Coastal ADVENTURE

The Devon shoreline provided inspiration for Felicity Thomson’s colourful barn renovation

- JO LEEVERS, ESME CLEMO

KITCHEN-DINER

The blue of the cabinets echoes the shades of the nearby estuary and sea. For a similar kitchen, try herringbonekitchens.com. Pendants, nkuku.com. Artwork, victoriayj.com

Tucked away among the rolling hills above Salcombe Estuary, Felicity Thomson, her husband Charles and their children, Freya and Freddie, have become renowned breeders of Dartmoor ponies on their Devon farm. From their country bolthole, the views of verdant patchwork fields and the blue sea below are simply stunning.

'Early spring is when our foals are born and it's also when the countryside starts to come into its own,' says Felicity. 'Wild flowers begin to bloom and the long, sandy beaches are at their most beautiful.'

Relocating here from a busy commuter town in Kent was an easy decision for the Thomson family. 'We knew the area well as we had a holiday home nearby, which meant we'd already built up a good circle of friends,' she says. It still took a while to find their perfect home, and they eventually settled on a Grade II-listed 18th-century farmhouse with several outbuildings. The couple wanted a fresh start, with Charles giving up working for his family engineering business and instead focusing on creating a different way of life on the farm. The pair now breed prize-winning ponies and have renovated the farm's additional properties for holiday lets and rentals.