Fentrigan Manor Farm

For half term we decided to take the kids to the countryside and chose Cornwall as we had not been there before.

By chance we came across Fentrigan Manor Farm on the internet and as it all looked great we decided to book. Our 3 children (4, 4 and 3 years old) were very excited to go to a real farm! Gill provided route instructions as navigation systems may get you lost in last stretch. Upon arrival the door to our cottage (The Old Stables) was open and while unpacking we were greeted by Richard and black labradors Rex and Oscar. Richard gave us a quick introduction to Fentrigan and showed us around the cottage. The cottage was perfect - spacious living room and kitchen area, 3 proper bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (1 en-suite) all groundfloor and recently done. Additionally the cottage has a great fireplace (we used every night) - logs are farm provided - big flatscreen tv and DVD player, dishwasher and washing machine.

Every day at 10am Gill and Richard feed the animals and collect the eggs and everyone is free to join - our kids could not get enough of the activities around the chickens, rabbits, guinea pigs, ponies! Especially when one rabbit escaped and would not let itself caught easily! Then, weather permitting, Gill takes the children around on Sadie the horse, even the smallest ones. On another day Richard took the children - and some of the parents - around the farm in a cart drawn by his quad bike, very exciting and our kids loved the activities. The 2 labradors are very child friendly and are available for full time petting and playing.

From Fentrigan Farm you have easy access to all the pretty villages and beaches (closest about 10 minutes away) of Cornwall and Richard and Gill provide excellent advise on where to go when (tides are important for some of the beaches). Car is required!

Fentrigan Farm provided us with eggs, bacon and sausages as well as beef to take home - all at extra (very reasonable).

For active parents - there is enough to do: we played tennis on the all weather court and I went running every day around the Warbstow Bury hillfort (2500 year old!) and we made a couple of long walks in the area. Next time we'll bring bikes as there are several well indicated routes. Via Gill we reserved a massage (and facial) by Sandra a very nice French masseuse who lives locally with her family - can recommend. We did not use child care facilities or baby sitting services.

Last piece of advise: take wellies and rain gear to be prepared for England's famously volatile weather.

We will definitely go back!

I have a mixed review of this place.

In some ways I loved it, in other ways I didn't.

Richard is just lovely - a real gem of a man, so patient with the children and really enthusiastic.

They provide a playbarn but it was out of action while we were there - at least it didn't look used in a while, it was dark and everything was cleaned away). And they only told us about the pony rides literally 2 minutes before they started and we had to go out to meet an earlier booking, so we missed it as apparently they only do one a week.

The feeding seemed to be at variable times every morning - not great when the kids want to feed the rabbits but you also want to get out and about. Made planning the day a bit difficult. Some advance notice or something would have been much appreciated!

The cottage we stayed in was clean and tidy enough but appalling soundproofing. Every step felt like someone was coming through the roof. The decor is functional but a little tired downstairs, but to be expected really especially as we were in a doggy friendly cottage. Apart from the soundproofing (literally - none) the cottage was fine and I loved the fact it backed onto a little garden with a sandpit.

I also wasn't sold on the location - a bit remote, but that's what you get I suppose on an ex-working farm so I think it's unfair of me to complain about it as such. I just decided that next time we'd go a bit further south/south west.

All up - my boys loved it. Richard and his son were just lovely.

The petting animals, sheep feeding, cow feeding and Richards patience and enthusiasm are the real winners here - the highlight of Fentrigan imho and their real selling point.

Would I come back?

Maybe.

I didn't have a bad holiday, in fact it was a pretty good holiday and despite the remote location, which is certainly not a dealbreaker, we DID have a good time. Plus it's also not hugely expensive which helps...

but there were just a few things that I didn't like.

There was too little info about the farm, available activities, pricing, what is/is not ok, and too much emphasis on upselling/recommending them on review sites.

All said, it was a good holiday, at a reasonable price - I WOULD go back, but I think I'd only go back if I couldn't find something better.

I hate to write a mediocre review, but I use these reviews to help me make decisions and I feel better to be brutally honest

My first experience of a child friendly farm - my two girls 3.5 and 22 months loved it. They joined in feeding the animals every day and by the end were comfortable around farm animals.

There was plenty of green space- with swings,2 sandpits, even a tree house in the grounds. An indoor play barn complete with table tennis, ride on toys meant there was something to do whatever the weather.

If my children were a little older, I'd have felt happy to have the roam around on their own in the grounds, but my littlelist has a habit of getting herself into scrapes and finding mucky places.

Pony and quad bike rides and a chance to sit on Farmer Richard's tractor were a big highlight for the girls.

The cottage we stayed in was well equipped, and the kids bedroom window even looked out over the pigs.

We didn't make use of the babysitting available but enjoyed the use of a BBQ and logs for a log fire on a cold night.

Logs, farm produce, heating all available for extra charge.

All in all, I'd definitely recommend Fentrigan as an authentic child friendly farm experience in lovely Cornwall.

A Fantastic place to stay with a young family.
I have 3 children aged 2, 3 1/2 and 6. Fentrigan Manor is a working farm with 7 cottages and a farmhouse to rent. They have cattle, pigs, sheep, chickens, ponies, rabbits, guinea pigs, and a fishing lake with fish to feed or catch! (inc the biggest goldfish I have ever seen)and not forgetting Rex the dog. All of which the children can help feed twice a day if they want or just play alongside.
I have never seen my 6 year old son be quite so helpful as he was to "Farmer Richard".
Pony and quad bike tractor rides were a highlight for my two eldest. The best part though was the freedom the children had to go out and play in the farmyard and make new friends without me following their every move. The children they met were between 4 and 13 which was great for them and they all played together really well.
It was a struggle some days to get them to leave the farm and explore the beautiful North Cornwall coastline which has some great beaches.
My 2 year old can now name all of the animals especially the piggies that he watched from his bedroom window.
All in all a great place to stay. Loads to keep the children occupied in a safe environment (whilst you relax) and also activities for the adults if you wanted. Whilst being very close to the coast. It was also so very peaceful at night time.
Gill and Richard are extremely friendly and helpful. The cottages have everything you need and it looks like we will be going back again very soon.