House sitting on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, UK
Last activity
: 20 Apr 2025
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Usually responds within 1 day
Min stay requested: 1 month or more
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
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Host ref number: 479521314416
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Feedback (17)
Left by host for Workawayer (Jordi & Juanen)
Jordi was great fun to have here. Always happy, always laughing and with a work ethic which meant he practically had to be tied down to get him to take a tea break. Seriously Jordi, I really did appreciate the number of times you insisted on working on beyond our morning hours and I was very conscious of your huge desire to contribute as much as
… read more possible.
Despite arriving with quite limited spoken English Jordi made a massive effort to communicate and swiftly became part of what has been a very happy working group this summer. Rosie dog adored him and loved all their walks.
This is a really nice guy who can be guaranteed to add sparkle to any project and underneath the humour he's a thoughtful and well educated young man with a strong desire to realise his potential.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julien)
Julien was both a committed and enthusiastic worker and it was an absolute pleasure to be his Host. A lovely young man to have around the house with a great sense of humour and a calm and confident personality which meant he immediately became an integral part of our summer working group and got on very well with our other Volunteers. He has a
… read more mature and considered approach to everything he does and made a big effort to improve his already good standard of English while he was here. We are building a large extension to our house and Julien’s contribution this summer was to help with all the labouring tasks such as carrying sand and cement, digging ditches for new drains, fixing roof timbers into place and generally turning his hand to whatever task was required. During his time here he built up his skill level and through observation and practice became a skilled block layer. He has an excellent practical and spatial sense and was keen to learn techniques and new skills. I was able to place absolute trust in him to do his best to achieve whatever task he was asked to tackle and he was a massive asset to our project, able to work unsupervised and achieve excellent results. His mature approach and proper regard for Health and Safety needs around the building site meant that I could relax and be confident that he would never place himself or others at risk and he was conscientious in making sure others followed his lead. He clearly earned their respect for this and despite being the youngest of the group he took the initiative and was a natural leader. He really was quite exceptional as a Volunteer and would be welcome to return whenever he wants.
Part of the Workaway experience should be about much more than the ‘work’ element and Julien was again exceptional in this respect. He took full advantage of the cultural and social opportunities the area offers and made sure that he explored the surrounding area while walking the dog, cycling to the beach or visiting our local city of Plymouth to enjoy the night life with the other Volunteers. He was a favourite with our neighbours and made friends wherever he went.
I hugely enjoyed Hosting Julien and wish him well for his academic future and career. He will be a great asset and member of the workforce in whatever capacity he chooses to work.
Left by Workawayer (Samuele) for host
Ben is a wonderful man, full of fantastic ideas and things to show. I spent a fabulous month with him and all others who were at home. During my stay I lived with a very good english teacher and I discovered unimaginable and magical places. I'm glad I spent this time together: working, laughing, eating and ...
I think it's a great experience to
… read more start, live, and travel. Thank you for everything :)Left by host for Workawayer (Samuele)
Samuele was great fun to have around for the six weeks he spent with us. An enthusiastic and committed worker happy to take the initiative and a great motivator when tackling horrible jobs like carrying 300 concrete blocks from the road to the building site. Samu has a great sense of humour and his practical skills and willingness to learn made
… read more him a real asset her this summer as we moved the building into the next phase. Another Volunteer who truly appreciated and made use of the local environment and it's always nice to see someone here who really appreciates and enjoys all that Devon and Dartmoor have to offer.Photos
Rosie sleeping in my arms as a puppy
Volunteer on Dartmoor in Summer . . . scary bit of free climbing Lulu!
All three kids, Tom, Ollie and Ellie.
The whole family at Ollie's Graduation from Uni . . . except Tom who was working somewhere else in the world as usual!
Cool kids huh? Yes . . . they're wonderful and we're proud of them!
One of our most beautiful local beaches at sunset
Volunteers on one of our local beaches in Summer.
Volunteers on Dartmoor in early Summer
Feedback
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(5.0)
Left by host for Workawayer (Jordi & Juanen)
Jordi was great fun to have here. Always happy, always laughing and with a work ethic which meant he practically had to be tied down to get him to take a tea break. Seriously Jordi, I really did appreciate the number of times you insisted on working on beyond our morning hours and I was very conscious of your huge desire to contribute as much as
… read more possible.
Despite arriving with quite limited spoken English Jordi made a massive effort to communicate and swiftly became part of what has been a very happy working group this summer. Rosie dog adored him and loved all their walks.
This is a really nice guy who can be guaranteed to add sparkle to any project and underneath the humour he's a thoughtful and well educated young man with a strong desire to realise his potential.
Left by host for Workawayer (Julien)
Julien was both a committed and enthusiastic worker and it was an absolute pleasure to be his Host. A lovely young man to have around the house with a great sense of humour and a calm and confident personality which meant he immediately became an integral part of our summer working group and got on very well with our other Volunteers. He has a
… read more mature and considered approach to everything he does and made a big effort to improve his already good standard of English while he was here. We are building a large extension to our house and Julien’s contribution this summer was to help with all the labouring tasks such as carrying sand and cement, digging ditches for new drains, fixing roof timbers into place and generally turning his hand to whatever task was required. During his time here he built up his skill level and through observation and practice became a skilled block layer. He has an excellent practical and spatial sense and was keen to learn techniques and new skills. I was able to place absolute trust in him to do his best to achieve whatever task he was asked to tackle and he was a massive asset to our project, able to work unsupervised and achieve excellent results. His mature approach and proper regard for Health and Safety needs around the building site meant that I could relax and be confident that he would never place himself or others at risk and he was conscientious in making sure others followed his lead. He clearly earned their respect for this and despite being the youngest of the group he took the initiative and was a natural leader. He really was quite exceptional as a Volunteer and would be welcome to return whenever he wants.
Part of the Workaway experience should be about much more than the ‘work’ element and Julien was again exceptional in this respect. He took full advantage of the cultural and social opportunities the area offers and made sure that he explored the surrounding area while walking the dog, cycling to the beach or visiting our local city of Plymouth to enjoy the night life with the other Volunteers. He was a favourite with our neighbours and made friends wherever he went.
I hugely enjoyed Hosting Julien and wish him well for his academic future and career. He will be a great asset and member of the workforce in whatever capacity he chooses to work.
Left by Workawayer (Samuele) for host
Ben is a wonderful man, full of fantastic ideas and things to show. I spent a fabulous month with him and all others who were at home. During my stay I lived with a very good english teacher and I discovered unimaginable and magical places. I'm glad I spent this time together: working, laughing, eating and ...
I think it's a great experience to
… read more start, live, and travel. Thank you for everything :)Left by host for Workawayer (Samuele)
Samuele was great fun to have around for the six weeks he spent with us. An enthusiastic and committed worker happy to take the initiative and a great motivator when tackling horrible jobs like carrying 300 concrete blocks from the road to the building site. Samu has a great sense of humour and his practical skills and willingness to learn made
… read more him a real asset her this summer as we moved the building into the next phase. Another Volunteer who truly appreciated and made use of the local environment and it's always nice to see someone here who really appreciates and enjoys all that Devon and Dartmoor have to offer.
Left by Workawayer (Danilo) for host
Ben is a very gently, avalaible man. I have learned so much. During my period there, I've worked with others volunteers and ben was everytimes available to explain everything. The work was satisfying. I love Rosie(dog) and Alfredo(cat). During the free time Ben showed us around the near places. There are a lot of activities that you can do.
… read more Dartmoor national park is near the house and it's very beautiful place. The fridge is always stocked. So I'm very glad I spent this time together. Ben is an excellent English teacher.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Danilo)
Danilo spent a very happy month with us helping with the build and sharing the pleasures of walking the dog and enjoying a summer which for once has been mostly dry and sunny. Danilo got on well with our other volunteers and made the most of enjoying this beautiful environment with cycling, camping trips and walking on Dartmoor. He was always
… read more happy to try learning new skills and made a good contribution to our general effort to get the building up to the roof level before the end of the summer.
A pleasure having you here Danilo and I wish you every happiness and success for your future.
Left by Workawayer (Kristina) for host
I spent 6 weeks with Ben, another workawayer and often his daughter and during my stay, I learnt many things about their way of living, with was my major goal, and went sometimes to other places and cities.
I know that Ben wanted me to travel and explore more the area but I was satisfied by what I've done. He is a very generous person as he
… read more shared a lot of his experiences of life, food, and culture and he doesn't expect you to do too much work.
Thank you Ben for allowing me to be part of your workaway experience, I am very happy that I have been one of your workawayers.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Kristina)
In the six weeks she spent here Krisitna did as she was asked in walking the dog and doing some light housework and carried out these tasks conscientiously.. She was very quiet and often appeared rather withdrawn. Kristina appeared to have little confidence and it is the first time I have been expected to provide transport to and from the airport.
… read more Every previous volunteer has at least managed to get themselves to our nearest city for collection and departure.
For most of her time here Kristina watched television during the day and evening, apparently oblivious to the surrounding countryside and the opportunities it offered. Ten hours a day dominating our living space by watching TV in the living room was not something we felt comfortable with and we would have much preferred it if you had taken advantage of all the leisure and local travel opportunities we suggested to you Kristina. Thank you for your kind care of Rosie dog though.
Left by host for Workawayer (Sergio)
Sergio has been our longest serving volunteer and has been an absolute pleasure to host for the seven weeks he has spent with us.
Sergio is very good company, very adaptable and able to show great initiative in understanding and learning new skills and putting maximum effort into everything he does. He has been a huge asset during the early
… read more stages of some very complex building works and has battled on through some appalling weather without complaint. He is a very determined and self-sufficient young man who has used most of his leisure time for studying as well as enrolling at the local gym and making contacts in the community. Sharing living space with Sergio has been great, good fun to have around and very easy going and adaptable within the domestic space.
You have been a massive support to me in your time here Sergio. You know how much I value and am grateful for this. Good luck in everything you do in the future, I am sure you are going to succeed.
Left by host for Workawayer (Judith)
Judith and Jesus were great volunteers. They adapted to a very difficult situation due to problems with our building works and showed great adaptability and initiative in finding tasks to occupy themselves and make a contribution to the running of the household. Everything was done very conscientiously, Jesus did some labouring and was a willing
… read more and dedicated worker and Judith was a pleasure to have in the house, taking the initiative to clean, cook and look after Rosie dog. Above all this couple were supportive and understanding as we went through a crisis in our building work.
These are two lovely young people and it is a terrible shame and no fault of theirs that we have had to end the volunteering agreement early due to my poor health and huge complications with our project.
I wish you every future success Jesus and Judith, thank you again for being here and for being so kind and supportive.
Left by host for Workawayer (Tessa)
Tessa was an absolute delight to have to stay. Always bright, breezy and positive, she gave a real boost to a project struggling in the face of often poor weather and lifted the spirits of all around her. As well as being a great friend and mentor to the animals Tessa showed constant initiative around the house, living perfectly en famille and
… read more always aware of the little things which are so positive in harmonious living. Cleaning, tidying, cooking wonderful meals and generally showing a totally 'can do' attitude and desire to fit in with our lifestyle and needs, coupled with a great sense of humour and genuine interest in us and our surroundings made for one of the very best hosting and Workaway experiences we have enjoyed.
Tessa really impressed with her preparedness to tackle some very physical work! Terrible cliche I know . . . but the Canadian just had to be given the opportunity to do some lumberjacking . . .! Tessa wielded a chainsaw and hydraulic splitter to great effect, a safe and sensible worker who managed to complete our entire winter log pile during her stay. She also tackled moving and cutting large sheets of rebar steel for the building project, using her strength and fitness to great effect.
It's always a positive when a volunteer has researched the area and has decided on some places to visit and explore. Tessa absolutely made the most of her opportunities to get to know the local area and some places further afield in the UK, a mature and confident traveler determined to pack in as much as possible into her visit. We know we live somewhere beautiful but it's always great to have someone show such genuine interest and appreciation of the surroundings.
The animals and humans are all missing you Tessa! Mattie over the road has already wistfully asked if I can get you back for some more coaching and kickabouts. Rosie promises not to bite the ball . . .
Good luck in everything you do Tessa, it was an absolute pleasure having you here and you will of course be welcome to visit whenever you want!
Left by Workawayer (Gabriel & Holly) for host
We stayed with Ben for two weeks and what a host Ben is! We felt completely relaxed and comfortable in Bens house and he treated us very well! Most of the time we were looking after Rosie (a very well trained and good natured labrador) and there were plenty of beautiful walks nearby. There was plenty of chopping wood to do but Ben was adamant to
… read more not do too much and always made sure that we weren't working too hard!
One of the highlights with staying with Ben was his cooking and meal times. He is a fantastic cook and we felt spoilt with the food that he prepared for us. He even would make the effort of making us food when he went away for work.
We miss the wonderful cuddles that Rosie, Milo and Alfie (the cats!) would give us in bed as a wake up in the morning!
Thank you so much Ben for such a lovely time and opportunity to care for such a gorgeous dog.
Love Gabes and HollyYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Gabriel & Holly)
Hollie and Gabriel are absolutely the loveliest young couple any host could hope to find to come and volunteer with them. Great fun to have around, very easy to live with and with an enthusiastic, considered and practical approach which means they aren't phased by any task they are asked to have a go at. We managed lots of gardening, planting and
… read more log cutting splitting during a fortnight when the weather was often less than kind. Holly and Gabriel organised shelter and just kept going!
Rosie dog is going to miss Holly and Gabriel acutely. All the long walks, beach visits and general socialising have kept her very, very happy. The cats are missing the cuddles and play fights and are sitting outside the door of the room hoping . . . This couple are loving, caring and responsible with pets and can be trusted absolutely to invest their energy and expertise in caring for them.
This fortnight was a busy time for me and I twice had to travel away for work. I felt completely confident leaving Holly and Gabriel in charge of the house and animals. The house was kept clean and tidy and the Rosie dog clearly felt secure and happy while I was away.
I'm really going to miss you two! Thank you again for all the cooking and baking, the great company and the effort you put in to helping the current project move forward!
You are of course welcome to come back any time and Rosie dog and I look forward to your future friendship and company if you do indeed manage to relocate to the beautiful South Hams.
Left by Workawayer (José ) for host
It was two very beautiful and funny weeks! Ben is a very good host, he show me the best place to visit and supervises all my trip in the Devon and told me the story of each places. He is a good cooker too, every evening he cooked a different and delicious meal! My English is not very good but he always been patient with me and teach me the right
… read more way to say the things. The conversations about policy, environnement, and a lot of other topics were interessants.
The work to do was not very hard and Ben respect the engagement of workaway. The working project is interesting and Ben is the kind of man who can build everything and who know what he is doing.
The place is great, the neighbours are friendly and his animals are nice, so everythings is perfect there.
I hope rosie dog enjoy her week just with you after my departure!
I juste want to say thank you for this two weeks and wish you the best for the future.
Can you say hello for me to Louise and her husband please?
I'm going to share the picture and the haytor!
Thank you again!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (José )
Jose was in every way the perfect volunteer and house guest. A very mature and capable young man possessed of superb practical skills, great initiative and a very strong work ethic. Helpful, organised, independent in finding his own entertainment in the local environment and showing a real and impressive desire to get out there and discover as
… read more much of our local landscape as he could. Including the April blizzard he encountered on top of Haytor! Post the footage on Workaway/Facebook if you can please Jose . . . that will stop the volunteers from Southern parts of Europe looking skeptical when I suggest that they should always take a coat, hat, gloves, etc., if venturing on to Dartmoor. Being a proper mountain boy Jose did the right thing. And survived!
Jose, if you could have stayed for the whole summer to work on the building I would have hired you instantly! Just such a nice guy to work with and such good company during a stressful part of the early project when we were working on a large excavation. Rosie dog agrees! She wants to come and walk in the Jura with you , , ,
Any hosts approached by Jose in future should book him immediately if they have need of a committed, very bright, very capable volunteer able to turn his hand to any practical task and meet any challenge with a calm, considered approach where he is able to work with a minimum of supervision or direction.
I think you've got a great engineering and architecture future Jose, please stay in touch and we very much hope to see you again one day.
Left by Workawayer (Luci & Louise ) for host
Thankyou so much for having us at your home in stunning Ivybridge! We had the best time! The work was very relaxed- a few simple things around the house each day- leaving most of the time for us to focus on hanging out with Rosie dog! We had some great adventures with her, twice daily walks through the gorgeous woods which were a stones throw from
… read more the back door. We were lucky enough to have the use of Ellie's car while she was traveling which meant we could explore even further. Thanks so much Ben! Give Rosie a squeeze for us. We will be sure to keep in touch! :smile::smile::smile:You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luci & Louise )
Lou and Luci have been a massive support during the manic and stressful first month of our Workaway summer as we have got our new project under way. Flexible, tolerant and highly capable Volunteers who have adapted immediately to anything asked of them, very prepared to get stuck into big and physically demanding work as well as being fantastic
… read more company and extraordinary cooks and general domestic goddesses! Everything around the domestic routine and animal care has been done to a standard way, way in advance of the minimum expected of Volunteers and it has been a great month where I have been able to be absolutely confident that initiative will have been taken, practical skills put to use and tasks achieved before I had even thought of asking. Just a lovely preparedness to pitch in, share our life and get things done for the general benefit with humour, wit and poise!. Poor Rosie dog is already pining for you girls! I don't think she's likely to get such dedicated love, care and fun again this summer. I hugely appreciate you having taken her under your wing and made her part of your out of hours adventuring, I feel I've got a lot to live up to now to meet your standards of care and entertainment for her. Any hosts with animals should book you immediately. Confident, knowledgeable, highly practical, mature, capable and lovingly committed volunteers like you are quite rare. It's been great to be able to focus on the first stage of the build knowing that my young Lab has been being entertained in doggy Nirvana! The poor dog isn't likely to get chauffeured to beaches much more before the autumn . . . and it's also worth pointing out to prospective hosts that your independence and ability to seek out your own leisure pursuits and activities completely relieves the pressure to 'entertain' which younger single volunteers sometimes need. You can confidently loan vehicles to Lou and Luci Hosts, Lou is a careful and confident driver. Thanks for doing such a thorough job on car cleaning before you left as well Lou . . . I'll have to keep the muddy paws off the seats now . . .
I feel I've had a very privileged month in your company Lou and Luci. You've been great fun to have around and you've set a standard which will be hard to match for those who follow. I'm very, very grateful. And a bit fatter! Wow, you girls can cook! Come on, be honest all you Hosts out there . . . How many of you have come in from the daily grind to find a three star meal waiting?
Thanks you two, you know you've been added to the list of new family friends who will always be welcome to visit. And good luck with your plans for the rest of your Workaway experience and future.
Left by host for Workawayer (Courtney)
Courtney made the last summer in the house so infinitely better than it would have been without her! She's been with us through the most difficult transition time of our lives to date and having her around gave us a huge lift and probably kept me (almost) sane! She also managed to become the friend of just about everyone under 25 in the village
… read more while working in the local pub and held high status in the local employment hierarchy, favoured above others when there was another shift on offer. Clearly a highly valued and skilled employee in a very busy and pressurised summer tourism environment.
Courtney's magnetic personality and absolute determination to get the best out of any situation she finds herself in kept us going when the going felt really tough. Utterly confident and trustworthy around the house and pets, loving, committed and deeply concerned for the well being of everyone and everything around her and just great fun to be with . . . Well Courtney, you know how much of a friend you are and will always be, even if you can't quite know yet how privileged we feel to have met you and to have you in our future. Rosie and Alfie are missing you loads . . . but we've promised them they are going to see you again.
Have fun travelling in Europe Courtney love . . . we'll see you soon!
Left by Workawayer (Courtney) for host
Noss Mayo truly is a magical place with picteresque walks through rolling hills, verdant woods, hidden pebble beaches and cliff tops which capture the essence of true beauty. You are truly blessed if given the opportunity to bask in it's glory. However, there are many beautiful places hidden in this wonderful world. I was drawn in by the majestic
… read more qualities of this hidden village, but I stayed and was humbled by the kind, sweet man who resides here. A place which really became home for three months. Ben really was a saving grace, a confidant, a teacher and most importantly a life long friend, who's guidance and enthusiasm for life has changed my perspective. It has been a pleasure to have been graced by such a remarkable soul, who's quirky, fun nature was a joy to be around. Ellie is a sweet girl, destined for great things, I wish you the very best and will dearly miss our chats on the kitchen floor. Keep striving for your maximum, you have so much to give. And who could forget cheeky little Rose. The only hound who's made me question whether I truly am a cat person. She really is just a happy, sweet girl, and I have fond memories of our adventures together. I must also add that Mr. Alfie is secretly a sweet cat however weary of those who enter into his family, he is affectionate and adorable once he gets to know you.
From the bottom of my heart thank you for everything, I wish you all the happiness in the world. It was a true pleasure. Until next time, Courtney.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Craig)
Craig was a fantastic volunteer. I am so pleased he was able to come back after I was able to give him a 24 transit stay as he moved between hosts earlier in the summer.
It was clear from our first meeting that Craig would be a huge asset to have here during a very complex transition period for our family as we move away from the house we built
… read more and lived in for the past twenty years.
In no way did Craig disappoint when he returned for a longer stay. He is a focused and positive man, sensitive to the pressures we were under as well as being a mature and hugely capable individual who was a pleasure to talk to and share living space with. He is also a perfectly organised and dedicated worker with the confidence and breadth of experience to make his own decisions and take the initiative on tackling projects. He is tremendously fit and has an attitude that says if a task is there to be done . . . then done it will be!
During his relatively brief stay Craig achieved breathtaking amounts. Lawn mowing, brush cutting, boat painting and helping me shift stacks of furniture to the local charity drop off point as we prepare to move. And all done with a cheerful 'Nothing too much trouble' attitude and ability to offer considered and helpful suggestions to the common good. Craig is very much a people person who got on brilliantly with our other volunteers and family friends, greatly impressing them all with his easygoing manner and interested and open approach. This is a man who has thought deeply about life and ridden a few knocks but is still going resolutely forward and making a positive contribution to the lives of others with an admirable sense of his own integrity and values.
Having worked for many years myself in challenging roles where decision making and taking responsibility were absolute requisites I'd have no hesitation in recommending Craig as a massive potential asset in any workplace or entrepreneurial project. His measured, calm and dedicated approach coupled with his intellect and finely honed people skills would bring instant payback in any working arena and his industry experience and background mean he is clearly capable of working at senior level.
Craig, I do hope you feel as I do that you arrived as a volunteer and left as a friend. I absolutely mean it when I say you'd be welcome to join us again at any time and if I am able to introduce you to my working area and put some proper paid work your way I'll be delighted to do so.
Thank you again for being here, working so hard and showing such interest and enthusiasm for the area, the people and the pocket or rural seaside heaven we've been so lucky to live in for the past many years. You really helped me get through a very challenging week and it was a pleasure to be able to show my appreciation by being able to set up a couple of opportunities for you to get out and about.
Good luck mate, stay in touch!
Left by Workawayer (Craig) for host
What a wonderful Workaway experience this was. This was the second time I got to spend with Ben. Its nice when everything lines up and this was one such occasion. Ben is a great host and has a really healthy attitude and appreciation of what the spirit of workaway is all about. His cooking was excellent and the cupboards and fridge were always
… read more full of great food. I felt at home almost immediately. Ben went out of his way to make my stay a really good one by arranging a trip to Sidmouth and a trip to Dartmoor National Park. The food, the location and the company were valued and appreciated. Thanks Ben it is Hosts like you that make Workaway such a positive experience. Very highly recommended.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Lulu)
Lulu - we absolutely loved having you here! Rosie says you can even share her bowl any time you want to come back . . .
Lulu was seriously just a great volunteer, mature, lots of initiative and great fun to have around. Also a great work ethic and a true people person. The perfect combination of someone who really wanted to be here helping out
… read more and who took a real interest in our family, pets and kids. This is a lovely person who is going to achieve great things. Clear thinking, sufficiently opinionated to be a truly interesting conversationalist and generally a wonderful asset in our home.
Adaptability is probably the greatest talent any host looks for in a volunteer and Lulu has this in abundance. Always positive and looking on the bright side even when weeding in the rain and with the kind of engaging and magnetic personality which kept everyone around her happy. No differentiation between fun and mundane tasks and just as happy to clean up after the dog or get the vacuum out as to help another of our volunteers set up her market pitch in Totnes to sell Dream Catchers! Someone who looks around to see what needs doing and simply gets on with it. To see you taking such genuine pleasure in our local environment and knowing you could be 100% trusted to help look after out house and pets while I was working away allowed me to relax and focus Lulu and I am truly very grateful for your input.
Thank you for being here Lulu, good luck in everything you do in the future.
Wherever you find us we will always be happy to welcome you back.
Rosie send kisses and slobbery licks and wants to know if dogs need passports for Denmark?
Left by Workawayer (Lulu) for host
I spent three weeks at Ben's place. If you are unsure about whether you should volunteer in Noss Mayo or not then maybe this will help.
Reasons NOT to:
- If you don’t like to be around sweet and nice people, who always want to help and make you feel comfortable.
- If you are afraid of cute dogs with big hearts.
- If you hate stunning and wild
… read more nature and fresh air.
- If you prefer a tiny room with a uncomfortable bed instead of a nice and big room with own toilet and bath.
- If don’t want to explore the beautiful and very “english” village Noss Mayo.
- If you like to do hard work all day long rather than do some nice work just for some few hours.
- If you hate to socialize with people... (That will be difficult because Ben is not a silent man - he has a lot of exiting stories about his life and work) :-)
I don’t regret volunteering at Bens, I had the best time and learned a lot about England while I was there. GO GO GO! (If you are lucky enough to get the opportunity)
P.S I miss Rosie a lot..., will you give her a big hug and kiss from me, Ben?
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Gianforte)
Cecilia came to us at very short notice after encountering a less than happy situation at her previous host. She was absolutely lovely to have here, brave about making use of her English (and it is MUCH better than you think Cecilia!) and determined to fit in and make the most of her limited time here. Nothing was too much trouble for Cecilia, she
… read more pruned, dug, planted, weeded, cleaned, painted and gave unlimited love and attention to our Labrador pup Rosie. She was also a great help to our daughter in getting ready for her A level French exam. She patiently sat with her and helped her fine tune her preparation for her oral exam in May. I kept finding little jobs around the house that Cecilia had taken on without being asked and it was lovely to find someone with this level of initiative who fitted in so well and lived so comfortably en famille. Discovering the fridge which was troubling my conscience had been stripped and cleaned was great Cecilia! Thank you for this and for everything else. We and Rosie pup miss you and would of course be delighted to see you again whenever you want to pay us a visit.
Left by Workawayer (Gianforte) for host
I spent only 2 week with ben (after a experience not so great with another host), but I couldn't be more lucky!!! He's very kind ,nice and patience person, especially with me and my dreadful English! Certainly it's one of the most indicated place to improve your English because Ben is a very chatterbox and sometimes he give you some indications
… read more for your English too! I can't don't say something about Rosie, his beautiful puppy Labrador! She's very clever and she'll became your best friend, I think I'm missing her presence and her morning wishes... The house is beautiful, big and very comfortable!
So, conclusion, if you will be lucky to come Ben's house, you'll enjoy yourself! You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Leonie) for host
I spent 5 lovely weeks with Ben and couldn't have asked for a better host!
Ben is just great, one of the kindest and smartest people I have met so far. He really cares for the well being of his volunteers and made me feel really welcomed and appreciated the whole time.
We had interesting talks during dinner and he told me a lot about the local
… read more area, taking Uri (other Volunteer staying at Ben's) and me to many interesting places. As he is a former teacher he helped me improve my English even more. He is also an amazing cook!
He explained to us the things that needed to be done in the garden and even joined us whenever he could. I learned a lot about gardening and enjoyed the work very much.
Rosie dog is just wonderful as well, she even got me to allow her to sleep on my bed! She is very energetic and likes just about everyone. I really do miss her.
All in all was my stay with Ben, Rosie and Alfie cat one of the best experiences so far, probably the best.
Ben, I wish you the best with your future projects and maybe we'll see each other in France again some day. Thanks again for everything!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Leonie)
Leo was just great in every way. Fun to have around and with a lovely sense of humour, perfectly happy to think for herself and take the initiative and very good company.
During her time with us Leo tackled some large scale gardening tasks with determined confidence and helped to transform our gardens and hillside into presentable shape for the
… read more summer. She worked very well with our other volunteer and between them they managed to get all our pruning done, weed and dig veg patches and borders and plant out our early summer flowers. Leo also took on the task of mowing the hillside, one of only two volunteers brave enough to tackle this in the last year! And she did a great job!
Our Labrador pup Rosie thought Leo was great and they had a lovely time together. I felt absolutely confident to trust her with her care while I was out at work.
Leo was just as good with domestic tasks as she was in the garden and conscientiously kept up with housework as well as baking regularly and helping out in the kitchen.
We miss you Leo! You know you will be welcome back any time.
Left by host for Workawayer (Oriol)
Uri was a great find for us! A really nice guy, a mature and conscientious worker who could be trusted to put maximum effort into whatever needed to be done and was very capable of using initiative and so able to work with the minimum of supervision. A lot of hedges got pruned and the bonfire pile grew massively during your stay Uri! Flowerbeds
… read more got dug, weeds got pulled, the grass got cut. Anything Uri was asked to do in the house or garden cheerfully got done. We are very grateful for all your hard work.
In addition to being a great worker, Uri had a real and genuine interest in our family, pets and the local area. It's always nice when we have a volunteer who shows a genuine appreciation of the wonderful local environment we have here and it was great to him making the most of it despite some typically poor early Spring Devon weather. Rosie the Labrador pup enjoyed some wonderful walks and we were absolutely confident that she was in safe hands when out and about with Uri.
In addition to the work aspects of his stay Uri was just lovely to have around. Always friendly, happy and positive and with an intellect which meant we had some great chats around the dinner table. An easy going young man with great social skills who got on brilliantly with our other current volunteer Leo and was much liked by the whole family.
Thank you for your positive feedback Uri. I really do hope we were able to share a month with you which might have provided some compensation for what sounds to have been a pretty appalling first Workaway experience with the kind of 'host' we all wish didn't exist.
We would recommend Uri without hesitation to any future hosts and are sure he will be a great asset wherever he goes.
Good luck in Iceland and with your legal studies Uri. Do please stay in touch - and be assured that you are firmly on our 'come back at any time' list!
Left by Workawayer (Oriol) for host
I was in Ben's house for a month and a week, between February and March. In principle I only had to be there one month, but I had a really bad experience on my first volunteering and he agreed to let me go before than we planned (thank you for that).
First of all, the house is absolutely amazing. Is a really nice and big house (Ben's work!).
… read more The garden is enormous but very beautiful as well. My room had the size of a living room, with a double bed, a sofa, a balcony and my own bathroom. Noss Mayo is a beautiful village, with nice surroungins (I'm sure that even more during spring and summer). It was awesome the experience of riding with the lended bike by the cliffs, I really recomend it!
It has been a pleasure to meet Ben (the host) Ellie (Daughter) and Leo (my volunteer mate!). Ben was very concerned about the well-being of the volunteers during the stay, so he tried to make your feel as comfortable as possible. He was really helpful, driving me and Leo to many places during our stay and giving us some advice.
If you ar trying to improve your english, that house is a good place to do it; Ben will try to correct you many times and make you sound like a proper english person! He's also a really good cook; will prepare you the dinner almost every night. I enjoyed a lot this dinning time, as we had many interesting conversations while eating and after.
Ellie wasn't too much in home, but was cool to have her around sometimes. Thank you for show me the village on my first day, and good luck with your Law Degree (you'll need it!). About Leo, we spent lots of hours together, working, on our days of, playing tennis... I've enjoyed a lot her company as well, specially playing Mario Kart Wii!
The pets were awesome. Rosie (8 months labrador) is the perfect dog! Really cute, obedient and loving. Alfred (the cat) is really cute as well, but he's more distant than her (is normal being a cat). Anyway, never trust him completely... and be careful touching his breast!
The job on there is flexible on timing, you'll have a lot of autonomy and is not hard to do. It was a combination between gardening, cleaning the house and walking the dog (lovely job), and only 4/hours per day, so really ok.
In conclusion, It has been a really positive experience to stay on Ben's house. I really recommend it to the others volunteers interested in traveling to Devon. I can only say thanks and that It was cool to be there having that amazing time. It'll be a shame when you do, but... good luck selling the house.
Hope to see you again someday!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (MAITE)
Maite was just great fun and great company for the month she spent with us this summer. A really conscientious worker who got on brilliantly with our daughter and the other Wwoofer who was here at the time. Really stimulating company too, a creative personality with a genuine interest in the world and all it has to offer. Rosie puppy adored her -
… read more but be warned Maite, she's a big girl now and she says that next time you invite her to chase you on the beach she's going to CATCH you!
Maite has really interesting plans for further study and to develop her artistic and creative skills and would be a great asset to anyone needing a very bright volunteer who could contribute hugely to any business or community making use of the creative arts.
We really hope you are successful in all your future studies, work and business plans Maite, we loved having you here and would of course be delighted to host you again.
Left by host for Workawayer (Maria)
Maria was a fantastic volunteer. She came to us with just a couple of days notice after another of our volunteers had become ill before travelling and calmly took charge of our new puppy at what was a very busy time for us. Maria was lovely to have around the house, perfectly organised, calm and confident with the dog and very good company both
… read more for ourselves and our daughter and for the other Wwoofer we had here at the time. Marie and Maite gardened, cooked, played with and gently disciplined the puppy as needed and just generally fitted smoothly into our routine. They were also a great laugh to have around, quite contrasting characters who got on really well together and with us.
I could not recommend Maria highly enough for any business or family looking for a volunteer full of calm confidence and able to tackle anything she is asked to do. A real thinker as well as a doer, a sharp intellect combined with a lovely personality.
Thank you again for coming to us at such short notice Maria, good luck with your studies and we hope to see you again one day.
Left by host for Workawayer (Marie)
Marie was an absolute powerhouse to have around. This is one determined and very smart young lady who isn't afraid to take on a task and mixes her skills with tremendous social presence and confidence. Marie somehow managed to work in the village pub almost full time as well as tackling the jobs she had to do here and her infectious enthusiasm
… read more for life and having fun was really catching! She was tremendously good company for another of our Wway volunteers and gave her the confidence to come out of her shell and get the most out of the social side of her visit.
Hosting Marie is quite an experience and any future hosts should realise they are taking on the probable future President of France. You won't regret it, she may be very clever . . . but she's also fun to tease and joke with. She was adored in the pub and I keep being asked when she is coming back! She is fantastically adaptable and capable and will brighten up your lives as well as quickly learning any task set and doing her best to accomplish it.
Disorganised? Marie will, in the nicest possible way, get you organised! Book her now!
Thank you for all your hard work, intellectual jousting and sheer joie de vivre Marie, you really brightened up the early part of our summer.
Left by host for Workawayer (Suzi)
Suze is perfect. The kind of person you meet and immediately know to be 100% trustworthy, confident, competent and reliable. A work ethic second to none and someone who takes the initiative and find things to do you hadn't even realised needed doing. She is also just the loveliest person to have around, great company, great sense of humour, lots
… read more of fun and a fantastic cook. Just ate the last Eccles cake . . .
Our lives have been so, so much easier with you here to look after us for the past few weeks Suze. Rosie pup and Ellie are already missing you and we can't wait for you to come back! Don't disappoint us will you?
Any hosts lucky enough to get Suze to visit will find they've got a skilled and determined volunteer who just keeps at it with whatever task needs doing, always cheerful helpful and conscientious, never intrusive or demanding. Just a lovely person.
Don't freeze in the North Suze, your room in Devon is being kept warm for you!
Left by Workawayer (Suzi) for host
First of all I must say A HUGE THANKYOU..I had a great time here.
I have just spent a very enjoyable 5 weeks looking after Bens adorable Labrador Puppy dog, Rosie. I lived in a beautiful, comfortable home, in a very special part of South Devon,surrounded by lovely footpaths, just right for dog walking.
My workaway host Ben, has been fantastic, -
… read more he's very friendly, welcoming and generous, an amazing cook and a great conversationalist, and he will do his utmost to make sure that you will have the BEST time here.
He's got so much diverse knowledge and is very interesting company.
He's also very grateful for whatever help you can provide.
I will really miss all, and hope to return in the Spring.
If you get the opportunity to workaway here, - just do it! You will love it!!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (DonnaBell)
Hi Donna - delighted to have been able to meet you and give you a little help on your way to Spain. I think you are undertaking a very courageous solo journey and I hope it all works out well for you.
Hopefully we'll still have the house when you come back in the other direction in the Spring and you can spend a little longer getting to know
… read more this area before you fly home.
Ride safe and happy and I hope you find everything you are looking for in Spain and Portugal.
Left by Workawayer (DonnaBell) for host
Ben - what can I say? Where do I start? His home is nestled in a town I would never have found on my own had he not come rescued me when I got lost and was much later arriving than anticipated. The road, well path really, to his home has large hedgerows and often I wondered where the heck he was leading me as I followed him in his car and I on my
… read more motorcycle in the darkness. It was totally worth it! He and another workawayer waited for me to arrive before serving dinner, and a fabulous meal it was.
After being in UK from Canada less than a week he was more than helpful in leading me to the local Harley dealer to make sure all was well with my ride and moving it around his garage so that it made it easier for me to access it. My time with he, other workawayer and Rosie was fantastic but way too short (only a few days). I definitely plan to stop in again on my way back to Canada in the spring!
Thank you sooooo much for all the help you provided my friend!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (katinka96)
Wow Kasia,
I'm blushing from all the praise!
Kasia you were just lovely to have in our home and as our friend. I'm so glad you feel you had such a positive experience after what had obviously been quite a difficult period at home.
As well as our gratitude for your unstinting efforts around the house and garden it was great to see you
… read more becoming part of our local community, working in the pub and meeting people and making friends. I feel this is really what Workaway should all be about and your intelligence, hard work and interest in our lives and activities made you a pleasure to have around. It was also lovely to have someone living here who had such a strong appreciation for the village and the local surroundings and I'm sure you have been able to return to Poland knowing that you have a second home here whenever you want. We really hope that any help and support we have been able to offer will be an aid to the success and future that you deserve.
Any future hosts can be assured that they will be offering a place to someone dedicated, hard working, fast learning, determined and able to have a go at whatever task is required.
Alfie and Rosie join us in hoping that you won't leave it too long before coming to see us again!
Very best wishes from all of us in Newton and Noss!
Left by Workawayer (katinka96) for host
It was my first workaway experience and I couldn't even wish for a better one.
I stayed 2 months there and made so many good friends and memories.
The house and accomodation of Ben's was great. I had my own big bedroom and beautiful bathroom. I gained a huge experience there and learned a lot of things which I have never done before. For the
… read more first month I was helping in the house, just trying to keep it clean and tidy. For another one, I did a bit of gardening and working outside. It wasn't hard, I can even say it was a pleasure for me to do that.
Ben is one of the best person I have ever met! He has a fantastic sense of humour. He's relaxed and very clever, you can ask him about everything! He's always keen to teach and help you. He's an incredible vegetarian cook. He made me at home. I feel like he's my good friend and I can rely on him. He's really worth to trust him.
I really liked his daughter, Ellie. She was very kind and helpful. I enjoyed spending time with her especially when she was singing or playing the piano. This family is very talented!
Noss mayo is the most beautiful place on the Earth! I had plenty time to explore the area, go to the beach and cliffs or take part in a swim competition! I'm not able to describe everything, but I think it just proves how amazing my life was there.
I miss sleeping with Alfie and playing with Rosie. They both are my favourite pets! Please, hug and stroke them from me.
I can only truly thank you for everything you have done for me. I'm sure I'll never forget you, Dearing family and I'll visit Noss Mayo one time. You're very welcome to visit me in Poland as well! Try in the summer when it's very hot or in the winter when we have a lot of snows and can build a snowmen! :)
Greetings from Poland!
This workawayer has chosen to keep their profile private, but can be contacted regarding this feedback by other workawayers.
Left by host for Workawayer (Elie)
Elie was a wonderful visitor. Funny, very smart, fantastic company and a completely trustworthy and committed worker able to tackle any task I suggested. And WOW, this is a Frenchman who can cook a quiche to die for!
It was really lovely to have another person here who showed such a genuine appreciation for the area and all it has to offer.
… read more Everybody in the area who met Elie has commented on what a nice guy he was to have around and as a family we very much hope to see him again in the future.
As a worker Elie could be trusted to get on with whatever I asked him to do. Great initiative and able to make his own decisions about what needed doing and simply get on with doing it. A really mature and confident approach which meant I could relax and focus on my own work in the secure knowledge that the work needed would be done by the time I got home.
Most of all this young man was just a great character to have around. We wish you could have stayed for longer Elie and we will be delighted to see you again whenever you want to pay us a visit. Good luck with your Grande Ecole preparation, you know where to come if you need any help!
Thank you again for everything you brought to our home and family life, we feel we got to know you well in your relatively short visit and we all miss you already.
Left by Workawayer (Elie) for host
I spent a bit more than 2 weeks in Ben's house : it was just an incredible experience! Ben is a great host, generous, open minded and also a very good cook! I worked on the morning in the garden : it was an easy job, very independent and a quite pleasant one...(mowing, cutting trees, weeding...) I had a very good weather which shows that it's not
… read more always raining in England!
The area is wonderful! I did long walks along the coast and it was amazing... Boats are also avalaible so one can discover the village through the river. Plymouth is very near to the house by bus or car. But other small villages are worthy to be visited.
To put it in a nutshell, this trip was extraordinary! I met fantastic people, and I had the opportunity to improve my English thanks to every member of the family! And I don't forget Alfi, a frightening hunter but a very lovely cat!
Many thanks to all the family for this adventure!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Jeanette)
Jeanette was just the perfect person to start our Workaway summer - we just wish she could have stayed longer! She has an appointment with a Nissan Micra and many, many miles of road and desert though so we wish her all luck and success with the Mongol Rally.
As a Workaway host experience this truly felt like having an old friend to visit,
… read more Jeanette is lovely to have around and we will definately be keeping in touch.
As a worker Jeanette is simply ideal, she instantly tuned in to what we needed done and has organised her working routine each day while we have been at work. She is practical, takes initiative, isn't scared of tackling machine and gardening challenges and has made a real difference to our garden in her relatively short stay. We are very grateful and we are already missing her. Alfie cat says she can have as many baby rabbits as she wants any time she cares to ask . . . (actually he says he's sorry and wouldn't have brought it in if he'd realised how much it would upset her).
Most of all Jeanette has been a gloriously laid back and easy to get on with person. Great sense of humour which chimed with ours, talented veggie cook and a fascinating person to talk to.
Good luck with everything Jeanette - we very much hope to be seeing you as a visiting friend in years to come.
Left by Workawayer (Jeanette) for host
I spent 10 days here and I really enjoyed myself. Ben is a great guy - really interesting, super relaxed, generous and a great vegetarian cook too! He even helped me find a tent and taught me about basic car mechanics for my upcoming drive to Mongolia. When spending time with Tracy and Ellie, I also found them very warm and open! The other family
… read more member is Alfred the car, who is certainly a funny cat, and who loves a good face pat (but don't touch his stomach!). In my time here I mainly focused on gardening, or worked indoors if the weather was bad. The gardening included things such as weeding, mowing, putting in a new herb bed, trimming trees, more weeding (it is spring so everything is growing at its utmost fastest!) etc. It's all easy and enjoyable work, and very independent too. Ben and Tracy walked around the garden showing me things they would like done and then I chose what I preferred to do each day.
The area around here is beautiful! There are coastal paths to walk along, and two small towns a few minutes walk away, which include a small shop, post office, two pubs etc. They also have bikes and boats that you can borrow and use to explore the area. There are also lots of books, a piano and so on to keep you entertained too.
All in all, this has been a great Workaway, and I can definitely see me keeping in contact!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Contribute to the conservation of our national heritage in the Sussex countryside, England
Community-owned pub on the remote peninsula of Inverie, Scotland, UK
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Information for those planning to visit the UK
Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
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