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World Book Day

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World Book Day 1st March

Devon has inspired many authors, and South Devon is still a creative hub of artists & craftsmen who are inspired by the stunning and diverse area in which we live. Its no wonder that celebrated writers such as Charles Dickens, Agatha Christie, Thomas Hardy, Jane Austen, Arthur Conan Doyle, RD Blackmore, Henry Williamson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge – to name only a few – all have links in one way or another with Devon.

Here are our top picks of books with a Devon connection.

Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie was born in Torquay and as a child Agatha enjoyed all aspects of an English Riviera social life: roller-skating along the pier; going to dances, dinners and balls; and bathing in the sea.  She later spent many happy years at Greenway House, her holiday home on the banks of the River Dart, now owned by the National Trust. Greenway is a magical place to explore for all the family, the house is charmingly cluttered, and there are acres of grounds filled with meandering walks, hidden follies and views of the River Dart. Agatha Christie set three of her novels here, Five Little Pigs, Dead Man’s Folly (in which the boat house is the scene of the crime) and Ordeal by Innocence.

Agatha Christie set And Then There Were None on fictional Island, off the coast of Devon, inspired by Burgh Island at Bigbury, which is also the setting for the Hercule Poirot mystery Evil Under the Sun.

Greenway House is approximately a 20 minute drive from Beeson Farm (if you travel via foot ferry from Dittisham). you can find information on visiting the house here https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway

Burgh Island and Bigbury beach are approximately 35 minutes from Beeson Farm by car, the beach is a popular spot with many of our visitors who enjoy the large stretches of sand and surf lessons from the surf school.

 

Michael Morpurgo

Celebrated author, and resident of Dartmoor, Michael Morpurgo has written some of our best loved childrens books. War Horse and Farm Boy were set on Dartmoor but The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips is a favourite with us. Set in 1943, Lily Tregenza lives on a farm, in the idyllic seaside village of Slapton. Her life is scarcely touched by the war until one day her family, along with all of the other villagers, are told to move out of their homes. Soon, the whole area is out of bounds, as the Allied forces practice their landings for D-day, preparing to invade France. But Tips, Lily’s adored cat, has other ideas. barbed wire and keep-out signs mean nothing to her, nor does the danger of guns and bombs. Frantic to find her, Lily decides to cross the wire into the danger zone to look for Tips herself…

Torcross and Slapton Sands are a 10 minute drive from Beeson Farm, visitors can see the memorial to the hundreds of Allied soldiers who lost their lives in Operation Tiger as well as the Sherman Tank that was recovered from the sea and now stands as a place of remembrance.

You can read more about Operation Tiger here http://www.exercisetigerslapton.org

Arthur Conan Doyle

Dartmoor provides the backdrop for The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle, perhaps his most famous and best loved novel. The novel is believed to be based on the story of local ‘monstrously evil man’ Richard Cabell of Buckfastleigh (his tomb still stands in Buckfastleigh churchyard), legend has it that when he died in the 1670s fire-breathing dogs raced howling across the moor. Baskerville Hall itself is argued to be either Hayford Hall or Brook Manor, both near Buckfastleigh, and many believe that Fox Tor Mire was the setting for the fictional Great Grimpen Mire.

Dartmoor is approximately a 40 minute drive from Beeson Farm. Visit the Dartmoor visitor centre https://www.visitdartmoor.co.uk/things-to-do/dartmoor-national-park-visitor-centre-princetown-p140393 to find out more about the hound of the baservilles

Devon Cookbooks

If your reading tastes are more of the non fiction variety then there are a plethora of cookbooks inspired by our local produce. The well known  Riverford box scheme began when Guy Watson started delivering vegetables locally to 30 friends in Devon. They now deliver around 47,000 boxes a week to homes around the UK from our regional farms and their cookbook contains a great variety of  seasonal recipes. The Farm Kitchen at Riverford is approximately a 30 minute drive from Beeson Farm, find out more here https://www.riverford.co.uk/restaurant

The newly published Devon Cook Book http://www.foodanddrinkdevon.co.uk/devon-cook-book celebrates the best of the county’s food scene with over 50 recipes from a wide selection of local foodie businesses.
These include some of Devon’s finest local restaurants, delis, gastro pubs, cafes and local suppliers (such as the South DEvon Chilli Farm, a 20 minute drive from Beeson Farm https://www.southdevonchillifarm.co.uk/).

To browse these and many more titles visit the Harbour Book Shop in Kingsbridge, on Mill Street at the bottom of the town.

Cottages at Beeson Farm are well stocked with good reads, sit and relax in the farm grounds or on the beach with a good read on your next stay with us!

 

Greenway House

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On a sunny July day, just before the schools had broken up for the summer we took a trip back in time to the 1950s. I have always wanted to visit Agatha Christies holiday home in Devon- Greenway House, now faithfully cared for  by the National Trust.

Agatha Christie called Greenway “the loveliest place in the world” and with the sun shining and the river glinting it certainly lived up to its reputation. Greenway is wonderfully located on a secluded hill overlooking the River Dart. There are acre after acre of grounds, filled with meandering walks, hidden follies and vantage points from which to take in the amazing scenery.

It is possible to drive (be aware you need to go online to prebook your parking space) but far better is to plan your trip and arrive in style it her by steam train  or passenger ferry from Dittisham or Dartmouth.

We opted for the ferry- approx a 40 min drive along the coastal path and devon lanes to Dittisham, a pretty little meandering village (with a nice pub overlooking the river!) At the Ferry Inn give the bell on the wall a good gong and the ferry man will come over and collect you.greenwayferry

The pace of life slows as soon as you set foot on the passenger ferry and wander up the hill to the house.2 Although you asked not to touch items you can take photographs and I was even offered the chance to play her beloved piano! A pianist was playing jazz in the living room which filled the house with music – all to the endearing effect that the family had just stepped out into the gardens. Almost every room contains charmingly cluttered collections of china, boxes and archaeological treasures. Visitors are welcome to sit on one of the sofas and leaf through scrapbooks containing photos and quotations from Christies life. My favourite was The Library which contains a fascinating collection of books by Christie as well as other detective and local history books.greeqwaychristiebooks

Although Agatha Christie wrote most of her books at her main home in Wallingford, she based Dead Man’s Folly at Greenway. The scene of the crime, the boat house, is about a 15 minute walk through the winding woods from the main house.  Sit on the small jetty or upstairs by the fireplace where you can watch the sail boats, small ferries and gig rowers on the river dart.greenwayriverdaryt

The grounds of Greenway offer spectacular view of the River Dart, make sure to explore the tennis courts (you can even play a game!), walled gardens, follies and ornamental ponds.

We recommend at least 3 hours to get the most out of your visit.

The property is open to the public throughout the year. For more information on Greenway and the National Trust, visit http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greenway/.