy day or to wear them out before bedtime. It is located next to the pool and by the table tennis so if you have older children it means that can play table tennis while the little ones enjoy the brightly coloured climbing shapes, ball pit and slide.

Campfires

We visited during Halloween half term and on the first weekend of our stay, Pippa and James kindly threw a Halloween party for all the guests. There were lots of different Halloween activities for the children to take part in. The boys had great fun and it meant that they got to meet all the other children staying at the cottages during our stay. It is such a lovely touch we have not stayed anywhere that has done this before. It is a big investment of time and everyone dressed up and really enjoyed themselves. As part of this, we also had a campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallows.

If you are planning on visiting Glynn Barton Cottages over the Autumn half term then you will be pleased to know that there are plenty of Halloween activities in Cornwall to take part in, including a visit to Strawberry Fields Pumpkin Patch. A stay at Glynn Barton Cottages must be on that list.

Things to do locally while staying at Glynn Barton Cottages

There is so much to do locally close to Glynn Barton Cottages the difficulty will come in deciding what to do first. Plus there is plenty to do regardless of the weather including lots of things to do on rainy days too. So important especially as the weather is never guaranteed on a family holiday in Cornwall.

Our favourite day out in Cornwall is The Eden Project which is only a short drive away and is a must-see. We also visited Padstow to go crabbing and the new National Lobster Hatchery during our stay. There are several National Trust locations in Cornwall which are worth exploring including Glendurgan Garden and Lanhydrock. The closest town is Bodmin which has a wide variety of things to do, along with Bodmin Jail which we visited on a children’s tour.

If theme parks are your thing then Camel Creek is also close by and Flambards which is a longer drive. Due to Glynn Barton’s location both the North Cornish and South Cornish coasts are easily accessible. We enjoyed visiting Looe and going crabbing, as well as its neighbour Fowey which is a beautiful fishing village. Falmouth also offers some great rock pools and the English Heritage Pendennis Castle. On the North coast, you can catch a ferry from Padstow across to Rock and its stunning beaches.

Reasons why you should stay at Glynn Barton Cottages

When travelling with young children you need certain things such as bed guards. A travel cot, high chair, baby baths and a bathroom step. All of these can be provided in your accommodation free of charge.
There is so much to do for the kids to keep them entertained that the parents also get a break. Plus because it is mainly families that stay there’s a chance that they will make friends. Since it is such a safe place for the children it allows the older ones to go off and play independently.
Location, it is close to many attractions that offer a great day out for families.
Your hosts Pippa and James go the extra mile to ensure that all their guests are looked after. Nothing is too much trouble and they have lots of knowledge about the local area too having kids themselves.
Finally, the indoor swimming pool was great fun regardless of the weather we visited it almost every day of our holiday.

Glynn Barton Cottages Review – Conclusion

We had a wonderful stay and I can not think of a better-equipped family stay we have tried out. The boys had a great time and I found it so easy to take them away on my own, as there is so much to keep them entertained. Although this was the first time we have visited Glynn Barton Cottages I am sure it will not be the last.

Have you been on a family holiday in Cornwall? I would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below.