Smeale Farm Cottages nestle into the beautiful countryside in the north of the Isle of Man.
The holiday cottages are located on a sheep and cereals farm where farming practices are chosen to protect wildlife alongside commercial farming. The on-farm nature conservation area covers 7 acres, and links with the Ayres National Nature Reserve to provide a wildlife corridor stretching inland.
The Martin family strive to make the farm cottages as environmentally friendly as possible, by providing firewood from the farm nature reserve which is a sustainable source, using energy efficient light bulbs, providing recycling opportunities and air drying laundry. The cottages are also furnished with beautiful vintage wooden furniture to enhance the cottages and reduce use of new resources. The single storey cottage is wheelchair accessible.
The farm promotes the island’s cultural heritage through farm tours, which cover over 500 years of family history on the one farm. The farm buildings have retained original features such as the wattle canopy and ziggurat style fireplaces, the Georgian farmhouse (known as the new farmhouse), the horse walk and the remains of a beggars’ house for itinerant workers. The family have an interesting heritage textiles collection available too.
When the family are moving sheep, they collect any litter they see along public roads and hedges. The farm provides lots of apples to the Apple Orphanage, a community business, in return for juice.
Looking back over the last year we were delighted to see a brimstone butterfly, unmistakably bright yellow. Gary Curtis, the “butterfly man” has been trying to establish a colony in the north of the island and his efforts have obviously borne fruit.
Gary has now supplied us with alder plants this Spring to grown on in our conservation area. This plant is their sole food supply so Mr. Curtis is keen to get more established. The little plants are thriving.
For farm tours, COVID-19 has played havoc, but latterly we have enjoyed entertained Peel Heritage Trust with the farm history. A story telling session is planned in August based on pre-release readings from the book “Stories from Stone” by Kim Kneen and Vicki Lloyd-West – we are very excited about this event. Books can be pre-ordered on the night. Smeale Farm will again be on the programme for Manx National Heritage’s “Heritage Open Days” events, restrictions allowing.
The holiday cottages are located on a sheep and cereals farm where farming practices are chosen to protect wildlife alongside commercial farming. The on-farm nature conservation area covers 7 acres, and links with the Ayres National Nature Reserve to provide a wildlife corridor stretching inland.
The Martin family strive to make the farm cottages as environmentally friendly as possible, by providing firewood from the farm nature reserve which is a sustainable source, using energy efficient light bulbs, providing recycling opportunities and air drying laundry. The cottages are also furnished with beautiful vintage wooden furniture to enhance the cottages and reduce use of new resources. The single storey cottage is wheelchair accessible.
The farm promotes the island’s cultural heritage through farm tours, which cover over 500 years of family history on the one farm. The farm buildings have retained original features such as the wattle canopy and ziggurat style fireplaces, the Georgian farmhouse (known as the new farmhouse), the horse walk and the remains of a beggars’ house for itinerant workers. The family have an interesting heritage textiles collection available too.
When the family are moving sheep, they collect any litter they see along public roads and hedges. The farm provides lots of apples to the Apple Orphanage, a community business, in return for juice.
Looking back over the last year we were delighted to see a brimstone butterfly, unmistakably bright yellow. Gary Curtis, the “butterfly man” has been trying to establish a colony in the north of the island and his efforts have obviously borne fruit.
Gary has now supplied us with alder plants this Spring to grown on in our conservation area. This plant is their sole food supply so Mr. Curtis is keen to get more established. The little plants are thriving.
For farm tours, COVID-19 has played havoc, but latterly we have enjoyed entertained Peel Heritage Trust with the farm history. A story telling session is planned in August based on pre-release readings from the book “Stories from Stone” by Kim Kneen and Vicki Lloyd-West – we are very excited about this event. Books can be pre-ordered on the night. Smeale Farm will again be on the programme for Manx National Heritage’s “Heritage Open Days” events, restrictions allowing.
