Pretty thatched cottages for an Easter break…

Spring is in the air. The days are growing longer and brighter as the Easter holidays and all those bank holidays hover on the horizon. Spring flowers spread their cheering colours and it’s a great time to escape to the West Country for a spring break. And what could be more charming than a characterful, thatched cottage as a base?

Woolley Cottage, a handsome, Grade II listed, detached, thatched house which has been extended from its 18th century beginnings, is beautifully situated amongst a hamlet of dwellings around a tiny green and scattered farms on the magnificent northern coastal borders of Cornwall and Devon. There’s some real character here: plenty of low lintels, flagstone floors and thick stone/cob walls make it a handsome house inside and out. The games shed, with table tennis, darts and toys, is great for some competitive family fun. It’s a smashing house with bags of space for everyone in a beautiful, unspoilt area – just a few miles from the cliffs and cobbles of Clovelly, vast sandy beaches at Bude and family friendly attractions.

You’ll feel like your prayers have been answered when you arrive at 1 Priory Cottages, an ancient, Grade II listed, thatched cottage once linked to the Cistercian monks of Brightley Priory. This is a place blessed with peace and quiet, set back from the quiet road and in a very pretty and unexplored area. Full of beams and ancient wobbly walls inside, with a huge, enclosed, level, lawned garden with terraced area outside. Once you’ve had your fill of quiet contemplation, just a mile and a half away you’ll find the town of Okehampton, with cinema, golf, tennis, leisure centre and cycle route. Plus you’re close to Dartmoor’s northern edge – terrific walking country and more family friendly attractions such as Castle Drogo and The Miniature Pony Centre.

Or how about gorgeous, thatched, Grade II listed Dunscombe Cottage two miles west of Branscombe, one of the prettiest villages on the south coast of Devon? A number of footpaths lead from the cottage, including one to a coastal path and fine pebbly beach less than a mile away. Once you’re back from the beach, a large, very pretty, enclosed, shrub-filled lawned garden awaits, with lots of space for ball games or just relaxing. And inside, make yourself at home amongst the simple white cob walls, low lintels, heavy beams and original blackened oak spiral staircase. There’s plenty to see and do nearby - it’s well worth taking a trip to the lovely seaside harbour town of Lyme Regis and the famous 'Jurassic' fossil coast, just 10 miles away.

Each cottage still has one week available during the Easter school holidays, but be quick! If you fancy a family break over Easter, call our friendly telephone team for a chat on 01647 433593, or browse our other holiday cottages with Easter availability and book online.

What do you like to discover on holiday?

Whether you’re holidaying on the moor, by the sea or in river country, there’s so much history and nature to discover on your doorstep in Devon.

If you stay at The Hayloft in Lower Cator, a hamlet in a hill-farmed valley in the heart of southern Dartmoor, you’ll find miles of lovely moorland and riverside walks amidst spectacular scenery. One of the holidaymakers who stayed here described the “riot of colour and wildlife” and there’s a wealth of archaeological sites to visit too.

It can be great fun to plot your walking route to call in at country pubs – try The Rugglestone Inn in Widecombe-in-the-Moor, a popular, ‘real Dartmoor’ village world-famous for its fair. The Hayloft is an excellent, upside down cottage (one of two converted from a big barn) in a truly beautiful location; a peaceful retreat after busy days out.

In the heart of Axminster, you’ll find lovely Coombe House, big, semi-detached and Grade II listed, originally built for the local abbot in the 16th century. There’s history all around you here. Axminster is a bustling little town with 300BC Celtic origins and nearby is the imposing Jurassic Coast – miles of stunning coastline and ancient geology recording 185 million years of the Earth's evolution.

After hunting for fossils and exploring rockpools, relax in the property’s big enclosed, walled garden shaded by a lovely mature beech tree – and you’re welcome to roam the friendly owner’s garden and help yourself to seasonal fruit and veg.

In the heart of the historic fishing village of Appledore, quirky Peelers Cottage has 1732 origins and once served the village as a police station and gaol. The picturesque village is well placed at the mouth of the Taw and Torridge estuary.

Make a hearty packed lunch and head off on your bikes to explore the famous Tarka Trail (you can hire cycles in Bideford, just 2 miles away) – you’ll find an abundance of wildlife. A good route is Bideford to Torrington which takes you up the Torridge Estuary on the old railway bed. Or how about a boat trip from Bideford to breathtaking Lundy Island to see its rich and diverse flora and fauna?

For more holiday ideas, browse through the rest of our holiday cottages in Devon.