Crumpets on the Beach
January is the worst time of year. Dress it up however you like with fresh starts and new beginnings, it still sucks.
So, when your elder sister asks where you want to go for your 30th birthday which falls mid-February, you jump at the chance for a cheeky getaway in that first miserable week of the new year. Nowhere far. Nowhere exotic. It doesn’t need to be. Just somewhere that isn’t home. Devon? Perfect!
And the best thing about going away in January is you have no expectations about the weather. You expect it to be cold, wet, and miserable, so anything different is just a bonus.
Logging off shortly after noon on a wet January afternoon was such a treat. As was shooting down the dreaded A303 which was particularly quiet with an eerie post-New Year calm about it. Our destination? The quirky staycation lets of Rusty Sheds, perched in the breathtaking countryside of rolling Devonshire hills, and walking distance from some of the most beautiful beaches on the Devon coast. Just idyllic.
Our cabin, looking a little like a Dutch barn with its distinct copper coloured curved roof, stood vibrant against a crisp blue sky. Inside, a stylish Scandinavian interior with a combination of white, pine and dusty pinks embraced us, a log-burner providing a cosy feel to this intimate environment. Huge windows framed the wonderful views of luscious green fields and the skeletal-like frames of trees in winter.
Two beds, one queen size tucked in a cosy nook behind the kitchen with views across the fields, the other up a handcrafted ladder (a questionable activity after one too many hot toddies) to a mezzanine space beneath the curved roof.
Outside bathing would appear de rigueur at Rusty Sheds. The outdoor shower brings forth an exhilarating blast of steaming water to wake you in the morning as the sun rises over the distant woods. In the evening, a wood panelled tub entices a wallow in a hot bath, watching the sea mist roll up the estuary.
With itchy feet and an eagerness to explore, we donned wellies and woolly hats and navigated the muddy path through the woods, the dog joyously bounding through puddles, caking his paws and fur in mud.
At the bottom of the hill the path opened onto the estuary of the River Erme, the sands stretching to the distance and the water trickling over the smooth surface of the riverbed as it made its way to the sea.
Needing no further invitation, our hound threw himself into the chilly water and as we turned to face the sea the late afternoon sun broke through clouds to shine on the waters below, glittering like a sea of diamonds in the sunlight.
Paddling in the shallow waters, our coats and woolly hats keeping us warm from the winter chill, we three sisters took a moment to revel in the freshest air, the beauty and calm of the British countryside in winter, and our fortune in finding somewhere to embrace the hygge of a winter getaway.
With daylight fading, we trekked back to our cabin where, with curtains drawn, log burner blazing, and the dog curled in his bed, we melted into sumptuous cushions with a glass of hearty shiraz and a bowl of pasta. No phone signal. No Wi-Fi. Simply heaven.
On our last day we were up at 6am, dressed, and racing to the beach to watch the sunrise over the Devonshire hills. We perched ourselves silently on a crumbling stone wall watching the light slowly fill the estuary. Warmed by the rising sun, a flask of hot tea, and buttery crumpets, we convinced ourselves we were the only people on earth witnessing this heavenly sight.
Holidays are not defined by the weather. Holidays are not defined by distance travelled. Holidays are defined by the moments that remind you of who you truly are, what it is you work so hard for, and the people in your life that mean the most. If we’re judging this break with my siblings by those criteria, it’s easy to say my January trip to Devon was certainly one of the best.
Daisy Rosling stayed at Rusty Sheds, luxury self-catering cabins, The Flete Estate, near Holbeton, Devon. /https://www.rustysheds.co.uk/
