Easter News from the Village
What a difference a little bit of sunshine makes! Despite the changeable weather, it looks as though spring is finally around the corner, and very welcome it will be too. Easter is a lovely time. The weather is getting warmer, the days longer, the spring flowers are blooming, and you can really start looking forward to summer.
After the long winter, the Easter holidays are always welcome, and it’s good to get away for a spring break. The South West offers plenty to do at this time of year, whether it is walking, cycling, horse riding or simply having fun. Have a wonderful Easter – may the sun shine on you, wherever you go.
Easter Bookings at Hillfield Village are very good and availability limited, there may be the odd short break for this weekend and a few Cottages available next week, phone Caroline for late availability on 07816 074387.
" Why not enjoy a break in South Devon. There are plenty of activities for your next trip. See what's on" South Devon Railway's Easter Steam Extravaganza Easter Sunday & Easter Monday, April 16th & 17th, The first gala event of the year on the South Devon Railway will take place over the Easter weekend when a special train service will operate on Sunday 16th & Monday 17th April. 2006 will once again see several Special Events take place on the South Devon Railway. These include a number of special gala weekends, the first of which is being held over the Easter Bank Holiday Weekend.
The “Easter Steam Extravaganza” will feature three former Great Western tank locomotives running to a special timetable which features a variety of services including the ever popular auto trains, demonstration goods trains, and some double headed
services. Blackawton International Festival of Worm Charming Sunday May 2nd from 11.00 Dart Music Festival 7th May - 9th May 2010 Music for All - don't miss one of Britain's most popular music festivals! For a few days in May each year the town is full of happy people enjoying of a huge range of music in venues all over town - from rock to jazz, folk to opera, blues to choral, classical to steel bands, with kids' workshops and much much more. With a brilliant atmosphere and feel good factor there really is something for everyone, so come along, relax and enjoy the buzz. For further information our whizzy new website www.dartmusicfestival.co.uk is now available. It's still under construction but will now be updated regularly - watch this space.... New Mini Ninja Playtime at Woodlands Coming soon the new Mini Ninja Playtime has endless fun for little adventurers with two totally different experiences. The 15 metre Panda Adventure course has 13 mini challenges which the tiniest tot will want to finish. Crossing the shaky bridges, balancing on panda pawprints and crawling through the tubes are confidence building play exploits. The colourful Japanese Fan Houses are a delightful mix of energetic slides, 'I spy' balconies and quiet interactive play and multi surprises. Woodlands now has 8 play centres for the under fives giving them an incredible range of indoor and outdoor activities. |
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"Local Attractions" DARTMOUTH Dartmouth Castle – open daily 10 to 5pm. Tour the Castle and visit the Tea Rooms looking out to sea. Dartmouth Museum in the Butterwalk. Open 10 – 4pm Boat Trips: Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company – harbour cruises, trips to Totnes, coastal, wildlife and historic cruises plus the famous ROUND ROBIN including steam train and open top bus ride. Check timetables at kiosks on Embankment or in TIC. Dittisham Ferry – look for the red and yellow boats 07818 001108 – half hour trip to Dittisham village; Anchorstone Café on the river bank and two Sailing Schools. Stoke Gabriel Ferry – red and yellow boats again, this time to beautiful village with mill pond. Check timetables 07935 091681 Steam Railway; from Kingswear to Paignton. Fantastic views of river, Torbay and beaches. 01803 555872 The Flavel – Check their Programme for regular Film and Theatre listings. 01803 839530 African Queen – Fishing trips out to sea 07885 246061. Falcon II – River and Coastal and Diving Trips 07970 759172 Canoe Adventures – for all ages – have fun paddling on the River Dart. Try the 12 seater! 01803 865301. Dartmouth Boat Hire Centre – Be Skipper for the day – Kiosk on the Embankment 07850 118920. Luxury Day Charters - Explore the coastline – anchor for a picnic or visit local pub by dinghy. 09000 488607. NEAR DARTMOUTH Woodlands Leisure Park – for fantastic all weather family fun. On Totnes Road. 01803 712598. Blackpool Gardens open daily April – September. 19 Century subtropical garden. Coastal views. Park at beach. Watersport at Blackpool Sands – Windsurfing, Stand up paddle boarding, Kayaks etc 07849 758987. Greenway House & Gardens - Agatha Christies Summer Home is open Wednesday to Sunday and the best way to visit is by Greenway Ferry. Timetables in TIC or at Greenway Kiosk on corner of the BOAT FLOAT. To book car in call 01803 842382. Sailing School at Dittisham – 07973 520515 OR 01803 722365 Coleton Fishacre – D’Oyly Carte family Art Deco holiday home and beautiful grounds leading down to the sea near. Kingswear. Open Saturday – Wednesday. 01803 752466. Dartmouth Art Society Art Exhibition 2 – 21 April Sharpham Vinyard – Open March 1st to December 24th. Tours and Wine Tasting and Café. 01803 732203 Riverford Field Kitchen –tour of the organic farm and see where your lunch has been grown. 01803 762074. SRS Riding Stables – pony trekking, hacks or lessons, any age (over 6yrs) 07974 813389. Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre - Interactive, hands-on experience with animals: feed the piglets, milk the goats, go egg collecting, follow the treasure hunt, pony or donkey rides; get close to the animals. Falconry displays. 01364 642023 Dartington Hall & Gardens - Beautiful garden with great trees, sweeping lawns and woodland walks, a combe with terraces flowing into a wide river valley towards the sea. Japanese gravel garden, and restored courtyard garden with sculptures. 01803 862367 Paignton Zoo – committed to the conservation of plants and animals throughout the world. 01803 697500 Torquay Coastal Zoo – the best place to ‘sea life up close’. On the front at Torquay. 01803 202470. Ash Tree Farm – Local nursery specialising in Plants to Encourage Wildlife. Open Sun- Weds 07792 525070 Ocean Adventures - Bay Blasts – 50 mph super-fast power boat. Or more relaxing wildlife cruises 07900 953658. China Blue - Visit the Ceramic Studio and make all your creative dreams come true. Then come and chill out in the deliciously cool and tempting cafe and outdoor patio. 01803 860900 FORTHCOMING EVENTS NOT TO BE MISSED Ivybridge Walking & Outdoor Festival 22 - 24 April Blackawton Worm Charming & Beer Festival 2 May Music festival 7 – 9 May Canoe Race & Beer Festival 23 May Salcombe Rowing Club Regatta 6 June Salcombe Music Festival 11 - 13 June Dartmouth Art & Craft Weekend 19 – 20 June Way with Words Dartington 9 - 18 July Salcombe Yacht Club Regatta 1 - 6 August Dartmouth Shakespeare Week 3 – 7 August (The ‘Scottish Play’ this year!) Dartmouth Regatta 26 – 28 August Torbay Sea Angling Festival 3 - 12 Sept South Devon Walking Festival 25 Sept - 3 Oct Food Festival 20 - 24 October |
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"New Arrivals" Giraffe born at Paignton Zoo He's delicate and dark eyed - and stands at nearly 6 feet tall. Paignton Zoo's new baby giraffe was born at around 7:00am on Wednesday 24th February. The male calf named Tonda was born to mother Janica and father Yoda after a 15 to 16 month gestation period. He is the pair’s first youngster. Curator of Mammals Neil Bemment said: “We are ecstatic with the new arrival. We hope he will grow up big and strong like his dad. This heralds a new era in giraffe breeding for Paignton Zoo after the tragic fire that killed Paddy, Kizi and their week-old calf back in 2006.” more These little twin lambs were rejected by first time Mum Martha shortly after giving birth. Luckily the tiny newborns were rescued and taken home for some family TLC! Operations Manager, Colin Baker took the little rascals home to his wife and 2 children Jack & Abbi on Monday night when they are only 4 hours old. Colin commented “Sometimes ewes reject their offspring it doesn’t happen often but with the tiny babies not feeding the only option was to bottle feed them ourselves. They need a feed every 3-4 hours and I was concerned as they were unusually small. My wife couldn’t believe it when I turned up at home with two newborn lambs; I think she was expecting flowers and chocolates at this time of year. Of course Jack & Abbi were thrilled and with us being huge X-factor fans we’ve named the twins “Jedward”. With 3 days at home and the twins getting more adventurous and proving too much trouble Colin took them back to the Zoo-Farm at Woodlands Family Theme Park, Devon. However the confident Jedward soon started shivering in the cold weather after being used to cosy home comforts! Natalie, their Keeper, instantly fell in love with the two troublesome twins and wanting to keep them snug made the little ones their very own fluffy jumper out of her own uniform. Snug and warm Jedward are enjoying showing off their new outfits and are back to their usual mischievous self. “Don’t they look baa-utiful, I think the colour suits them more than me” Natalie commented. Jedward and friends are now being bottle fed four times a day. If you fancy helping to feed the twins join us this half term, they’ll love the fuss. We can’t wait too see what the troublesome twins get up to. Baby Boom at Pennywell With bright sunny days here at last the spring baby boom continues at Pennywell. Lambs, goat kids, miniature piglets, chicks, ducklings and a calf are amongst the new arrivals. To tie in with our environmentally friendly theme, the babies have been wrapping up rather than using heat lamps. With more goats and pigs expected to give birth over the next few weeks, the Pennywell maternity wing remains well and truly open. Visiting hours are between 10am and 5pm daily. more Abundance of Nesting Birds Spring is a brilliant time of year for watching birds and Dartmouth is a great base for both ornithologists and casual birders. Right now our resident Guillemot Colony are busy nesting just across the river at Berry Head. Meanwhile there's any amount of activity at Slapton Ley with every sort of wildfowl building nests and settling down to raise their young. New Arrival Expected in the Village Stephen Davis a very kindly regular Guest built a new nesting box for the Village, chicks supplied by Caroline until the new permanent Guests arrive. |
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"Where to get that Special Meal"Riverford Field Kitchen Springtime suppers - 2 for £40 Spring is in the air and so is the launch of our midweek evening hours. The Field Kitchen is now open from Tuesday to Saturday serving a three course supper with new dishes and old favourites. Normal price £22.50 per person - valid Tuesday to Friday subject to availability, from 6th April until 28th May. Booking essential 01803 762074 or email us fieldkitchen@riverford.co.uk The Laughing Monk Restaurant Cooking with local Devon produce “5-10-5 Early Supper Menu” between 5.00pm and 7.00pm dishes indicated with # are on special offer £5 starters £10 mains £5 sweets. After 7.00pm they are at menu prices. This offer is available all week Monday- Saturday TV Chef Mitch Tonks is expanding his seafood business with a second restaurant in Dartmouth. The leading seafood expert, fishmonger, chef and restaurateur has bought the Waterfront Cafe on the town's South Embankment. His new premises are a few doors away from his successful Seahorse Restaurant, which recently received rave reviews from The Times critic Giles Coren.
The new restaurant is expected to open in June and will comprise 70 covers where families can eat in less formal surroundings than Mitch's highly-praised Seahorse Restaurant. Touted as an upmarket fish and chip shop, Mitch plans to create a light and airy mood in his new restaurant using faded wooden features, lit with small ships' lights. "This is yet another reason to come to South Devon for the best fish in the world. New Owners for the Seabreaze Cafe All that have enjoyed the fine fare at the Rocket Cafe at Torcross will be pleased to hear that Bonni, Carol & Graham wish to welcome you to their new venture at the Seabreeze Cafe, serving their superb home-made food. They serve English or American Style breakfasts, with big fluffy home-made pancakes & real maple syrup, using the very best local ingredients. Or just a cup of freshly ground cappuccino with a home-made pecan and maple Danish…(come early on Sunday, there is usually a queue. Try one of their delicious soups, Sweet Potato, Butternut Squash and Creamy Coconut is a speciality. Gorgeous light and fluffy home-made scones (made to their own recipe) are served all day with local clotted cream. Or try, their home-made marmalade Eccles cakes served warm with clotted cream. Whatever you have to eat we are sure you will enjoy! Whether it’s sitting outside looking out to sea, or inside in the ‘cutesy’ style tea room. Open daily 9-5 in Summer…and all school holidays. |
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"You Can Now Book Online at Hillfields"New for 2010, you can now book 24/7 on the Hillfield Village website. Once you have decided which accommodation you prefer, you will need to check availability on the dates and prices page. You will need to click on the start date, specify the length of stay, number of adults, children and infants. When you have decided, simply click on the link to "Book Now" which will take you directly to our agents on line booking page. Fill in your details and follow through to the payment section, fill in all your credit card details in the appropriate boxes and your done! |
Court lodge, Vantage Point, and Court Cottages have recently been successfully assessed under the nationwide quality assessment scheme achieving 5 Star and 5 Star Gold. |
Easter Bookings are very good and availability limited, there may be the odd short break for this weekend and a few Cottages available next week, phone Caroline for late availability on 07816 074387.
Michael & Caroline and the Hillfield Village Team.
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