Fun facts about our farm animal friends

If you fancy a true countryside getaway, it doesn’t get much better than a stay in our farm cottages in Devon! As well as a peaceful country setting and a comfortable cottage to stay in, you’ll also be able to meet and make friends with our lovely ponies, chickens, donkeys, lambs and pigs. Here’s some fun facts about our farm animal friends:

As unlikely as it sounds, chickens are in fact the closest living relatives to the T-Rex.

Pigs are incredible fast runners for their size, and can run a mile in 7 minutes.

Sheep have two toes on each foot.

Pigs don’t roll in mud for fun – they do it to stay cool and prevent their skin from burning in the sun. They don’t have sweat glands so they rely on the mud for protection.

British donkeys have been required to have a passport since 2005.

Sheep don’t have teeth along their upper jawline, and instead they have a hard palate which helps them to grind their food.

Some breeds of chicken, the Ameraucana and the Araucana, can lay green or blue eggs.

Donkey’s milk used to be used as a medicine for sick children, premature babies, and people diagnosed with tuberculosis.

Working ponies drink between 20 and 30 gallons of water a day.

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Our Luxury Holiday Cottages


Honey Pot Cottage
Honey Pot Cottage

Honey Pot is a beautiful, compact cottage ideal for couples. Honey Pot is dog-friendly and fully equipped for a comfortable break in North Devon.

  • Sleeps: 2. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Primrose Lane  Cottage
Primrose Lane Cottage

Primrose Lane cottage is a dog-friendly, compact cottage. Boasting a double bedroom, Primrose Lane cottage can sleep up to 3 with a pull out sofa bed ideal for children

  • Sleeps: 2. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Buttercup Cottage
Buttercup Cottage

Buttercup Cottage is an ideal cottage for families, especially those with fury members as its dog-friendly. Located in the courtyard, Buttercup cottage can sleep 4

  • Sleeps: 4. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Honeysuckle Cottage
Honeysuckle Cottage

Located in the courtyard, Honeysuckle Cottage is dog-friendly and ideal for families of up to 4.

  • Sleeps: 4. Rooms: 4
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Sea View  Cottage
Sea View Cottage

Sea View cottage is a superb, dog-friendly holiday cottage with stunning views across the North Devon coast. Ideal for families of 5. The bedrooms have the amazing view across the Sterridge valley and the Bristol Channel to Wales

  • Sleeps: 5. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:

Sunalways Cottage
Sunalways Cottage

Sunalways Cottage is a spacious, family-friendly cottage sleeping 5 with beautiful views of the Sterridge valley. The vaulted ceilings give a large bright spacious living area

  • Sleeps: 5. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Fisherswood  Cottage
Fisherswood Cottage

Fisherswood Cottage is a large and spacious cottage with beautiful vaulted ceilings. Sleeping up to 5 guests.

  • Sleeps: 5. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Forest View  Cottage
Forest View Cottage

Forest View Cottage is a large, spacious cottage ideal for large families. This cottage is dog-friendly and can sleep up to 6 guests.

  • Sleeps: 6. Rooms: 4
  • Dog Friendly:
Meadow Sweet Cottage
Meadow Sweet Cottage

Meadow Sweet is dog friendly and the largest cottage at Smythen Farm. Book this cottage early as its well sort-after for large families or 2 families sharing. Meadow Sweet boasts stunning views across the Sterridge Valley.

  • Sleeps: 10. Rooms: 4
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