DEvoN'S rIvEr CoUNtrY - Helpful Holidays

. . . a star-gazing haven . . . . . . bluebell woods to roam DEvoN’S rIvEr CoUNtrY
Weare Giffard: village (pub, church, recreation ground with
summer cricket and music events) on the banks of the river
Torridge (fishing, birdwatching, Tarka Trail), surrounded by
lush rolling farmland. Torrington (see below), 3½ miles; RHS
Rosemoor Gardens, 4 miles. Bicycle/kayak hire in the port town
of Bideford, 4 miles, and the sea at Westward Ho!, 6 miles.
… 1½ miles from Weare Giffard, in a tranquil location on a bank of
the river Torridge (a wildlife and star-gazing haven; owls, herons,
egrets seen along the tidal shore), is this beautifully and carefully
converted cottage, once a barn, neatly tucked behind and alongside
the original farmhouse. Outside, private suntrap patio area and
landscaped lawned garden (a great vantage spot for appreciating the
celestial show); sheep in adjoining field.
Inside, converted with a huge amount of love and attention to detail and
beautifully finished. Door from patio to spacious kitchen/
dining room (dishwasher, washing machine, microwave,
freezer) with granite worktops, tiled floor, dining table
perfect for entertaining and, alongside huge windows,
comfy seating for reading and dreaming. Two bedrooms – a
double (zip-linked 6’ bed or twin), and a twin (zip-linkable
to 6’ double); shower-room (wet-room suite) and very smart
bathroom (suite with separate shower). Open tread stairs up
to wonderful living room with beams to apex, woodburner,
TV/DVD/Blu-ray and fantastic view from a huge window
to the estuary and farmland beyond. Also on this level, a
double bedroom and neatly fitted shower-room (suite). A
fantastic, luxurious base in a great area for discovering
the best of north Devon’s coast and country.
Roborough: ancient village (church, pub, some fine cottages) deep in lush
rolling farmland, 5 miles south-east of Torrington (see below left). RHS
Rosemoor Gardens, 3½ miles. Nearest beach at Westward Ho!, 12 miles.
Exmoor, 14 miles.
… a mile from Roborough is an elegant, detached, single-storey cottage, recently
converted from the cart shed and cow byre of a 16th cent., Grade II listed manor
house. All is surrounded by sheep-grazed paddocks and 24 acres of bluebell woods
which you are welcome to roam. To the front, a small, enclosed area with table/chairs.
Large living room with woodburner, TV/DVD, lofty exposed roof trusses and serene
views to the woods; kitchen at the far end (washing machine, microwave) with
multi-fuel range (logs included) running radiators with clothes-airer over. From the
living room, linked by a sunny glazed lobby, double bedroom with 5’ bed and view
of woods; beautiful bathroom (suite plus bath-shower). No children. Very private,
tranquil and relaxing.
★★★★½
Ref: J25
Sleeps 6 Bedrooms 3
Friday Bathrooms 3
Price:
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★★★★½
Ref: J23
Sleeps 2 Bedrooms 1
Saturday Bathrooms 1
Price:
DD CC
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WB
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Torrington: ancient small town above the river
Torridge (fishing). Dartington Crystal factory (tours,
glass-blowing). Just out of town are RHS Rosemoor
Gardens and bicycle hire for the Tarka Trail to Bideford
(Elizabethan port) and sea/sand at Instow, 10 miles.
Golf and huge beach at Westward Ho!, and Appledore
(see page 33), 10 miles. Dartmoor, 20.
... about 3 miles south of Torrington, a pretty, south-facing,
detached, thatched, Grade II listed cottage, sheltered in a
wooded river valley (very private); 50 yards away is a stream
and the Tarka Trail (30 miles of disused railway to walk/cycle) - a
particularly lovely stretch of it. Majestic beech trees shelter the
cottage and owls. To its front, a little cobbled garden (bench); to
one side, terrace (table/chairs) and 6 steps up to a wild, sloping
woodland garden and orchard - great for older children.
Tiny porch for boots/coats; stable doors to living/dining/kitchen
(dishwasher, microwave, fridge-freezer, 3-burner electric
cooker) with big inglenook (woodburner), original beams,
window seat with views of garden and woods, comfy chairs
(no sofa), rocking chair, TV/DVD; small bathroom (bath,
bath-shower, washbasin); separate loo/washbasin (washing
machine, spin drier). Steep stairs up to three bedrooms –
two double, one with washbasin, and a single with limited
clothes-hanging space, all with wood floors/rugs (low beams
in single and one double). Shed (lockable) for bicycles. Sweet
little cottage in a beautiful valley with plenty of space for
energetic older children, but not suitable for elderly people
or children under 4.
Kingscott: hamlet of some fine houses and cottages, deep in wooded lanes and lush rolling farmland.
Torrington (see left), about 3 miles. The coast and beaches of north Devon, 14 miles.
… in Kingscott, attached to Kingscott House (a thatched Georgian rectory), is the single-storey Garden Cottage with long
and lovely serene rural views to Dartmoor. There are 2½ acres of mature garden over which you are welcome to roam and,
beyond, wooded farmland. To the front, a patio (table/chairs).
Inside, elegant, stylish and extremely comfortable. Glazed doors from patio into living/dining room (TV/DVD, piano); smart
fitted kitchen (washer-drier, microwave); double doors from the living room into pretty double bedroom (5’ bed) with walk-in
wardrobe; shower-room (suite). No children, except pre-crawling babies.
★★★½
Ref: J8
Sleeps 5 Bedrooms 3
Friday Bathrooms 1
Price:
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★★★★½
Ref: J10
Sleeps 2 Bedrooms 1
Friday Bathrooms 1
Price:
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Prices: pages 217 and 218 Symbols guide: page 208 Important points to note: page 215 Booking form: page 211 Electricity, heating, bed linen and duvets included unless stated otherwise
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