The Making of
Bluebird Penthouse & Land Rover Hot Tub

A word from the creator

The Bluebird was completely restored and upgraded by myself Ralph.

I live with my wonderful wife Lucy and our two young daughters, Beatrice and Edie, a few fields above the Bluebird. I design, build and look after these rather unique holiday accommodations and Lucy works as a physiotherapist.

Timeline

• The Bluebird Penthouse & Land Rover Hot Tub was my first project, launched 11 Feb 2016.
• Then followed Wagon in the Woods, which we somehow launched to the public before the Bluebird in Nov 2015.
• In Feb 2018, we launched Wagon & the Wigwam on the same site as the Wagon in the Woods.
• The last, The Horse Hut and Lotus Spa, was ready in March 2020 — a week before lockdown!

Lucy’s family farm

The Bluebird is on Lucy’s family farm and her parents live in The Corn Mill (slate roof) directly below the Bluebird. Karen, my sister-in-law looks after the Bluebird and lives up the top of the hill in High Bickington.

And here’s to you, our guests!

We hope that you truly enjoy your stay whilst you are with us and that you find peace, rest and inspiration here.

Each booking enables us to develop the existing projects and increase the creative ideas for new ones. By staying, you are helping make this happen. Thank you!

— Ralph

Restoring the Bluebird

Abandoned at the bottom of a field over thirty years ago, we found a vintage 1950s caravan in a very sorry state.

The interior had been removed and due to a fire inside it was in horrendous condition and destined for a skip.

However, seeing it had some hidden beauty—despite its dilapidated state—the restoration began.

My father-in-law Joe and I pulled the wreck out of the brambles and up to the workshop.

The side was falling off as it was dragged out and the floor gave way in a lot of places. Only the table, rusty cooker and gas lamps remained inside.

All the internal walls had been removed or collapsed!

The first day restoration began a delivery driver turned up with the timber. He jumped out the cab, took one look at The Bluebird and said:

“What a lovely old caravan! Shame it’s too trashed to restore.”

Many a time I thought he was right.

The Bluebird’s frame had to be rebuilt from the inside and modern insulation was cut and fitted to ensure it would be warm.

Initially I kept a record of how long the work was taking, but stopped when I had spent over two thousand hours on it…

The hours almost broke me!

But since the Bluebird renovation, my two project rules are:

1. no timescale and
2. no budget!

(Can’t let practicalities stifle creativity!!)

In fact, the little places are never really finished. I always have just a few more ideas up my sleeve.

I improvise with what’s decent and available to work with.

For instance, I couldn’t find nice caravan skylights – they were all plastic — so eventually glass pyrex dishes were used!

Now, after a complete gutting and refurbishing, with fully redesigned internals, the Bluebird was starting to get back on top!

We towed her from the workshop up to Lucy’s family farm where she now reigns supreme on the hillside.

And in early January 2016, after a few (hundred thousand) finishing touches, she was ready.

The inside was designed to give a feeling of a light, airy open space with 1950’s charm.

Sitting atop the hill, this penthouse has the most luxurious views over the valley.

Land Rover hot tub

The next major stage of the project was a hot tub.

But why stop there?

A Series 3 Land Rover had been parked in the woods on the farm, over thirty-five years ago.

It was missing the bonnet and almost everything but the body work had rusted away.

How could you not look at this and think…

‘I know! That would make a beautiful hot tub’?!

Then think…

• let's spend a few thousand pounds on a hot tub,
• turn in on its side,
• grab a saw,
• tear up the warranty,
• cut out the old pipes,
• connect in a heat exchanger

…and hey-presto! An environmentally-friendly hot tub!

(Or the bones of one.)

Getting the hot tub in position and fitting the body work with my friend James.

Now the hot tub runs off the farm’s biomass boiler, but has all the ease and convenience of a standard hot tub without having to jump out and light a fire!

The hot tub is ten times more powerful than it was with the original electric heater so can heat up quickly whatever the weather.

So, in March 2017, she was ready to roar!

The Bluebird is Green!

The heating and hot water are run from the biomass boiler (large log burner) that supplies the properties on the farm and the Bluebird.

The timber is grown and harvested on the farm.

You can see the smoke from the boiler that is next to the The Corn Mill below the Bluebird.

The farm also has solar panels on the barns below the Bluebird, providing the electricity during the day.

So you can turn the heating up and relax in a nice hot bath, safe in the knowledge it’s all sustainable, home-grown timber and solar energy keeping you warm.