Growing up in Cumbria and now living in Cornwall I’m no stranger to a starry night sky and being a long way from the nearest city lights, but arriving at Sojourn on a clear early Spring evening I was blown away by the number and clarity of the stars in the sky as we walked down the path and through the pretty gardens to the front door. Teamed with the twinkly lights scattered throughout the two garden areas, we couldn’t have been more excited to get inside and explore our home for the weekend.
Once inside, we were greeted by a host of goodies left by the owner including a gorgeous hamper filled with treats and huge loaf of crusty bread, we were also intrigued by the homemade rhubarb gin left for sampling so after a ‘cheers’ to the weekend we eagerly set up the Sonos sound system and settled in.
It’s easy to tell that this property was designed with relaxation in mind, the owners have everything covered down to the smallest details. Venturing upstairs to investigate the cosy bedroom and more importantly the incredible spa room (!), we were greeted by fluffy bathrobes, slippers and even a hot water bottle to make sure we had the cosiest of weekends.
Waking up refreshed and ready to explore on a sunny Saturday after cooking up breakfast on the huge Rangemaster, we hopped in the car and headed to Fingle Bridge (not quite realising it is actually within walking distance of Sojourn!). Following the path along the river Teign exploring the sights of the valley, including an unexpected art installation along the route, we watched kayakers mosey their way down stream before crossing the suspension bridge and heading back to the Fingle Bridge Inn for a tasty lunch.
After an afternoon of exploring the local towns, I was eager to get back to the cottage as I had a massage (my first ever!) booked with Sukanya the local Thai masseuse to make the most of our private spa. Hooking back up to the Sonos system, I settled down with some relaxing music and let Sukanya work out all of the stresses of everyday life. Not sure what to expect, the hour long treatment was such a treat, Sukanya was wonderful and made me feel completely at ease and by the end I was so relaxed.
After a quick freshen up under the huge rain shower, feeling thoroughly pampered, it was time to set our minds on dinner. The owners had recommended a number of amazing restaurants close by, including the Michelin Guide-endorsed Old Inn just a few minutes’ walk away, however, jumping on their recommendation of “some of the world’s best pizza” we booked ourselves into The Horse just 15 minutes’ drive away in Moretonhampstead. Greeted by the friendly staff and led into the gorgeous barn dining room for ‘millionaires dining’ before anyone else joined us, we tucked into the excellent pizza enjoying the ambiance.
Feeling full and a little sleepy, we retreated back to the cottage to see out the day in true Sojourn-style…the massive copper bath tub! After a bubble bath complete with cheeky glass of champagne, it was time to return to the cosy king-size bed and take advantage of the Netflix which was available.
The next day we were keen to explore Dartmoor further, so after browsing through books and leaflets provided by the owner we decided to investigate Lydford Gorge, home to the deepest gorge and the highest waterfall in the South West. The White Lady waterfall is a spectacular 30 metres and the rest of the walk is filled with ravines and moss-covered rock faces, with stopping points for those all-important photo opportunities.
After a morning of exploring, we stopped for coffee and cake at Castle Drogo before heading back to Sojourn to pack for home as we needed to be back for work on Monday morning. Getting our things together, we chatted about how Sojourn could be our ideal home and how this perfect country cottage had left us feeling relaxed and rejuvenated…so much so we didn’t want to leave. We joked that maybe the commute wouldn’t be so bad and we could stay there forever…planting the seed of an idea…maybe for one more blissful night the commute would be worth it?! We loved Sojourn so much we decided, yes, yes it was and we could handle a long commute for one Monday morning, so we gleefully settled down for one final night of peace before our early morning alarms.
We can’t thank the owners enough for sharing this little slice of heaven with us. We would love to return…and stay longer next time! x
