Chef On Board - Ready Meals now on sale

We now offer our guests a choice of Chef on Board Frozen Ready Meals.
They are £5 per portion

Photos in the press

Today we had lots of photos of Jemma and Nicks wedding in the press.
There is a lovely photo in the telegraph (page 3) of Jemma kicking snow at Nick in her red coat and red hunter boots

Thanks to Jim Wileman for the photos.

snow again - about 8 inches

Snow Snow Snow... Christmas is coming

Guinea Fowl

We gained 6 guinea fowl yesterday! The alpacas seem slightly scared but the youngest alpaca (spooky born Oct) is happily playing tag! :-)

Millbrook Dec 2010

Another Congratulations to

Congratulations to Martyn and his new Fiance who got engaged this weekend at Millbrook!!!

Going for Gold!

We have kept our Gold For Green Tourism Award! We were originally accessed in May 2007 and recieved Gold. Since then we have done masses to be sustainable including several renewable projects! Confirmed today we are Gold again!

Cycle Hire Information

www.devoncyclehire.co.uk
info@devoncyclehire.co.uk
01837 861141
FANCYING CYCLING SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT?
We are directly on The Granite Way, a traffic free cycle route, which forms part of the Devon Coast to Coast Route 27 running between Okehampton and Lydford. There are beautiful views from Meldon Viaduct and Lake Viaduct along the route. We are open Easter - End of Sept including Feb and Oct half terms, however if anyone wanted bikes outside of these times, as long as we're not away we'd happily open up.

Awards - Article from the paper

Congratulations to All the Winners

Millbrook Scooped Best Self Catering of the Year Award on Monday night. Please see below a full list of the winners

South West results here :

BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE & ACTIVITY
Sponsored by Space www.agencyspace.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Gourmet Surf Experience, from Global Boarders and Ben's Cornish Kitchen, Cornwall www.globalboarders.com
SILVER AWARD
Travels on Horseback, Somerset www.travelsonhorseback.com
BRONZE AWARD
Treasure Trails, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset and Gloucestershire www.treasuretrails.co.uk
FINALISTS
O'Connors Campers, Devon www.oconnorscampers.co.uk
Go Ape, Devon, Dorset & Gloucestershire www.goape.co.uk


SMALL VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Flagship Consulting South West - www.flagshipconsulting.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Hestercombe Gardens, Somerset www.hestercombe.com
SILVER AWARD
Penlee House Gallery & Museum, Cornwall www.penleehouse.org.uk
FINALISTS
Exmoor Zoo, Barnstaple, Devon www.exmoorzoo.co.uk
Edward Jenner Museum, Gloucestershire www.jennermuseum.com

SELF CATERING & SERVICED APARTMENTS OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Pavey Group - www.paveygroup.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Millbrook Cottages, Devon www.millbrookcottages.co.uk
SILVER AWARD
Roundhouse Barns Holidays, Cornwall www.roundhousebarnholidays.co.uk
Mazzard Farm, Devon www.mazzardfarm.com
FINALISTS
Hembury Court, Devon www.hemburycourt.co.uk
The Sail Lofts, Cornwall www.thesaillofts.co.uk

TOURISM INFORMATION SERVICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Take One Media - www.takeonemedia.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Gloucester TIC, Gloucestershire www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk
SILVER AWARD
Salisbury TIC, Wiltshire www.visitsalisbury.com
BRONZE AWARD
Lyme Regis TIC, Dorset www.westdorset.com
FINALISTS
Swanage TIC, Dorset www.visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk
Cartgate TIC, Somerset www.visitsouthsomerset.com
Dorchester TIC, Dorset www.westdorset.com

B&B, GUEST ACCOMMODATION & INN OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by South West Water - www.southwestwater.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
The Somerville, Torquay www.somervillehotel.co.uk
SILVER AWARD
Launceston Farm, Dorset www.launcestonfarm.co.uk
FINALISTS
Fern Cottage, Bristol www.ferncottagebedandbreakfast.co.uk
Boskenna Home Farm, Cornwall www.luxury-cornwall.co.uk

SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by Triodos Bank - www.triodos.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Bedruthan Steps & Scarlet Hotels, Cornwall www.bedruthan.com & www.scarlethotel.co.uk
SILVER AWARD
Mazzard Farm, Devon www.mazzardfarm.com
Alison Howell's Foot Trails, Bath www.foottrails.co.uk
BRONZE AWARD
Wheatland Farm, Devon www.wheatlandfarm.co.uk
FINALISTS
Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Pennywell Farm, Devon www.pennywellfarm.co.uk

ACCESS FOR ALL
Sponsored by Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk/southwest
GOLD AWARD
Colston Hall, Bristol www.colstonhall.org
SILVER AWARD
Atlantis Holiday Apartments, Torquay www.atlantistorquay.co.uk
BRONZE AWARD
Winford Manor, N Somerset www.winfordmanor.co.uk
FINALISTS
Crealy Devon, Devon www.crealy.co.uk
Kernock Cottages, Cornwall www.kernockcottages.com
South Torfrey, Cornwall www.southtorfreyfarm.com

TOURISM EVENT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Bristol Airport www.bristolairport.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival, Gloucestershire www.cheltenhamfestivals.com
SILVER AWARD
Bournemouth Air Festival, Bournemouth www.bournemouthair.co.uk
FINALISTS
Bath Christmas Market, Bath www.bathchristmasmarket.co.uk
Cornwall Food & Drink Festival, Cornwall www.cornwallfoodanddrinkfestival.com

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Hotel Perfect www.hotelperfect.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Bovey Castle, Devon www.boveycastle.com
SILVER AWARDS
Mercure Holland House Bristol, Bristol www.mercure.com
Bedruthan Steps, Cornwall www.bedruthan.com
FINALISTS
Novotel Bristol Centre, Bristol www.novotel.com
St Mellion International Resort, Cornwall www.st-mellion.co.uk

BUSINESS TOURISM AWARD
Sponsored by the Met Office www.metoffice.gov.uk
GOLD AWARD
Event Exeter, Devon www.exeter.ac.uk/eventexeter
SILVER AWARD
Bristol Marriott City Centre, Bristol www.marriott.com
FINALISTS
Doubletree by Hilton Cadbury House, N Somerset www.cadburyhotelbristol.co.uk
Riviera International Conference Centre, Torquay www.ricc.co.uk

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Bishop Fleming www.bishopfleming.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
The Scarlet, Cornwall www.scarlethotel.co.uk
SILVER AWARDS
Combe House Devon, Devon www.combehousedevon.com
Star Castle Hotel, Isles of Scilly www.star-castle.co.uk
FINALISTS
Alveston House Hotel, Bristol www.alvestonhousehotel.co.uk
Boskerris, Cornwall www.boskerrishotel.co.uk

OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Commercial www.lloydstsbbusiness.com
GOLD AWARD
Sarah Lee, from The Big Sheep, Devon
SILVER AWARD
Ashley Johnson from Aztec, Bristol
BRONZE AWARD
Cheryl King from Northcote Manor, Devon
FINALISTS
The Team at Tintagel Castle, Cornwall
The Marketing Team from the RNLI Lifeboat College, Poole

HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Stephens Scown solicitors www.stephens-scown.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Mother Ivey's Bay, Cornwall www.motheriveysbay.com
SILVER AWARD
Woodovis, Devon www.wooodovis.com
BRONZE AWARD
Dolbeare, Cornwall www.dolbeare.co.uk
FINALISTS
Cofton Country Holidays, Devon www.coftonholidays.co.uk
Wood Farm, Dorset www.woodfarm.co.uk


TASTE OF THE SOUTH WEST
Sponsored by Expowest www.expowestexhibitions.com
GOLD AWARD
Porthminster Beach Cafe, Cornwall www.porthminstercafe.co.uk
SILVER AWARDS
Bordeaux Quay, Bristol www.bordeaux-quay.co.uk
The Lazy Toad, Devon www.thelazytoad.co.uk
FINALISTS
Moreton Tearooms, Dorset www.moretontearooms.co.uk
The Eastbury Hotel, Dorset www.theeastburyhotel.co.uk

LARGE ATTRACTION
Sponsored by Resort Marketing www.resortmarketing.co.uk
GOLD AWARD
Eden Project, Cornwall www.edenproject.com
SILVER AWARD
Castle Drogo, Devon www.nationaltrust.org.uk
BRONZE AWARD
Bristol Zoo Gardens, Bristol www.bristolzoo.org.uk
FINALISTS
The Roman Baths & Pump Room, Bath www.romanbaths.co.uk
Longleat, Wiltshire www.longleat.co.uk

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
To the Tourist Information Centres of:
Cartgate TIC, Somerset www.visitsouthsomerset.com
Dorchester TIC, Dorset www.westdorset.com
Gloucester TIC, Gloucestershire www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk
Lyme Regis TIC, Dorset www.westdorset.com
Salisbury TIC, Wiltshire www.visitsalisbury.com
Swanage TIC, Dorset www.visitswanageandpurbeck.co.uk


WINNER OF WINNERS
Sponsored by Exeter International Airport www.exeter-airport.co.uk
The Scarlet, Cornwall www.scarlethotel.co.uk

South West Excellence Awards Tonight

We are heading down to Torquay tonight for the South West Excellence Awards. We have been shortlisted into the top 5 for the self catering award. Fingers crossed!!!

We now sell alpacas (low maintenance ones!)

We are now selling Mummy and Baby Alpacas so guests can take home their own alpaca

Electric Gates

We now have a sign that indicates our gates are electric when approaching Millbrook. Hand painted in South Molton.

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Paul and Emily (who stayed in Lakeview this weekend) on their engagement on Friday night!!!

Pulley Gets a New Bose System and Apple TV

Today we installed a BOSE 321 DVD / Hifi System in Pulley Mill which offers fantastic quality music as well as an apple TV to allow streaming of movies and music from our server or guests own computers.

Congratulations! Another Engagement at Millbrookestate

Congratulations to John and Helen from Exeter that get engaged at Millbrook, under the stars last week!!!

Autumn Colours

The autumn colours at Millbrook are absolutely fanastic - have you got time for a last minute break to enjoy them while they last? Check out our late availability pages

Thank You!

Thank you to Donna and David that stayed at The Secret Garden.
They left us a nice surprise!

Food and Drink Awards 2010

A little late but the winners of the North Devon Food and Drink Awards are



Best Restaurant
WINNER : Zena's - Barnstaple
RUNNER UP: James Duckett at The Old Custom House - Barnstaple
3rd PLACE: The George Hotel - South Molton

Best Pub
WINNER: The Grove - Kings Nympton (one of my favourites!)
RUNNER UP: The Stag's Head - Filleigh
3rd PLACE: The King's Arms - Georgeham near Croyde

Best Cafe
WINNER: Cheristow Lavender - Cheristow
RUNNER UP: Tea on the Green - Bideford
3rd PLACE: Cafecino Plus - Bideford

Best Local Retailer/Producer
WINNER: Lindsey's Cake Shop - Barnstaple
RUNNER UP: Westcountry Cheese Company - Barnstaple
3rd PLACE: Besshill Farm Shop - Arlington Near Barnstaple

Best Traditional Fish & Chips
WINTER: The Esplanade Fish Bar - Lynton
RUNNER UP: Woodys Restaurant - Barnstaple
3rd PLACE: Graylings Fish and Chip Shop - Fremington (near Barnstaple)

New Baby Alpaca

Daisy our oldest alpaca had a white baby this morning. It's strong and walking already! Welcome done Daisy

Photos courtsey of Gabriela!!!

Late Availability at Millbrook

Late Availability

Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st October £180 Wheel Room

Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd November £180 Corncott

Thursday 4th & Friday 5th November £190 Pulley Mill

New Sleuce Gate

Derek Herniman replaced our sleuce gate controlling the water into the holding pond for the wheel, we now have total control of the water thru put!! We will put the old sleuce gate on display, unfortunately it wasnt doing its job properly any more!!

New 100% efficient gas fires in Pulley and Corncott

We have replaced the really inefficient gas fires in Pulley and Corncott (Wheel Room will be 1st November!). The fires are flueless so all the heat goes into the room. The look rather nice too!

Lakeview already has an air to air heat pump which provides back ground heat.

All of our accommodation also has high efficient Worcester Bosch LPG Boiler Heating systems for ultimate comfort.

Later this year we are also replacing all windows to double glazing!!!

Late Availability

We have the following dates available

Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st October £180 Wheel Room

Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd November £180 Corncott

Thursday 4th & Friday 5th November £190 Pulley Mill

Christmas Availability

We Still have Christmas availability in Corncott and Pulley Mill £90 - £120 per night 4 nights min.

Corncott accommodates upto 3 persons in 2 bedrooms and 1 well behaved doggy
Pulley Mill accommodations 2 persons

New Decorator for the winter

Last week we welcomed a new member of our team Cec!

Cec will be working at Millbrook and our other properties decoratoring over the winter!

This is a photo of Cec restoring the windows at Little Owl our tiny property on Exmoor!

Excellence Awards 2010 / 2011 Finalists!

Last night the press release was sent out reference the South West Excellence Awards and we have been shortlisted!

http://www.swtourism.org.uk/news/q/date/2010/10/15/excellence-awards-2010-2011-finalists-revealed/
This is great news after the Visit Devon Awards. We will be attending the ceremony on the 15th November in Torquay and will let you know the result.
We are up against some fantastic businesses - so fingers crossed but it's just brilliant to be a finalist!

We're in the local paper!

Millbrook Cottages are featured in the North Devon Gazette today with a photo (not so flattering!) of Bob, Kate, Gabriela and Tomas!
Click here

New social networking links

You will find links on our home page to Facebook, Twitter, you tube and our rssvfor the blog!

Our new Facebook page is Facebook

Photo from the awards ceremony

One of myself and Bob with Judi Spiers on the Visit Devon Awards Night

Devon Self Catering of the Year goes to..... Millbrook

Last night we scooped the Gold Award for Self Catering and Serviced Apartment of the Year 2010 at the award ceremony in South Devon. This fast tracks us into the South West Awards taking place this November. Photos of the event to follow!
Click Here for Details

Visit Devon Awards Finalist - Awards Ceremony Tonight!

Tonight we are attending the Visit Devon awards ceremony at The Thurlestone Hotel in Kingsbridge Devon! We have been shortlisted to the final 4 (and were visited back in July!) and will find out if we are going to receive Gold, Silver or Runner Up this evening. Fingers crossed - but we will be happy which ever we receive :-)

Millbrook Estate attending West Point Exeter Wedding Show

The weekend of the 9th and 10th October we will be at the wedding show at West Point arena Exeter - come and see us and see all of the new wedding photos and our new packages customised especially for you!!!

Alpaca Shearing

Our alpacas were sheared on Friday. Late this year due to a baby being born the day before they were due in June!
It isnt the nicest experience to watch but only lasts a few minutes. It includes full cut, nail trim and teeth cut!!!!!! :-{

More Fish!

We have stocked the coarse lake by a further 60 specimen carp mainly 3-4lbs!
Stocking will continue this autumn with a further 1000 4-5cm carp in October

New Projects - seating and stone walls

Our Turkeys

Meet our Turkeys - Fred and Santa!!!
They are two different breeds - Santa (The smaller one) is a norfolk and Fred is a American Wild Turkey.
I have no idea if they are boys or girls - time will tell!!!!

Thanks to Christine for this fab photo!!!

New Sofa in Lakeview

We have replaced the black leather sofa in Lakeview with a new extra comfy brown leather corner sofa!!!

Sorry about the quality of the photo it was taken on my iphone whilst I wait for a new camera!!!

Treasure Trails in Devon

We are now selling Treasure Trails for Torrington, South Molton and Barnstaple for guests at £5 each. Why not have a fun couple of hours - for all ages!

Late Availability

We have the following Availability for August and September 2010

Secret Garden B&B £150 per night (2 nights min)

29th and 30th September
11th September for up to 6 nights

Lakeview

1 night on the 10th or 15th August £110
27th September - 3rd October £105/£125 per night 3 nights min

Pulley Mill
25th September 7 nights £449
9th October 7 nights £449
16th October 7 nights £449

And The Winner Is

The winner of the first half year photo competition is David and Val
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Your prize of a pair of Alpaca socks will be coming to you shortly.
You will be entered in with the other winner later in the year to win the stay at Little Owl!!!

New Wedding Photos

Please have a look at the new wedding photos from our weddings last week.

Here is one of the bride and groom overlooking the estate

More things to do!

A new addition to more outside furniture and the summer house is the outdoor connect 4 and jenga - get fun on a summer evening or autumn afternoon!

New Stone Walling Starts

The stone walling for the guest parking area has begun.

Weddings at Millbrook

Just a small article about Millbrook Weddings and a few ideas for your wedding

Click here for the newsletter

Ducks, Geese and Turkeys move to new homes

We have moved the Ducks to the front lake for the new home. We have 2 white indian runner ducks, 2 black/brown indian runner ducks and 3 white call ducks.
We have also moved the turkeys to join the geese in the pinetrum. Photos to follow.

Another Baby Alpaca

This morning we had a white baby girl alpaca. Please see photo.
Its her mums first so she is a bit freaked out!

LCDS TVs and Teac Hifi

Today we changed the last of 28inch old style TVs in Wheel Room and Corncott to new 32 inch HD LCD Samsung TVs. Also Wheel Room had an upgrade to the Hifi to a new Teac DAB system.
Pulley Mill had already been updated to a new LCD TV and Teac early this year.

Millbrook on Street View Google Maps

Millbrook is now showing on Google Maps new Street View.

Have a look here You can navigate down the hill and have a look up the drive!

The pictures where taken last spring at Millbrook and just show down the drive!

New Baby Alpaca

This morning we have a new baby girl alpaca - she is dark brown (like her dad) and is already walking around. She is very sweet!

More Poultry

Today at the market (again!) Kate bought two turkey chicks to join the brood! They are 2.5 weeks old and very sweet!

New apple airport wireless network

Today we have upgraded our wireless network to apple airports ( windows and mac compatible) to give a fast connection to the Internet where ever you are at millbrook.

New Carp Barrow

We have bought a carp barrow for guests to use to transport there equipment upto the lakes. This is after a few requests on our feedback!

New TV in Lakeview and Secret Garden

We have replaced the 32inch LCD Sony in Lakeview with a new 40inch LCD Sony Internet TV offering Freeview HD and Internet services through the TV! The Sony 32 inch has replaced the 28inch TV in the Secret Garden Conservatory.

New Staff and sad goodbyes

Rudolf and Renata have now moved on to another job in Reading after nearly 2 years at Millbrook.

Gabriela and Tomas started on 9th May and have been working with Rudolf and Renata until yesterday! We are really sad to see them go but wish them all the luck with new jobs!!!! :-(

Our First Ducklings

Today our first wild ducklings hatched. We have a duck sitting on 12 eggs still too! (click to enlarge the photo)

Canadian Geese Back today for Summer

The Canadian Geese have returned to Millbrook today for the summer - they couldn't have picked a better Spring day!

Spring has Sprung at Millbrook

With the sun this morning came the spring! The snowdrops are out, the garlic leaf tips are starting to appear, the crocus are rising, and the daffodils (30000 of them) are coming (very late!).
Its a beautiful time here!

Rainbow Trout

We had around 70 rainbow trout delivered yesterday for our fly fishing lake. from 1lb to 5lb fish!

New Year New Pulley Mill

Pulley Mill is getting more upgrades this month. Its new panasonic 32inch HD freeview LCD TV and Laura Ashley TV stand look great. New additions during January and February are also a new Teac DAB CD System, Cushions for the Window seat (perfect for looking out at the fantastic view) and coloured lights (with a remote control to change the colour for your mood) in the already stunning bathroom.

Millbrook Goes Green Again

After several weeks of being completely white from the snow Millbrook is now back to its normal Green colour! The temperatures are around 10 degrees and its looking great.

Alpacas Get New Feeder

The alpacas have 2 things to celebrate - grass (after the snow has melted) and a new feeding area, specially designed for hay and to keep there food nice and dry.
We have 3 baby alpacas due this summer!

more snow!

I think we are definately snow bound today with about 15cm falling last night - its beautiful and has warmed up.