The Collective at Woolsery has opened its new accommodation, giving visitors to this incredible swathe of secluded countryside in the wilds of North Devon the choice of seven utterly stunning places to stay that are luxurious, opulent, and beautifully designed.

Off the beaten track and a far cry from South Devon’s honeypot holiday spots, The Collective at Woolsery offers three cottages, two suites, and two rooms within the village that have opened after a complete renovation. Each has its own unique character, drawing on the history and heritage of the village and telling its own story through a stunning aesthetic carefully designed by Hannah Lohan Interiors.

Woolsery is a place steeped in history that was first mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. Centred around a Norman church, the village grew in the 18th and 19th centuries. Unusually, it also boasts two names, both of which declare your arrival at the village on the signage – Woolsery and Wolfardisworthy.

In keeping with this endearing oddity, The Collective at Woolsery’s accommodation is eccentric, whimsical, and a lot of fun. There are strong hints of nostalgia with dashes of decadence at every turn, and all the rooms give a strong feeling that this really is the ultimate place to relax, unwind, and slow down.

A sense of theatre and fabulousness pervades. Beautiful art adorns the walls, and the rooms are interspersed with vintage pieces so that everywhere you look feels unique and truly authentic, but with quality that is of the highest calibre.

Everything is carefully curated, paying homage to the village’s farming history and providing a lasting narrative of yesteryear and of how life was once lived in this quiet, remote place.

Woolsery is the ancestral home of Michael Birch, co-founder of the social networking site Bebo with his wife Xochi. His great-great-grandparents built the village shop, his grandmother was born above it, and his family still live in the village today.

Michael and Xochi bought a number of properties in the village and have breathed new life into this beautiful place, underpinned by their genuine love of and connection to Woolsery.

This has so far seen the revival of the local pub The Farmers Arms into an award-winning place to eat, the re-opening of J. Andrew Shop & Post Office, the opening of Woolsery Fish and Chips, the creation of Birch Farm, which uses traditional and organic farming principles and services the restaurant and shop, and the ongoing renovation of the Wulfheard Manor with further accommodation to open soon.

This peaceful spot, where stars shine bright and the true darkness of night envelops and cocoons, is surrounded by open countryside with tracks, footpaths, and lanes to explore. It is also just a short drive from the rugged South West Coast Path at Clovelly (4 miles) and beaches at Bucksmill Mill and Westward Ho! (7 miles).

When it comes to dining, guests have the choice of eating at The Farmers Arms or perhaps choosing gourmet takeaway fish and chips.

Executive chef Ian Webber produces food with integrity, working closely with head gardener Josh Sparkes and livestock manager Chris Jenn at Birch Farm, which provides most of the meats, fruits, vegetables, and herbs used in the kitchen. Working in harmony with nature, the menu is a contemporary version of what a farming family might serve at their kitchen table. It majors on provenance and sings with flavour.

Breakfast is unlike any breakfast you will have experienced before. Served in the rooms, with guests choosing their meal the night before, there is an incredible choice such as honey-glazed ham and hogget; homemade porridge and yoghurt; muffins, sourdough, and crumpets, all baked in the kitchen; eggs from the farm – it’s a dazzling display of mouth-watering and wholesome food to start the day.

Without a doubt, a stay at The Collective at Woolsery is beyond comparison. Exceptional and unparalleled, this place redefines the concept of a luxury break, where every tiny detail is embellished with love.

To find out more about The Collective at Woolsery, please visit the website here.