averilburystedmunds: Devonian Delights

To say that I am lounging about, doing nothing, actually translates as ‘I am exhausted after over a week of Sustained Family Fun!’ Indeed, after around six hours of travel from Devon to Bury St Edmunds last Monday [11th] I was almost incoherent with fatigue and longing for the deep peace of the silent flat and the sustenance of an empty double bed and special pillow. Today, the 15th I rejoined my normal early habit of walking through the gorgeous Autumn of the Abbey Gardens and greeting various familiar dog walkers and their assorted canines.

My youngest grandson got married on November 9th; both he and his beloved are such lovable, quirky and pretty chaotic people that no one seems able to resist them! Their many friends seemed equally delightful people while their choice of venue for The

Wedding of the Year, was quixotic. It was virtually a working farm of large proportion, reputedly in Totnes, Devon, though actually nearer to Newton Abbot, not far from Dartmoor National Park. To reach it required hours of motorway travel rewarded by several miles along those charming Devonian winding lanes fenced in by steep slopes of hedgerows which create a feeling of being in an almost-tunnel. The occasional passing places, strategically placed, offer much-needed help in manoeuvring one’s passage; so helpful to the needy newcomer.

Our destination, Totnes, proved to be a delightful little place, larger than expected, most interesting and refreshing! We were there for three nights staying in The Bull annexe and loving its many rooms, large sofas and roomy terrace. From there on to the majestic Anran Farm or Anran Manor, the working farm with the house of Devon and Cornish stone, transformed to offer great accommodation [sleeps 16] for large parties/ celebrations/ weddings etc. It has Grade 2 buildings with the actual

Anran Manor House

farmhouse, the Manor House, built in 1840 and the barns chiefly dating from the late 17th century. It is these historic facts which always dazzle me!! At some point, the place was owned or administered by the Church Commissioners and somewhere along its historic path, it became derelict and abandoned. However, here’s an uplifting occurrence; in 2013 it was purchased by far-sighted people, and a major renovation undertaken to restore the actual farmhouse and outbuildings meticulously to provide luxurious accommodation for large groups. Plus a large design and photography studio was created from an available building and an outdoor swimming pool added to the existing lake and stream. Farming was re-started and a wide variety of fruit trees and vegetable patches established.

The unusual name, ‘Anran’ was selected as a synthesis, derived from the Chinese characters ‘an’ and ‘ran’ and with the meaning of ‘a place of peace and tranquility‘. And set within rolling hills and stunning countryside Anran Manor and Farm is exactly that.