COVID 19

Gov UK rules and regulations relating to the lockdown have impacted heavily on holidaymakers booked to come and stay from the end of March right up to early July 2020.  We have refunded in full any holidaymaker who booked direct with us whose holiday here could not proceed.  This has been a point of principle.  Some have chosen to book for next year.  This has been their choice.  Thank you very much.  

To book direct with us, phone 01409 253792 or e-mail me - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Feedback from happy holidaymakers:

Facebook ~review from Ginny May

We recently spent Christmas 2019 at Parnacott House, and what a fantastic time everyone had! Three families from Somerset, with grown up ‘kids’ and their boyfriends and girlfriends who have all grown up together.
Plenty of space for 14 people, with extremely spacious bedrooms, very comfy beds, a huge dining room and drawing room, and a lovely snug next to the kitchen, plus a games room with pool table. Rondi and a John had decorated the house with three Christmas trees, pretty garlands around the fireplaces, table centrepieces and candles which made the house look wonderfully festive and welcoming.
The kitchen is very well equipped, with a double oven, two microwaves, three fridges etc.
It rained every day during our stay, but it didn’t matter. We loved sitting in the window, birdwatching - a pair of jays(!), lots of long tailed tits, blue tits, great tits, buzzards, wagtails, woodpeckers. We played tons of games, drank too much, ate too much, and had a thoroughly good time.
John and Rondi made us feel very welcome and I can highly recommend Parnacott House to anyone looking for a place to get together.

Historic building · Spacious rooms · Thoughtful amenities

Thank you so much, Ginny.  You were an ideal family group and we are so pleased your special Christmas together at Parnacott was such a success!

Trip Advisor June 2019

This great house hosted a fantastic week for our family and friends. The Georgian front has a grandeur which emanates from every brick and stone. The dining room easily sat our party of twelve as we dined in style watched over by family portraits and other objets d'arts. Plenty of room in the drawing room for cocktails beforehand.
This grandeur is ideally complemented by the more 'homely' feel of the rooms behind; a well equipped kitchen and breakfast area, comfortable sitting area with wood burning stove, entertainment room with pool table and games consoles.
Bedrooms are large, comfortable and stylishly furnished.
Outside a huge private lawn with sweeping drive enabled us to leave the croquet set up all week. In the barn was table tennis and other outdoor games. There is lots of outside seating, from large tables and enough chairs to accommodate everyone to small, hidden away spaces with one or two seats.
There is plenty of parking. We had four cars with us and there was room for more.
The owners, who live close by, were friendly and helpful. They were available for the odd question or two we had but remained unobtrusive throughout our stay. We really felt the place was 'ours' for the week we stayed.
For added luxury we booked 'Sargie' to cater for us one evening. He served a superb meal, including laying the table and doing all the washing up.

Thank you for this lovely affirmation of what Parnacott has to offer.  You are very right about Sargie!

May 2019
This is the 3rd time we have stayed at Parnacott House. The house is full of charm and splendour, the gardens/grounds are beautiful and very well looked after. The owners are also very close by and extremely obliging.
It is very peaceful and wildlife abounds: hare and deer in particular visit the grounds daily.
For a large party of people (sleeps up to 14), it is particularly ideal. The house is large enough that you do not feel you are living on top of each other. If you feel like escaping for a quiet read, that is easy to do. 

Thank you - we look forward to seeing you again next year.

August 2018

Mrs B Mears
Exceeded Expectations
Comment: 'We stayed at Parnacott for a week in August 2018 with our family (three generations - 7 adults and 5 children aged 4-12). The house is very comfortable and well equipped; in fact magnificently equipped in terms of cookware for preparing meals for a large group. The Georgian front part of the house is quite grand with lots of ancestral portraits and fine porcelain on the walls. The central part, which is 16th and 17th Century is very suitable for children with a room where they can play snooker and other games without danger of damaging antiques or porcelain. The bedrooms are very practical and comfortable and the bathrooms are also very good. It was great fun to live at Parnacott feeling like landed gentry. We enjoyed playing croquet on the lawns and exploring the gardens and woods. The house and ground are very well kept - when we arrived there was a bevy of gardeners and cleaners getting the house and grounds ready for us. The owners were very welcoming and helpful. The house has been in their family handed down from generation to generation for around 400 years and they are very proud of it and having guests enjoy the experience of living there. The local scenery is magnificent, particularly the South West Coastal Footpath with high cliffs where the rocks are spectacularly folded. The coastal path around Hartland is quite tough walking but even our 4 year old managed three miles of it. Further south nearer to Bude the walking is easier with less up and down but still magnificent with wonderful views. The beaches are excellent and quite extensive north of Bude so that they were not too crowded even in August. It is very good sand for sand castles and there are lots of rocks and rock pools as well. Also good surfing. We also spent a very good day at Tintagel. We mainly cooked for ourselves at Parnacott, eating out in the garden and also in the magnificent dining room, but we also had an excellent, very good value meal at the pub nearby at Pyworthy and also cream teas everywhere - especially good at Northcott Mouth on the coast north of Bude. We have gone on holiday for a week as a family every year since 2011 in various parts of England and Wales, renting a large house each time. All of the houses have been very good but Parnacott has been one of the best and certainly the most memorable and beautiful.'

Thank you very much; we are, naturally, delighted you enjoyed Parnacott and had a really good family holiday.

"We have had such a lovely time in your beautiful house.  We have been to 6 holiday homes over the past 6 years and Parnacott has been the best to date!  Thank you so much."

Miss Michelle Bonsor - the Bonsor Party, London

July/August 2017

Rondi and I appreciate your comments very much indeed.  You know the way here now!

Parnacott House on Trip Advisor:

Reviewed 19 May 2017 for a stay in May 2017

May 2017

Sue and Chris Weeks wrote:

'Thank you so much for letting us 'borrow' your family home to celebrate Emily's 30th with family and friends.  You have thought of everything to make our stay as comfortable and enjoyable in such wonderful suroundings. Lovely thoughtful touches abound!  The Murder Mystery on the Saturday evening was played out in very appropriate surroundings and you will be pleased to hear there were only 3 'deaths'!!  This was followed on the Sunday by the making of a Tudor Pie - served in style, naturally!  We have enjoyed the rook 'orchestra', the deer and hare parades, and the occasional tawny owl.  There is so much to see and do and the weather has been perfect.  We shall come again.  Thank you, both.'

Thanks - we shall welcome you back.  Note to Emily:  you'll have to write a new Murder Mystery for the occasion!  JV

Owls at Parnacott

Jan Dinsdale, a member of a very happy bunch of friends and a freelance Ecologist from Cornwall, observed:

"I wish you well in attracting another pair of barn owls to your tea chest next year. I regularly see short-eared owls in West Cornwall - they hunt in the day time - but I have yet to see a little owl. Hope you are lucky.* Do you think your dragonfly was perhaps a female emperor?"

A Female Emperor? (Photo by Pooch.)

*Barn owls and tawny owls at Parnacott - yes, but no sighting of a little owl any closer than 2 miles as yet. We live in hope!" (JV)

Parnacott, its garden, grounds, surrounding fields, old pond and Wilderness Garden are a haven for a rich variety of wildlife.  This year, 2017, many hares and deer have been spotted - much to the delight of our visitors!

We are developing a Wilderness Garden path for our holidaymakers - photos very soon!

Jays, swallows, house martins and many song birds grace the skies over Parnacott.  Bees and butterflies love the  rich variety of flowers.

26th July 2017 - saw a stunning dragonfly in the lane this morning.  I believe it was a Female Emperor.

The Old Mulberry Tree at Parnacott - how old is this amazingly beautiful tree?

Parnacott House supports the work of The Devon Wildlife Trust and The Campaign for the Protection of Rural England.

Parnacott really was the perfect location to get together with old college friends and for all our children to play together. They really loved the dressing-up box and put on a spectacular 'talent show' for us all on New Year's Eve. 'Grown-up' dining after they had all gone to bed was such a treat inthe beautiful dining room! My family enjoyed cycling the Tarka Trail and a sunny coastal walk around Hartland Point. It's a lovely house and so great to see layers of family history all around. Thank you.

Thank you!  As well as the Tarka Trail thre is also The Camel Trail down by Wadebridger.  Hartland Point and Quay are both magnificent, as are Marsland Mouth and Speke's Mill.  This section of our splendid coastline is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

'The Lavender Hill Mob returned for another (second) successful New Year Fest - doing what we do best!! Thank you for making us so welcome again, and for all your tips and advice. Despite the foul weather we enjoyed exploring some wonderful coast: Widemouth Bay; Bude; Tintagel and Morwenstow. Enjoyed some more of your book collection too. See you again soon.' Phil Scholey, Family and Friends, Bucks, Middx and Herts.

Thank you Phil - we look forward to welcoming you all back!

'I looked hard and long for the perfect house to celebrate my 60th Birthday - and came across Parnacott - with five grandchildren it just seemed the perfect place for them, and for the rest of us to enjoy too. It exceeded all our expectations in every way - I have never visited another house that truly welcomes children in the way Parnacott does. Within 5 minutes of arriving they had all piled into the dressing up box and were dressed as Knights and Princesses. Rondi and John Vowler have created something very special: a home away from home in the most elegant of houses. Spacious interiors full of fresh flowers and log fires. Quiet corners to read a book when grown ups need to escape. A unique and wonderful home which we all hope to return to one day.'

Thank you - we look forward to welcoming you back before too much time elapses!

'Parnacott not only met our expectations, it exceeded them! - the perfect venue for our new year and 30th birthday party, cosy and grand at the same time. the perfect retreat, we will definitely be going back. Thanks all at Parnacott.' - N Franklin

Most kind - Parnacott is indeed ideal for celebrating special occasions at any time of year!  J V

Spring, summer and early autumn give you space, light and time - just what you need to help you relax and recharge your batteries.

Marie and Toby Pennington married at St Swithin's Church, Pyworthy, with the Reception, Wedding Feast. Entertainment and Dancing at Parnacott House on Saturday 28th September 2015.

Marie writes:

"We really cannot thank you enough for your incredible generosity...in the way you welcomed us to Parnacott for our special day. From your emotional support, practical assistance and enthusiasm to the stunning flowers and overall attention to detail, everything has ben beyond wonderful.

In all the years we have been coming here, I could never have dreamed that this would one day be where I would celebrate my wedding - how very special!"

Rondi and I were so delighted to be able to host the Reception here especially because Marie is one of our daughter's oldest friends.  It was indeed a very special and joyous occasion!

Parnacott House is now a licensed wedding venue; we can also host renewal of vows and naming ceremonies!  Our very dear friends, Marie and Toby, got maried in Pyworthy at St Swithin's and held their reception at Parnacott. It was a beautiful day and a magical evening.  Although I am, obviously, somewhat biased, I must emphasise that Parnacott House offers a very special setting for receptions and weddings.

In this photo you can see the marquee set up on the lawn with the house in the background and the croquet mallets waiting.

Marie, Toby and their wedding guests gather for a group photograph before we all entered the marquee for the Devon Feast.

Earlier in the day Marie and Toby are photographed on the front drive with the old iron gate in the background. It's a beautifully romantic shot that captures the essence of a very lovely day.

The very first wedding to be held here took place on Saturday 13th September 2014. (September can be a perfect month for weddings.)  Isabella married Mark and the wedding was celebrated in style. It was indeed a splendid day!  Isabella is our niece and the couple met at Budehaven Community School, Bude, North Cornwall.  (I had the privelege and pleasure of teaching them both!)

The first Wedding Reception to be held at Parnacott was back in 2007 and that was also in September. Here are Lou and Dom pictured down on the beach, having got married at Trevigue. Five years later they came back to Parnacott for a holiday and we are still in touch. Next year will be 10 years and we hope to see them and their growing family here once more!

Photo by Pooch

We are also accepting bookings for Christmas 2020 and for the 2020/2021 New Year.  Celebrating Christmas or seeing in the New Year at Parnacott with friends and/or family is great fun!  Log fires, Christmas trees, holly and ivy and much good cheer!

Such a special time canot be properly enjoyed without one's dog(s).  You will therefore be relieved to know we accept up to two dogs per week - £50 per dog.  

Please phone 01409 253792 or e-mail me:   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

I don't want to mislead anyone so must confess we don't get snow every year!

 And just by way of contrast:

 Summertime

Summertime at Parnacott.

 The gardens offer you plenty  of space and light.  Croquet, badminton, cricket, softball and football - fun until bedtime!

 Autumn

September and October weeks and weekends at Parnacott offer you all the joy of the late summer holidays without the crowds.  This time of year is ideal for birthday celebrations and friends reuniting, and represents remarkably good value for money.  Local beaches, perfect for good walks, especially with your dog, include: Widemouth, Summerleaze, Northcott Mouth, Sandymouth and Duckpool.  Seabathers and surfers have the reassurance of Lifguards (RNLI) on all the main beaches from 10 until 6 or 7 - and usually during the October half-term.

Or - head south from Bude down to Crackington Haven, Boscastle, Tintagel, Trebarwith Strand, Padstow and further to check out Rosamaund Pilcher settings (e.g. Prideaux Place in Padstow) and sample some of that Cornish Poldark magic.

Making a Booking - how it works:

A deposit of one third secures the week, or weekend, of your choice - the balance becomes payble 6 weeks before arrival.

And you get a great deal for your money:

The rental figure includes linen, towels, electricity, and heating, should it be required... The kitchen is very well kitted out and most household items like dishwasher tabs, cloths, rubbish bags and so forth are provided. You will not go short of tableware, wine glasses or flutes. Our New Year '15/'16 party commented on how well equipped the kitchen was and that it was bigger than it looked on the photos. This group of friends have been getting together now every year for 19 years and stated that Parnacott was one of the best holiday homes they had rented!  (Do check out our reviews on Trip Advisor and on our Facebook page.)

Do I need to mention that late summer time and early Autumn is ideal for beach and apres beach activities? There is ample space for badminton and for croquet, beers and Prosecco/Champagne while the barbecue gets going, or the chef is in the kitchen preparing your very special meal... (Yes, of course that is one of my fantasies but it can be your reality for we provide the names of 3 excellent local chefs*!)

Phone us on 01409 253792

Sleep will not be a problem after a day of sun, play and good eating.

The Four Poster bedroom - imagine yourself here.

The attractions of coming later in the year:

September and October week/weekends are usually lovely and the added bonus is that the High Season crowds have gone home.  There is much more space on the beaches and the surf is usually even better.

 Getting together with friends at this time of year gives you easy access to the cliffs or to the moors, to interesting points on the North Cornish coast like Boscastle, Port Isaac, Padstow or St Juliot** - but without 'the madding crowd' - and then log fires, good food and stimulating conversation back at Parnacott.  And a week or weekend at Parnacott out of season represents extremely good value for money. A week mid October 2019 will cost you just £1,518 for up to 14.

For the December weekends, Rondi dresses the house for Christmas - perfect for an early Christmas celebration!

** Thomas Hardy met his first wife there.

*For groups that would like to be catered for we have 3 local chefs we can highly recommend. They can provide 'drop-off' meals - ideal for the night of arrival - or come in and cook for you, serve and clear away afterwards. (You deal diretly with the chef of your choice.) This is a very popular option and rightly so.

t. 01409 253792

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.