After an approach through pretty Devon countryside, arrival at Gittisham Hill Park doesn’t disappoint. Nature is everywhere with squirrels, butterflies and birds just as at home here as the residents of the 32 independent living bungalows and the 30 bed care home.

The established woodland provides a natural boundary for the village, creating a tranquil haven for residents. Yet the nearby villages, amenities, coast and places of interest are just a short hop in the dedicated mini bus.

Gittisham Hill Park sits in 12 acres of parkland, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty not far from Honiton. A sensory garden planted in 2010 is now flourishing, providing myriad scents, sounds and colours to stimulate the senses. The original building has been converted from a country house and is now being extended to further enhance the facilities available to residents. Building work on the new wing is due to be completed in 2012 and will create extra care bedrooms and a dining room for the care home while also giving residents of the bungalows purpose-built retirement homes, their own dedicated space for events, functions and activities.

The combination of living options has provided a reassuring answer for a number of couples with differing care needs who still wish to enjoy life together. The partner able to live independently can enjoy the freedom and flexibility of life in one of the village’s high specification bungalows while their spouse can receive the care and support they need in the care home.

Whichever living option you choose, there is a busy social calendar in place for residents to dip in and out of. Staff organise an array of events and activities for those living in the care home with residents of the bungalows welcome to join in.

The village, aimed specifically at those aged 60 plus, is overseen by an experienced manager who, along with a number of her staff, has worked at Gittisham Hill Park for many years, offering a valuable continuity to management and care.