About The Daukes Family (and Pete)

Ash Barton is lovingly owned and run by Simon and Julie Daukes and their grown-up children Siobhan, Thomas, and Oliver. They bought the house in 2009 after spending months searching for a holiday ‘cottage’ in the North Devon area.

Julie had spent her childhood summers in nearby Combe Martin where her Grandad was the milkman, and had always dreamed of having a place of her own in the area. Ash Barton was a little larger than they had in mind but, quite frankly, it was love at first sight.

Simon previously spent 30 years at the Haymarket Media Group, which is why the house is always stacked with glossy magazines. Julie is a teacher of children with special needs, a role she’s had for over 25 years.

Their favourite memory of Ash Barton? 'When Siobhan got married here in 2012. It was everything and more we could ever have dreamed it would be. Pure magic.'

So what’s the ‘secret ingredient’ that makes Ash Barton so special? 'The building, the meadows, Pete and Alfy the dog, the chickens, the kitchen. We could go on!'