I have recently been lucky enough to stay at Hendra Retreat Holiday Barns as a base for some of my walking, and would like to thank wholeheartedly, Bridget and Tom for their warm and hospitable welcome. Upon arrival I was welcomed as an old friend rather than a customer, and was delighted to be given a tour of what they have achieved (and are rightfully very proud of) with their complex of barn conversions (real homes from homes).

This self-catering holiday accommodation (which you can book for a single night, a mid-week break, a week or longer) is great for families and welcoming for pets, with a field for dogs and children to roam adjacent to the barns, and enclosed areas at the rear of each where you can have a BBQ if you wish. Although self-catering, Bridget and Tom ensured that there was tea, coffee and milk awaiting for my (and your arrival) and they also give a proper Cornish welcome by having scones, jam and cream in your kitchen. They do give a description of the rivalry in how to apply the jam and cream to your scone (the Cornish or Devonian way). Of course, there is only the Cornish way! JOF (Jam On First).

However, let me start with my arrival. Driving into the tarmacked courtyard, the three barn conversions are on our right. First `Piglets`, then in the centre `Milking Parlour` and at the end `Owls Roost`.

They have been cleverly remodelled in such a way that as you walk through the front door, you are left thinking that you have just entered the tardis. I stayed in The Milking Parlour, which sleeps 4 (a double room and a room with two singles), and was immediately struck by the warmth and cleanliness. The high standard of fitting and the clean lines, give an airy feel, and as I walked up to the open plan lounge/diner/kitchen with three roof windows, I felt immediately comfortable. The kitchens are appointed with microwaves, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and of course ovens as well as having all the utensils, cutlery and tableware needed.

The lounge was comfortably furnished with two sofas and a good sized dining room table, as well as having a box of games and a T.V (there are T.V`s in all lounges and bedrooms as well as WiFi throughout).

Down stairs, we have a door to the enclosed rear area (where there is a washing line and BBQ), there is also under stairs storage and then the two bedrooms and a newly floor tiled (all the conversions are having their bathrooms re-tiled) bathroom.

In The Milking Parlour the bedrooms have shelves and bedside cabinets (built in cupboards in Piglets) for storing of clothes and although I found the mattress to be extremely comfortable (and this shows the level of commitment Bridget and Tom have to your comfortable stay) they are in the process of replacing all the mattresses with memory foam.

The bathroom has a good sized shower and ample room for drying off, whilst also having a toilet and a washbasin with plenty of room for toiletries, and as I have previously stated, a newly laid tile floor.

With the thick barn walls and the secluded location, I found that I slept like a log and did not hear a thing until morning (not even the resident owl!).

As I said, I stayed in `The Milking Parlour` which can sleep four. However, if you need a little more space or have a larger party you could book either `Owls Roost` which has en-suites for the four it can sleep or `Piglets` which can sleep nine! Having been in all three, I can attest for the same clean lines, the same high standard of fitting and most of all the same cleanliness, warmth and comfortable layout and furniture that greeted me with The Milking Parlour.

Outside, as well as each barn having its own private fenced rear area, there is a large field outside for pets and children to roam. They also have put in place, for your convenience, a tumble dryer room, a recycling area, and very cleverly an area where there are body boards and bucket and spades for your use, in case you didn`t bring your own to use when you visit Trebarwith Strand, Tregardock Beach, Tintagel or Bossiney Haven.

Each of the conversions also has a welcome folder telling you of places to visit or things to do in the area, but I found of particular interest the photo`s at the rear of these folders giving a record of the conversions taking place. Where I stayed had been the actual milking parlour, and it is most definitely different!!

These ideally situated barn conversions are barely 5 minutes from the North Cornish town of Camelford, known as the Gateway to the Moors, and therefore perfect for those of us who are wishing to walk to Rough Tor (pronounced Row Tor) or Brown Willy (Bron Wenilli in Cornish, meaning Hill of Swallows). However, Camelford is also the central hub for the National Trails of the Moorland Walk, the Watermill Walk and the Camelford Way.

They are also a superb base for coastal walking, being just 5 miles from Trebarwith Strand, and only a little farther from Tintagel, St. Nectan`s Glen and Port Isaac, and I look forward to sharing many of these walks with you, as I return again to Hendra Retreat Holiday Barns to use as my base.

Camelford itself is served by two Pubs, a Fish and Chip shop, a Spar and a Co-op. It has good parking within the town centre, as well as good public toilets. It is also worth chatting with Bridget and Tom to know where they have negotiated special prices for their guests.

I look forward to returning again very soon to use Hendra Retreat as my base for walking in this spectacular area, and highly recommend them.

I hope that you will support this lovely couple and not just during the summer. They are open for bookings all through the year, and of course, out of season you can have far more of the moors, beaches and the coastal paths to yourself.

Hope to see you there!

For prices, pet supplements and how to book, try the following;
hendraretreat.com
Air BNB: search Camelford
Facebook: Hendra Retreat Holiday Barns
Google: Hendra Retreat
hendraretreat@gmail.com