This month we’ve been talking to Gary, the owner of Shires, finding out what inspired him to design and build this large access friendly holiday house. Once part of a busy dairy farm, Shires is tucked away at the bottom of a long winding lane in East Devon’s beautiful Axe Valley. The house sleeps up to 14 and has an indoor pool, hot tub and sauna, a games room, movie room and year-round BBQ lodge. Accessible features include a wheelchair lift to the south-facing sun terrace, an access friendly bedroom and wet room, an intercom system for caregivers and level flooring.
Shires is the result of Gary’s dream to create a luxury large group holiday house that was inclusive to all, finished to a very high standard, with the kind of features that keep all ages happy. Let’s take an indepth look at his story from start to finish, the highs and the lows, the dedication and the final result.
What’s the History of Shires?
In its former guise, Shires was a modern addition to a farm that’s been in the same family for 4 generations. Starting off as a wagon shed, it evolved to become a calving shed, and then a dairy. The farm, like many in this little corner of East Devon, was part of the extensive Drake family estates purchased by Sir Francis Drake in the late 16th century. Way back in the 12th century, the estate was owned by French Benedictine monks from the Abbey of Syon.
Spin forward to the early part of the 20th century, when high taxes forced the sale of land on the Yarcombe Estate - including Chaffhay Farm, which was bought by Gary’s great-grandfather in 1924.
From Farm Shed to Luxury Holiday House
Farming has seen so many changes in the last 100 years. It never seems to get any easier, with much of working life dictated by rules and regulations. By 2015, Gary had had enough; with an idea that had been brewing in his head for almost a decade, he turned his back on farming and switched his focus to designing and building an access friendly holiday house for large groups.
Why Did the Owner Want to Make Shires Access Friendly?
Long before Gary gave up farming, he’d been thinking of someday building a holiday house. He’d noticed that there was very little available for guests with mobility issues – something he knew little about at the time. Then someone he knew had an accident that sadly, left him in a wheelchair; talking to him made Gary more determined to complete a special place to stay that was inclusive to all.
He wanted it to be a unique backdrop to group holidays, to have everything that guests would need – a blank canvas for them to enjoy as they wished. “There are so many ingredients that make a holiday home unforgettable” he explains, “but the most important ingredient of all is the people who come here. They’re what makes the holiday.”
How Long Did It Take to Build Shires?
Gary spent a long time poring over the architect’s plans, changing the layout to make it work better for guests with access needs. 15 months later planning permission was approved; work began on a part-time basis in early 2017, finally coming to fruition in May 2019.
Gary put blood, sweat and tears into the project, often getting by on very little sleep – he’s no stranger to hard work, having converted his own house from a barn across the yard.
With Shires, he was fortunate to have a very committed team behind him, people who cared about what they were doing, all putting in long hours, working together to find a way to do things they hadn’t done before. “It was madness” says Gary, “there were times when I didn’t know how we kept going. I was so lucky to have some of those people helping me. When it was all finished, there was such a buzz.”
Making the House Work for Access Friendly Group Holidays
One thing Gary was absolutely certain of from day one, was that the house would be finished to a very high standard. He’d decided very early on exactly what he wanted to do to make the house accessible to all, taking so many factors into account:
- Wide swing spaces and doorways without turns to make it easier for users of bigger wheelchairs.
- Level flooring and the level pool deck make easy manoeuvrability for all – not just those with mobility impairments, but also older people and children.
- Ground floor bedrooms and access friendly wet room – it was crucial that one of these could accommodate an elevating bed and hoist, and that one of the ensuites had enough room for a caregiver to help with bathing.
- A wheelchair lift to the sun terrace – At the back of the house a first floor sun terrace has unspoilt views that stretch for miles across the beautiful Axe Valley. A wheelchair lift means this is something all guests can appreciate.
- Intercom connecting the ground floor bedrooms – designed and proven to work well for caregivers
- Hoists for the pool and hot tub – So that no-one was excluded from these exclusive use features.
- Mood lighting - to enhance the ambience and help to create a calm space for people with sensory issues.
What Was the Most Challenging Part of the Work?
Bringing Shires to completion was not without its challenges; financing the build was very stressful, and the cause of many a sleepless night. Getting the infinity pool right and working out how the hoists would lower people into the pool and hot tub was far from easy. Finishing on time was a case of all hands on deck - last minute jobs like wiping grout and putting mirrors up were done with just hours to spare.
Shires is Ready at Last
The day tools were downed for the final time was a defining moment. The work was complete and Shires was now ready to open its doors to guests. The end result was a very striking contemporary holiday house sleeping up to 14 guests in 6 bedrooms. It’s a house that’s inclusive to all, for all ages in all seasons, thanks to the well thought out features:
- A spa hall with an infinity pool, hot tub, sauna, changing rooms and showers
- A games room with a pool table and table football
- A movie room with THX surround sound, a 75" TV with Sky Q, and a games console
- A BBQ lodge for year-round use
- A play area for younger children
- A large secure garden – safe for children and dogs, peace of mind for grown-ups.
Working With Sleeps12
Sleeps12 were recommended to Gary by one of the plumbers working at Shires. He’d worked on other large group holiday houses nearby and he knew the owners were getting a lot of bookings through Sleeps12.
So Gary got in touch and Sleeps12 owners Jess and Ashley Vellacott came to visit. Their experience meant they were able to tidy up on a few points, and Jess advised on where to put the kitchen so that it worked best with the layout.
What features do guests get most excited about?
There are a lot of ‘wows’ when guests arrive and are shown around the house – it exceeds their expectations. They love the spa hall, but another room that’s very underrated is the snug – as Gary says, it’s a space where people can be people. There’s no TV so it’s a quiet space where guests enjoy just sitting with a glass of wine and chatting, catching up properly.
What Does the Owner Like Best About the House?
Gary loves how Shires has come together as a whole, and how it doesn’t give away any surprises from the outside. It opens out as you walk through, revealing more and more, like the view and the pool hall.
His favourite part of the house is the spa hall, entirely his own design. The infinity pool is very unique, with a black wrapped edge that looks like glass, and it all looks so good; it feels very special to be in there by day with the doors pulled right back, and at night with just the pool lights on. The sun terrace is another of Gary’s ‘best bits’ – south facing but sheltered, with uninterrupted views across the valley.
Are There Many Things To Do near Shires?
Shires lies in the East Devon Natural Landscape, which encompasses part of the Jurassic coastline, so there’s a good choice of attractions, activities, beaches and places to eat. Gary’s recommendations are The Cotley Inn at Wambrook and The Candlelight Inn at Bishopswood for eating out, The Donkey Sanctuary near Sidmouth and Crealy Theme Park and Resort for family days out, and Sidmouth and Lyme Regis for days by the sea.
Gary highly recommends the walk from the house through the lanes and fields to the top of the hill; the views are breathtaking – you can even see the sea.
Why the Owner Enjoys Running a Large Group Holiday Let
Gary is very humble about Shires. It makes him very happy to know that guests have enjoyed staying at Shires, especially those with mobility issues and other impairments, and their carers. It’s a place they can all enjoy together, improving well-being and allowing them time to truly relax. Some wheelchair users find dignity when they stay here because they can move around freely and can do more for themselves; it gives security to people living with dementia and neurological conditions like autism, and to those who care for them.
Guests are really enjoying their stay, having a break, going home with happy memories. To Gary, that’s what it’s all about.
Any Tips for Anyone Thinking of Letting an Access Friendly Holiday House?
Gary’s biggest tip is to work out what you want to achieve and then work backwards, thinking about what’s achievable. Having a step free space and wide doorways is paramount, as is checking the latest fire regs. He’d also say do meet and greets yourself as much as you possibly can because it adds a human touch and is reassuring to guests. If being off grid appeals, think about that from the outset – it’s one thing he would do differently.
Any Future Plans?
Spurred on by the success of Shires, Gary would one day like to build another access friendly holiday house, this time making it off-grid. But that’s a long way off and for now he’s content running his holiday house, living with his family in such a stunning part of the world, spending what spare time he gets enjoying high energy adventures like mountain biking and skiing.
If Gary’s story has inspired you, get in touch. Work with us to make your holiday home accessible to all; it’s a dream that really can come true.