It’s a family affair at Visit Devon Award Finalist Lee Byre
Owners of Devon-based B&B, Lee Byre, Guy and Kathrin Barnes are absolutely delighted to today be announced as a finalist in the Visit Devon Tourism Awards within the brand new category of ‘B&B/Guesthouse of the Year’ in what is only their third season of business. The beautifully converted barn-style accommodation straddles the idyllic counties of Devon and Cornwall in the most enviable spot, perfectly placed for exploring nearby Dartmoor or the north Cornish coast, eating locally foraged delights and sleeping underneath the plentiful Dartmoor stars.
Lee Byre is truly a family run affair. Guy’s parents, John (chief engineer and grass cutter) and Judy (resident artist and beekeeper) continue to live there and much of what guests experience at Lee Byre stems from them, despite them having passed over the everyday running to young married couple Guy and Kathrin. The relaxed yet warm and attentive style of Guy and Kathrin, plus their love for the surrounding area, mean their guests can make the most of their deep pool of local knowledge and passion.
Under their strapline of ‘Explore, Eat, Sleep’, Guy and Kathrin have curated a range of activities that ensure their guests have unique, and often ‘off the beaten track’ experiences that they wouldn’t find anywhere else. Guy offers personal guided walking tours and pick-ups (for visitors who want to go off exploring the wild open moorlands, deep river valleys, rich history and rare wildlife), adding a real fitness and wellness aspect to holidays. ‘Wild’ cycling routes are suggested as are guided night-time walks to discover Dartmoor in a totally different way. There is little light pollution in this sublime corner of the world and with the stars out in full, walkers witness some of Dartmoor’s most dramatic tors silhouetted against the night sky during this unforgettable experience.
This homely vibe at Lee Byre is evident to guests. For example, the lovely homemade breakfast (think warm banana muffins, freshly baked bread, their own honey and marmalade, as well as a daily supply of happy eggs from Henri the hen and her sisters) is devoured around a shared table. It is always an exclusive, intimate stay – with a maximum of six guests, so the attention that they receive, and the almost-communal atmosphere never gets diluted.
The annual Visit Devon Tourism Awards celebrates the absolute best of the tourism industry under a range of different categories. Judging is rigorously and thoroughly carried out by an independent expert panel of previous winners and industry leaders, who are selected for their impartiality and experience. Successful businesses in the Visit Devon Tourism Awards such as Lee Byre are automatically fast tracked to the South West Tourism Excellence Awards and National Visit England Awards.
This year’s awards, sponsored by Hoseasons, saw records broken yet again – with 164 entries in the Devon awards and 651 across the south west. From these, the panel selected 77 finalists and six highly commended based on evidence and reports from the 48 judges who have this year carried out 115 visits to businesses across Devon, often mystery visits for a truly authentic experience.
Owner Guy Barnes said, “We are just so delighted to be finalists in the Visit Devon Tourism Awards amongst some amazing other tourism businesses. We pride ourselves on our offering and endeavour to give our guests the absolute best experience of this stunning area that we are so lucky to call home. The judges were looking for evidence not just of ‘good’ but of ‘excellent’ hence to be a finalist is a very significant achievement indeed and we are thrilled that our hard work is clearly paying off and to get this wonderful recognition.”
The Visit Devon Tourism Awards ceremony will take place at the stunning ‘Palazzo’ at Highbullen on Thursday 22nd November from 6.30pm. All finalists will be invited onto the stage to collect their Gold, Silver or Bronze trophy.
For more information or to book, see www.leebyre.com
