We absolutely adore Cornwall and when we were asked to stay at Glynn Barton Cottages for the week during February half term, we jumped at the chance. Set in 13 acres of forest located in Bodmin, Glynn Barton specialises in truly magical child friendly holidays with everything you need right there on your doorstep. Centrally located for exploring both coastlines, as well as some of Cornwalls top attractions, it is described as being the perfect place for a Cornish family adventure. And let me tell you, it was all we had hoped for and more.

The Accommodation

Glynn Barton offers eight multi award winning 18th century cottages plus two luxury canvas lodges and we were excited to be staying in the Hayloft cottage during our stay. The Hayloft is a three bedroomed cottage with two bathrooms, a large living and dining area as well as a spacious kitchen. Sleeping six, it’s the perfect choice for larger families or those who choose to holiday with grandparents or friends.

Our initial reaction on entering the cottage was just how beautifully clean and spacious it felt. With a modern decor but still oozing with that traditional farmhouse charm, the entrance gives way to the staircase, a large hall way with doors off to a twin bedroom, the master bedroom and a large family bathroom.

One of the great things about The Hayloft is undoubtedly the fact it has two bathrooms, something that is so needed with a larger family or those holidaying with family or friends. The main bathroom is a great size with a sink, toilet, bath and shower, perfect if you are staying with younger children who prefer baths to showers – like our three. I love how Glynn Barton really cater for families with added extras, such as the toddler step for the toilet, and those little things really make a big difference when you’re staying somewhere with kids.

In the downstairs twin bedroom you will find two single beds, a large chest of drawers, hanging hooks on the walls and a bedside table with two night lights. We found this room to the darkest room in the house due to the way the cottage faced which made for the cosiest room in the house for the girls to sleep. In fact they were so bowled over by the lighthouse bedside light and the woodland creatures on the walls that getting them in bed each night was easier than ever!

The girls favourite spot was most definitely by the window, sat in the wicker chair looking out and watching the world go by. I loved how large this bedroom felt and how it gave the girls the space to play or relax together at the end of a long day.

The master bedroom was beautiful with a king sized bed, chest of drawers and a large walk in wardrobe with hanging rails, shelves and space to store our cases too. As you all know I suffer a lot with insomnia so sleep can be a real issue for me but due to a combination of how cosy the room was, and that Cornish sea air, I slept like a dream throughout our stay and it made a big difference to my enjoyment of the holiday as a result.

The master bedroom boasts a spacious en-suite with a walk in shower, sink and toilet too, all of which was spotlessly clean with all of those thoughtful added extras. We also loved that our cottage came with bath towels, hand towels and even towels for the swimming pool which freed up some much needed case in our suitcases!

Upstairs you will find the second twin bedroom with the most beautiful high vaulted ceiling with a velux window and a remote control operated blind. Here you will also find a spacious wardrobe, bedside table and a wicker chair. We loved the wooden beams and textured walls, it felt very different to being at home and I think when you have children that’s always part of the excitement.

Also upstairs is the main living space with a large open plan living, dining and kitchen space. With two large sofas and a dining table to seat six we loved that there was room for all our family to spread out and enjoy our time together at the cottage. With the high vaulted ceiling it felt lovely and airy and, when the storm hit at the end of our stay, it was such a cosy space to snuggle up in.

I particularly liked the thoughtful touches such as extra blankets in a bedding box beside the couch, perfect for the cooler evenings or warming up after playing outdoors. Throughout our whole stay there wasn’t a single thing I can think of that Glynn Barton hadn’t thought of, from the practical touches to the added luxuries. I think that speaks volumes about their attention to detail.

Having a dining area is always a bonus when you’re holidaying with children and, with Glynn Barton providing fully equipped self-catering cottages, it meant for the most part we ate all of our meals right here. I think when you have children an open plan living area works perfectly, we all know that you can’t turn your back for one minute when it comes to kids! I also loved that the upstairs has a stair gate as an extra safety measure.

The Hayloft also comes with a wood burning stove but to be honest we relied on the central heating which was more than enough and so we didn’t use this during our stay. That said, I imagine it adds a lovely cosy feel in the evenings during the colder months.

The kitchen was beautifully stylish and fully equipped with everything we could possibly need for a self catering stay – a full sized fridge freezer, a dish washer, microwave, oven and hob, even a coffee machine! The cupboards were fully stocked with cooking and baking equipment, ample cutlery and crockery, and so many added extras we wouldn’t have even thought about but made great use of.

The children adored the breakfast bar beneath the window where they could sit and look out as they ate their breakfast or lunch together. It was such a lovely spot, flooded with sunlight, and a really lovely addition to the kitchen area.

Infact, when I asked the children what they would miss the most about our stay at Glynn Barton Eva actually said “Sitting at the breakfast bar and eating my boiled eggs from the chickens!”. It’s those little moments we will always remember the most.

Meet the animals

One of our absolute favourite things about Glynn Barton Cottages, both for myself and the children, is the animals. As huge animal lovers our children were beside themselves with excitement to discover a range of animals just outside our cottage which they could visit throughout our stay and also take part in animal feeding with the owners Pippa and James at 9am on various days in the week.

Some of the animals, such as the wallabies and the pigs, required their food to be thrown over and others, like the donkeys or the goats, could be hand fed. Eva has always been a real natural when it comes to animals, they almost sense how much she loves them and they flock to her. Harry on the other hand is very nervous around animals and so I loved seeing him get stuck in during our stay and how by the final feeding session, he had the animals feeding out of his hand, quite literally.

The donkeys Sebastian and Sweep were a real favourite with Eva especially, she still talks about them now and how lovely they were. With so many children visiting Glynn Barton Cottages over the years the animals have become very used to being petted and stroked and they were so gentle as a result.

Alongside the wallabies and donkeys, you can also find the sheep, lovingly named by the owners children – Rocky, Zuma, Skye and Fluffy. They were such lovely animals, incredibly tame and I have to say, every single animal at Glynn Barton was impeccably looked after and living a wonderful life in the rolling countryside. It was actually really lovely so see how happy and healthy they all were.

You can also find Bert and Ernie the alpacas who are real characters and made us laugh each morning as they came bounding over. They will eat straight out of your hand or, for younger or more nervous children straight from the tubs which every child is given during the feeding sessions. We had children as young as two years old right up to teenagers taking part, I think when it comes to animals you never grow too old to enjoy feeding them!

Harry’s favourite animals were the goats which actually surprised me as they always seem to be the most boisterous. Despite their very enthusiastic feeding, they are very gentle and James told the children how often they will roll around on the floor with him like playing with a dog. Safe to say, Eva has been asking for a pet goat ever since.

Feeding the chickens was a lot of fun but more than that, collecting the eggs each morning was so exciting for the children. James and Pippa made sure that each child had an egg to take back to their cottage and I have genuinely never tasted eggs quite so delicious in my whole life. The only downside is that since we returned home, no other eggs lives up to those golden yolks!

And lastly you will find the pigs – Toffee and Captain Hook – who would poke their snouts through the wooden gate each morning in anticipation of their food. Although we couldn’t hand feed these, the children took great pleasure in throwing in handles of food and these two took great pleasure in devouring every last bit.

Of all the lovely moments we shared at Glynn Barton over the week, I think my favourite moments were undoubtedly those crisp clear mornings when we went out to feed the animals before breakfast and the looks on the children’s faces throughout. Those moments brought a lump to my throat somehow and I think it was during those times when I really understood the magic of Glynn Barton.

The Facilities

When it comes to facilities, there isn’t a single thing Glynn Barton doesn’t provide and the most useful of these are housed in the building adjacent to the cottages. Here you will find three separate rooms with the first being a large recycling system. I love that the owners are dedicated to recycling in this way and with clearly labelled bins it makes it very easy for every guest to follow suite. In the next room you will find washing machines and dryers, perfect for those who need to do any laundry during their stay or dry off wet clothing if the Cornish weather isn’t quite so kind. And in the third room you will find the honesty shop where several freezers house pre-packaged meals from Angels in the Kitchen, local produce, craft ales and even ice creams for those Summer months.

The Play Barn

The Play Barn is unlike anything else we have come across during our travels, situated just a stones throw from the cottages so the children don’t need to wander too far, and jam packed with everything you could ever think of to keep them entertained. When visiting out of season the play barn is the perfect spot to while away rainy days and in our case, shelter from the storm.

Inside you will find a pool table, table football, a basket ball net, darts as well as books, toys and games for every age range. The great thing about Glynn Barton is that due to the nature of the lay out, and the fact it just feels incredibly safe, our children were able to come and go as they pleased which was great for them to have that little bit of freedom, and great for us to enjoy a very rare moment of peace!

That said, I think we enjoyed the play barn as much as they did and I loved our pool tournaments in the evening, or getting highly competitive over table football with girls against boys. Plus for those with younger children there is a lovely seating area to relax in whilst the children play with the toys so whatever the age of your children, there is always the hope of a few minutes to yourself!

The Pool

Our children are obsessed with swimming so the fact that Glynn Barton has a swimming pool was literally the highlight of their week. Measuring 15 x 30 feet, fully heated with an average of 88°, we looked forward to our swimming session each day. There are a number of floats, pool noodles, inflatables and diving toys to use during your session and as well as toilet and changing facilities.

Outside in an enclosed terrace is the hot tub which was our favourite way to end the day. There is something so relaxing about sitting in the hot tub when it’s freezing cold outside and with those clear Cornish skies, it’s the perfect spot to look up and see the stars too.

Archery Barn

Outside you will find one of our favourite spots – the archery barn! I feel as though I spent the whole week marvelling at the creative ways Pippa and James have made full use of the out buildings and the archery barn is just such a fun addition. With a covered roof, so perfect for rainy days, something as simple as a few bow and arrows and some targets on the wall really did make for hours of fun.

With visiting during a quiet time of year our children made full use of the fact that often we were the only family using the facilities but I would imagine in the peak seasons all of the children play together and have the most fun making friends. When we spoke to James and Pippa they said it was lovely to see the children forming friendships over the Summer and how nobody is ever left out. I absolutely love that thought and can just imagine all of the children running wild together whilst their parents finally took a breath and relaxed.

The Maze

I don’t think we have ever stayed somewhere with its very own maze before but Glynn Barton boasts just that! Beautifully pruned and perfectly designed, the maze is such a fun spot for children of all ages and our three had so much fun in there during our stay.

Giant Outdoor Fort

The giant outdoor fort is one of the best play areas we have come across, even rivalling large holiday parks and luxury hotels. The quality and the workmanship is exceptional and where as often I panic when the kids go careering off towards a play area, this felt so sturdy and safe I was more than happy to let them play away from view throughout our stay.

With bridges and slides, climbing walls and ropes, it really is the play area of dreams and you can imagine how much fun the three of them had on there throughout the week. Often I would come out of our cottage and hear their laughter all the way from up the hill at the fort, or they’d rush in through the door with their cheeks flushed and filled with excitement, asking for a quick drink before they’d go back out to play.

I love how Glynn Barton encourages children to just be children and, throughout our whole stay, I found it so reminiscent of my own childhood holidays where we literally played all day long, whatever the weather.

As well as encouraging children to be children, I think Glynn Barton is the perfect place for grown ups to do the same and both Gaz and I had a great time embracing our inner child on the swings, chasing the children around the maze and clambering up the climbing walls whilst the children squealed with delight. Sometimes the most simple moments are the ones we will remember the most and I think we made so many of those memories throughout our week.

Wendy House

Below the giant fort you will find the wendy house which was a real hit with our girls especially. Inside there are stairs up to a second level which is incredibly exciting when you’re a child, and to the outside a giant connect four game to enjoy.

We found the Wendy house was a real favourite spot for Oscar the cat whom Eva became very attached to. Often I would look out and she would be sat with him beside her, blissfully happy, and every much in a world of her own.

Outdoor games

To the side of the fort there are tyres forming an obstacle course which the children loved as well as giant Quoits. At the start of the week Harry was absolutely lethal with the hoola hoops and yet but the end of the week he amazed us all with his skills! It was lovely seeing all three of the children’s confidence grow throughout the week in every activity and in themselves as people.

It was also lovely to be able to try new games, such as this quoits, which we hadn’t previously come across and I think that’s all part of the holiday experience. Some children may visit Glynn Barton who haven’t previously tried archery for example, or have never had close encounters with animals before, and they may well leave with the love of a new sport or interest they can carry on back home which is amazing!

Pizza Oven

Although we didn’t use it during our stay, there is a wood fired pizza oven located next to the fort which I would imagine is hugely popular in the warmer months. With picnic benches beside it and the most beautiful views to look out on, I imagine it is the perfect spot to sit and eat together on those warm summer evenings.

Weekly campfire

Our children had looked forward to the weekly campfire all week and it did not disappoint. Located at the fire pit, once a week a weekly campfire is held where the children are able to toast marshmallows and drink hot chocolate. The owners told us they usually do this on the last night before change over day so that families can all come together as a final farewell and I think that just sounds like the most perfect ending to the holiday.

As you can imagine the children loved toasting marshmallows, and of course eating them too, and I think it was definitely one of our favourite moments of the week together. There’s something about a campfire which always takes me back to my childhood – the smell of smoke, the crackling of the flames, the memory of my Mum or Dad holding my little hand wrapped up in my warmest gloves. I hope in years to come my children will remember these moments in just the same way.

Trampoline

Infront of the swimming pool you will find the trampoline, fully enclosed with a safety net and a great place to burn off some energy. I also love that the swimming pool door is locked at all times so even when the children are playing close by, there was no chance they could wander into the pool at any point.

Table Tennis

Next to the pool you will find the table tennis table which seemed to be quite popular with the older children. I loved how every single activity at Glynn Barton is completely free with all equipment provided to use during your stay. We have very rarely come across that before on our travels and with three children who like to try their hand at everything, it was so refreshing!

Indoor Soft Play area

For those staying with younger children and toddlers you will also find the indoor soft play area which is such a great addition to Glynn Barton. With a seating area to one end it means parents can sit back and enjoy some time to theirselves whilst the children go wild.

 Sand Pit and ride ons

Also great for younger children is the outdoor sand pit and, beside it, the toddler ride-ons such as tractors, trikes and scooters. That said, at seven, Harry loved the sand pit and I would often find him playing in there having a great time with the dinosaur toys.

Toddler play area

Also for toddlers and younger children is the outdoor play area with much smaller equipment to the fort and a fully enclosed fenced off area to keep them safe. The real beauty of Glynn Barton is how it perfectly caters to children of all ages, something we often struggled to find with having such a large age gap between the children and Lewis.

Tennis Court

For those who enjoy tennis there is a large tennis court free for both children and adults to use. Neither Gaz nor I play tennis but the children enjoyed their own, rather unique, way of playing it together!

The Mud Kitchen

The mud kitchen is another genius addition to Glynn Barton with something so simple as an outdoor kitchen and some pots and pans bringing hours of fun. Eva completely fell in love with the mud kitchen and would rush into the cottage after playing to tell us about the pie she had baked of sticks, or the soup she had made of leaves, and at ten years old I love that she is still loves to play in this way and use her imagination.

For those visiting in the Summer months when the Cornish sun is out in full beam, the mud kitchen is a beautifully shaded spot to play in the moments you need a little shade. We also found that because of the way the trees had grown above, even on the rainy days it stayed nice and dry in there so the children could still play whatever the weather.

The jungle

Alongside the very obvious attractions of Glynn Barton, we loved all of the little quirky parts too such as the jungle which was a lovely little walkway and, I am told, a great spot for hide and seek. Everywhere you turn there is so much attention to detail and I can’t commend Pippa and James enough for creating something so practical and yet so magical at the same time.

And I guess that’s the crux of what makes Glynn Barton so special, the fact you can come here to a home away from home, stay in the most beautiful cottage, with everything you could ever need, and have a whole world of fun on your doorstep. I love that it gives our children the freedom they crave in a safe and secure environment; that it encourages them to try new things, to gain new interests and to grow in confidence. I love how there is so much to do there as a family, but also so many things to do as individuals too; how you can spend the entire week right there at your cottage, or use it as a base to explore Cornwall, and have the very best time either way.

Mostly I loved how for the entire duration of our stay the children laughed and smiled far more than we have seen in recent months, how they were bursting with excitement over the most simple pleasures, how just a bit of fresh air and running free was all they really needed to have the time of their lives. It goes without saying that we had the most wonderful time at Glynn Barton Cottages and I genuinely think it is one of a kind for families in the UK. You can find out more at the website www.glynnbarton.co.uk.

We were gifted our stay in exchange for an honest review. All words and opinions are my own.