Published August 19th, 2015
The Olde House is offering a Cornish farm cottage holiday for a flat rate of £100.
The Olde House, a collection of 30 self-catering holiday cottages on a working farm near Cornish hotspots Polzeath and Padstow, celebrates 100 years as a family farm in 2015.
To mark its centenary, owners the Hawkey family, launch a unique offer on 9 September only: book a week in any cottage for a flat rate of £100 in an online first come, first served offer. To cope with the anticipated surge, the site’s hosting is being increased. The holiday must be taken on 9 or 10 through to 16 October 2015.
On Sunday 11 October, the guests of the cottages will be invited to a 100 Years Party, including a farm barbecue for everyone on the farm, young and old.
The cottages, which range from 3-5 stars, sleep between two and 10, and include newly refurbished The Manor House, once the original manor of the local village of Chapel Amble and more recently the home of the owners’ parents.
Penpont Farm has remained a working farm throughout its life as a family holiday destination. Stretching over 550 acres high above the Camel Estuary, it has 850 sheep and 170 cattle.
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Guests are invited to experience life on the farm with a two-mile farm trail, a purpose-built timber bird hide and pets corner where children can help to feed pygmy goats, guinea pigs and sheep twice a day. Children are also invited to watch and help during the two annual lambing seasons.
Penpont Farm is run by Oliver Hawkey, 31, and The Olde House cottage business by Shaun Hawkey and his wife Jaime, both 33. The brothers are the fourth generation of farmers at Penpont.
Shaun says: “We really wanted to do something special to celebrate 100 years so earlier this year we came up with an idea of blocking out a week in early October, when the weather in Cornwall is usually still fine, and offering every single cottage on the farm for just £100 for the week.” As a comparison, in peak season, The Manor House which sleeps 10, is £2,200 a week.
Shaun’s wife Jaime, 33, who has refurbished a number of the cottages to a high standard, adds: “We have worked so hard to develop the cottages, most recently gutting and redesigning the Manor House, and with this offer we wanted to bring the farm to an audience who might never have experienced the fun and relaxation of a farm holiday before.”
Shaun and Oliver’s parents, Andrew and Janice Hawkey – Andrew’s grandfather Edgar Theophilous purchased the farm in 1915 – have recently taken a back seat in the running of The Olde House cottages and farm to allow the next generation to make its mark. He continues to enjoy narrating the weekly farm tours by tractor and trailer which are run for guests in school holidays.
Andrew says: “The farm has gone from strength to strength over the years and I am proud of the hard work of my children to ensure that the farm evolves to remain a business for future generations. We’ve always maintained a balance of traditional farming and new ventures, just as my grandfather did, and long may this continue.”
Read more about 100 years of farm life here.
