Foxes

Why you'll love staying here

Situated just over two miles from the village of Lanivet near Bodmin, Foxes is a charming stone barn conversion set on a secluded working farm at the foot of Helman Tor, within Red Moor, one of Cornwall’s most important nature reserves.

Thoughtfully restored retaining vaulted ceilings, timber beams, and exposed stonework, it’s an ideal base for a family or couple looking for a peaceful, rural escape. Guests should note that water is supplied from a bore hole on the farm which is double filtered and regularly tested.

Outside, Foxes benefits from a lawned garden shared with three other properties on the farm, with lovely views across the surrounding fields where cows graze and rabbits play. The farm is also home to goats and breeding ewes with the opportunities to see lambs in spring, as well as a donkey, while on the Tor the owners have established a small herd of Exmoor ponies.

Helman Tor, managed by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, spans over 700 acres and comprises a rich mosaic of habitats, incorporating heathland, mire, scrub, bog, ancient woodland, wet woodland, acid grassland, and numerous ponds. Working closely with local farmers, the trust has undertaken an ambitious rewilding project while promoting sustainable farming practices.

The reserve is home to a variety of rare wildlife, including breeding birds such as cuckoos, yellowhammers, grasshopper warblers and stonechats. Dormice can often be found in the woodland, which bursts into colour in spring with bluebells, wood anemones and violets. It is also a stronghold for the rare marsh fritillary butterfly and the adder, Britain’s only venomous snake.

There is no shortage of walking trails criss-crossing the reserve, with the Saints’ Way, a 30-mile route from the harbour town of Padstow to the port of Fowey, passing through. The tor itself has sweeping views across the surrounding countryside, and on a clear day, both the north and south Cornish coasts can be seen from its granite summit.

Lanivet is home to a welcoming 18th-century inn, offering an excellent selection of local beers and ciders, a menu of pub classics made with locally sourced ingredients, a spacious beer garden, and regular quiz nights.