The fact I leave Sleepy Owl Treehouse with bags under my eyes is in no way a reflection of the tranquility that one finds during a stay at this boutique escape.
No, this is simply the result of traveling with a 10-month-old baby who’s decided to get a fever and stay up the whole night screaming. On a plus, I think to myself, at least the treehouse is very well soundproofed so no neighbours have any potential of being disturbed.
Traveling with children is never straightforward. But Sleepy Owl – a bespoke hideaway on Devon’s northern coast near the small village of Hartland – does its absolute best to create a magical atmosphere for travelers of all sorts, from couples escaping the busy city, to families with children and dogs in tow.
We arrive at Sleepy Owl on a grey and chilly spring day. The drive from the South East has been long, our bodies cramped and achey from hours behind the wheel. The little one has luckily slept for much of the journey, while the fluffy one has been less panicked than usual on a long journey – so far, so good.
We are greeted by owner Jay, who is only too willing to help us unload our bags into the waiting wheelbarrows to roll our items over to our treehouse. We are staying in Nest, a two bedroom raised circular abode overlooking the woods . Its aesthetic is Scandi chic, and as we ramble up the stairs and open the large glass doors from the wraparound deck, we find ourselves stepping into a world of instant calm. Gentle melodic music streams from the speakers, the scent of flowers and musk wafts through the air and candles flicker across the surfaces – it’s as if we’ve arrived at a very upscale spa, but one complete with kitchen, dining area and so much more.
The room is decorated meticulously – there’s a mini cocktail bar mounted on one wall, an oversized plump cream sofa chair against one side, and an even bigger, more comfy sofa in the middle of the room so one can look out the floor to ceiling windows to the trees surrounding the area. All I want to do is flop down and put my feet up but the little one has other ideas and immediately starts crawling towards the various rooms to explore his new surroundings.
Jay leaves us to do our unpacking, explaining that the wood fired hot tub outside is already lit and ready for our arrival – a feature of the villa I’m extremely excited about and which I have spent much of the journey excitedly talking to my husband about.
From the outside it’s hard to tell just how spacious the treehouse is but like the tardis in Dr Who, it just keeps going. There’s an extra spacious super king sized room to one side, complete with gold bath, four poster bed and projector screen that rolls down for guests’ viewing pleasure. The stylish bathroom is one of the most beautifully decorated I’ve ever come across in a luxury accommodation – simple, but with elegant touches of stone, wood and cream highlights, with a large plant near the shower to add just a hint of colour.
In the living room, I step over my baby – currently exploring the dog water bowls as if they are tiny swimming pools – and move to the kitchen area, where white topped counters, large sink looking out to yet more surrounding trees, a popcorn machine – for movie night – and of course a Nespresso machine await. I already want to cook a meal in the space simply because it’s so nicely laid out, although guests can choose to have a private chef as an add-on to their experience.
The treehouse has a second room specifically designed with children in mind – there’s a bunkbed, and kids books, plus bed rails so they can’t fall out. It’s quiet and tucked away, far enough from the main room to give the adults peace but not so far away that one can’t quickly get there. Jay has also kindly left a highchair and baby bath so we are fully equipped for our stay – something that only a year prior I’d not ever considered would be a key amenity I’d look for when staying somewhere.
For the furrier guests, there is a plush dog bed, dog treats and a bath outside to wash muddy paws off before coming in. As a dog owner, I always appreciate when accommodations put as many facets in for four legged friends as they do the humans, and it’s clear Jay is very much aware of the rise in dog owners since Covid and has built the treehouses to suit.
Outside, there is a large area at the base of the property, fully gated so the pupster can’t escape but spacious enough to run around. In one corner sits the large wooden hot tub, a pizza oven and seating area. Despite the chilly weather, we immediately get changed and head to the hot tub, taking turns to dunk in the soothing hot water while our baby explores the muddy puddles ensuring to cover himself and his snow suit in as much dirt as possible.
By the time we pull ourselves away from the healing hot tub, it’s pitch black and the temperature is beginning to hover in the low single digits so we head inside for a home-cooked meal and much needed glass of wine. That evening, once the baby and dog are each fast asleep, we make popcorn and clamber into the huge bed to watch a film as if we are teenagers again. We last all of 30 minutes before the parental exhaustion takes over but the fact we got even that far is a major bonus.
It’s even chillier the next day, and we debate staying in to enjoy everything the treehouse has to offer. But traveling with small ones means that entertainment is usually a must, and we decide to head out for a short drive to the small coastal town of Appledore to pick up some fresh fish and have a pint at a local’s haunt. On warmer days, one can walk all through the property’s 20 acres of private land, exploring the river and wildflower meadows on the doorstep, or even take a stroll into Hartland for a pint at The Hart Inn or the Anchor Inn.
That afternoon, a massage therapist arrives to the treehouse and sets up in the living room for my husband, while I take a needed nap with the baby and dog. A massage is one of the many amenities that can be provided for guests, alongside things such as bouquets of flowers, or chocolates from local chocolatier Andrew King.
Over a dinner of fresh seafood that we whip up in the extremely well equipped kitchen, while listening to our favourite tunes and enjoying a glass of crisp white wine, we feel as relaxed as fairly new parents can be, free from the everyday hectic life that awaits back home.
Over just two nights, we manage a proper escape, cooing over sweet things our little one does like snuggling into the giant sofa chairs to watch The Gruffalo with us, or being fascinated with the bunk bed set up. Even our dog – plagued by an ever-faster moving baby who loves to grab at fur – looks like he’s chilled out for the first time in a while. It’s a spot I think any family would feel set at ease in.
At least, until the fever sets in. That, dear readers, takes the restful ease off just slightly.
The next morning, as we depart looking slightly worse for wear than we’d like, Jay empathises with us about life as a parent. I compliment her on the small touches that allowed us to feel wholly welcomed as a family into such a luxurious space, and its clear that she has happily gone the extra mile, knowing full well how much parents need a bit of ‘me’ time in amongst the beautiful chaos that comes with little ones. It’s no wonder the accommodations have received numerous accolades since opening post Covid and I’ve no doubt that will only continue.
Sleepy Owl feature a range of treehouses and retreats (with hot tubs) in Devon. For more information, including details of packages and extras to add that little extra touch of luxury (private chef, anyone?), please visit www.sleepyowldevon.co.uk.
