Devon is a county renowned for its natural beauty, with its two moorland national parks, beautiful stretches of coastline ideal for walking and a day at the beach with family, vibrant towns, picturesque villages and bustling cities in Exeter and Plymouth.
It’s seen as an ideal staycation destination for families, but the luscious countryside and exciting communities make it a great place for couples and adult holidaying solo too. The great outdoors offers lots of opportunities for activities too, from white-knuckle activities to more sedate affairs.
Devon is an ideal place for a UK break in a holiday cottage, whether you’re looking for a quaint cottage in the heart of a pretty rural village, a holiday home truly “out in the sticks” or a more modern property in one of the county’s two cities, you’ll always find a great place to stay.
Considering the huge number of cottages out there, it’s almost impossible to pick a top ten, but here are our picks for ten of the best holiday cottages in Devon, each offering something slightly different while always being somewhere comfortable to stay.
Mazzard Farm, Ottery St Mary
These award-winning cottages has pretty much everything you’d want for a family countryside retreat; 17 acres of woodland, an orchard, gardens, fields, a pretty cobbled area for unwinding and play areas for the kids. Sustainability and supporting nature is a big part of the ethos here, while the location is wonderful for exploring the Jurassic Coast and east Devon.
Nethway Farm, Kingswear
Nethway Farm offers a great combination of being a series of five holiday cottages tucked in a hidden valley in the beautiful South Hams countryside, while also being only a short drive from the sandy beaches of Devon’s south coast. The farm itself has 38 acres of rolling hills to explore, but the cottages are not far from the South West Coast Path and walks over National Trust property too.
The Linhay Lodge, Holsworthy
Looking for a perfect getaway for two? The self-catering holiday lodge at The Linhay is a beautiful open-plan converted barn with wonder oak beams in the vaulted ceiling and all the creature comforts you could hope for. The property is on the Devon and Cornwall border, leaving you well placed for exploring both counties and the north coastline, as well as nearby areas of outstanding natural beauty.
North Hayne Farm Cottages, South Molton
The eight self-catering stone cottages at North Hayne are set in an idyllic farm setting that is specifically set up to be family friendly, running farm activities for children each day. The cottages have won prizes for their inclusivity, including the “Accessible and Inclusive Tourism” prize at the Visit Devon awards. Other recent prizes include gold for self-catering accommodation of the year in the Visit England Awards for Excellence 2020.
https://www.northhaynefarmcottages.co.uk/
Flear Farm Cottages, near Salcombe
These cottages offer a tremendous blend of luxury accommodation and welcoming family accommodation; with facilities including an indoor swimming pool, giant playbarn and alpacas on site, it’s easy to see why families return to these south Devon holiday cottages time and again.
https://www.flearfarmcottages.com/
Burnville Farm, Brentor
The granite gateposts, Georgian house and beech woods here indicate a stay in true luxury. Burnville Farm also stands right on the western edge of Dartmoor National Park, so it’s a fantastic location for exploring tors, rolling moorland and is also only a short distance from the iconic Brentor Church, which stands atop one of Dartmoor’s most visible tors.
Shaldon Beach Huts, Shaldon
Fancy something a little different? The quirky beach huts offer a cosy and intimate romantic getaway on the coast no matter the time of year. You’ll enjoy magical al fresco lunches and fresh sea breeze, able to watch the waves crashing against the shore from these delightful huts — there’s also the larger Coastguard Cottage, which can sleep six people.
https://www.shaldonbeachhuts.co.uk/
One Gidleigh Park, Gidleigh
Standing within the upper reaches of the beautiful Teign Valley, this lovingly restored 1920s house provides moorland seclusion, privacy and fresh air. The modern boutique stylings of the two double en-suite rooms, kitchen and sitting room that enjoys uninterrupted views of the garden and valley ensure a classy stay in breath-taking surroundings.
Moorland View Cottage, North Bovey
The Times described this cottage as the “ultimate love nest” and it’s hard to argue with that; this romantic thatched cottage has a log-burning stove for the chilly nights, walled rose garden for the warm nights and a vintage copper bath tub for two. Nearby there’s Dartmoor walks, the hotel spa at Bovey Castle and an excellent village pub.
https://www.moorlandviewcottage.co.uk/
Foss Cottage, East Prawle
Situated in a popular village, this house on the south coast has great ocean views out towards the English Channel between Prawle Point and Start Point. This cottage is better suited for larger groups, with two large kitchen tables for dining, a rustic and cosy living room and comfortable bedrooms.
https://devon-seaside-cottages.co.uk/foss/
And that’s our list! Do you agree with our choices? Let us know in the comments below.
