Holiday Cottages for Rent

Just a short drive from Instow's sandy beach, and the galleries and busy quayside at Appledore, across the River Torridge, these well appointed barn conversions are ideally located for enjoying a holiday in north Devon. Set on a working farm, they lie 3 miles from Bideford – perfect for a boat trip to Lundy Island or a spot of shopping at Atlantic Village – and within easy reach of world-famous beaches at Saunton, Croyde Bay, Putsborough and Woolacombe – a surfers' paradise. A little further afield is Exmoor National Park, glorious setting for the famous resorts of Lynton and Lynmouth, the spectacular Valley of the Rocks, Badgeworthy Water and the National Trust's Watersmeet. To the south lie Clovelly, a picturesque village with steep cobbled streets leading to its ancient harbour; fantastic ocean views at Hartland Point; and Bude, renowned for its fine sandy beach and surfing. Pub serving food, shops and access to walking and cycling on the Tarka Trail (coastal path) are found at Instow, 2½ miles.

Nestling in a pretty wooded valley on the edge of Exmoor, this small, family run park sits on the tourist route between Taunton and Bampton. Perfect for those wishing to take a holiday at their own pace, Exmoor Gate offers you the opportunity to be as active or relaxed as you like. A sauna*, mini gym, pool table* and children's play area are available on park. *Charges apply. Walk the hills and soak up the drama of Exmoor, enjoy the beaches, fish or sail on Wimbleball Lake or play some golf. The local gastropub provides the ideal venue for the perfect end to your day whilst Taunton, with its shops, bistros and nightlife, is an easy drive.

In an ideal position to enjoy the superb beaches at Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton Sands, this well appointed and secluded cottage offers the additional bonus of free use of the indoor heated swimming pool, children's pool and sauna at the owners' other cottages in close-by Shirwell 10 minutes drive away. Exmoor National Park and the market town of Barnstaple are in easy reach as are Bideford's bustling quayside and boat trips to Lundy Island, acres of beautiful gardens at Marwood Hill, and also Arlington Court, Knightshayes Court and Dunster Castle (N.T.). Riding, sailing and golf locally. Shop and pub serving food 2 miles.

In a secluded and peaceful position on the fringes of the Quantock Hills, the cottages at Meadowsweet Farm offer a delightful base for a Somerset holiday. The 18th century Mill and 15th century Dairy are award winning conversions, whilst the handsome Barn has also been pleasingly converted by the same architect. Set within 30 acres of meadows and woodland, they all offer individual, attractive and very comfortable accommodation only 9 miles from the beach at Blue Anchor. Hens wander freely in the farmyard and from the meadows there are picturesque views of the West Somerset Steam Railway. This is superb walking, riding and mountain biking country, within easy reach of the glories of Exmoor National Park including Watersmeet, a wooded gorge with beautiful walks, where the East Lyn river meets Hoaroak Water; the famous resorts of Lynton and Lynmouth, linked by a unique cliff railway; the remarkable limestone pinnacles and cliff drops at Valley of the Rocks; the quaint village of Porlock and waterfront at Polock Weir; Dunster Castle; and Dunkery Hill, the highest point on the Moor. Taunton and the resort of Minehead are both about 13 miles distant. A shop and pub serving food are under 1 mile away in the pretty village of Bicknoller, from where steep paths lead to stunning views from the ridge.

Only 1½ miles from Brean's vast sandy beach, these bright and spacious barn conversions sit close to the dramatic Brean Down Promontory (N.T.), which extends into the Bristol Channel and offers breathtaking views and magnificent walking. A wealth of attractions lie within easy reach including Weston-Super-Mare and Burnham-on-Sea, Cheddar Gorge and Caves, Wookey Hole, Glastonbury and Clarks' Shopping Village at Street. Further afield, the Quantock Hills and glorious Exmoor National Park promise enjoyable days out. Golf 1½ miles. Pub serving food 2 miles, shop/P.O. at Lympsham, 1 mile.

A warm, West Country welcome awaits visitors to Doniford Bay! With direct access to a rocky shingle beach, fabulous facilities and a superb location for exploring, you have everything you need for a fun-filled family seaside holiday to remember. There's something for everyone at Doniford Bay, with a wealth of sporting facilities and activities, and a sparkling programme of family entertainment. The Somerset Coast, Minehead, Bridgwater, Exmoor, the Mendip Hills, and the numerous attractions of Bristol and Bath are all easily accessible.

A spacious bungalow ideally placed for exploring glorious Exmoor.

Bealy Court's nine delightful holiday cottages sit in 25 acres of stunningly beautiful Devonshire countryside, with breathtaking views and within easy reach of the family friendly beaches of Saunton Sands on the North Devon coast as well as Exmoor and Dartmoor. Perfect for family holidays all year round, Bealy Court offers a large indoor swimming pool, an LTA standard tennis court, croquet lawn, games room with full size snooker table, pool table and air hockey, and two coarse fishing lakes (visitors will need to bring their own rods). The setting is secluded and tranquil, the lovely stone cottages – formerly a range of barns cluster around a very pretty, landscaped courtyard with glorious views to the distant hills of Dartmoor. The cottages have been stylishly converted and recently completely refurbished to create a wonderfully contemporary feel. Each cottage boasts a high degree of individual character, with original features such as oak roof timbers, stone walls and beams all carefully preserved. All of them enjoy modern, elegant décor, wood burning fires and flat screen LCD or plasma TVs. Bealy Court is an ideal touring base, with the wilds of Exmoor and Dartmoor close by and the golden beaches of the North Devon coast a comfortable drive away. Tiverton, sea fishing at Ilfracombe, and go karting, ten pin bowling and cycle hire at Barnstaple are all easily accessible, as are Knightshayes Court and Killerton (both National Trust Properties). Horse riding is found locally and Chulmleigh (4 miles) offers good pubs and restaurants, several shops, a post office and a par 3 golf course. The nearest main shopping centres are at Barnstaple and South Molton, which is also a renowned centre for antiques.

Set within 30 acres of farmland backed by the Mendip Hills, just 4 miles from the vast sandy beaches at Brean and Barrow, these six charming cottages provide the ideal base for exploring this lovely corner of England. Sympathetically converted from former barns to offer extremely comfortable and well appointed accommodation, the cottages all share a large landscaped courtyard. Each enjoys its own sitting out area. The cottages at Poplar Farm enjoy a setting that is rural and utterly peaceful yet is within easy reach of a wealth of places of interest. Cheddar Gorge, with its towering cliffs, stalagmite filled caves and its 10,000 year old man on display in the museum, makes a fascinating trip. So too does Wookey hole, an eerie network of underground caves, rivers and pools plus museums and family attractions. Bath is well worth a visit – an elegant city of golden stone with its Roman Baths and museum, The Royal Crescent and Robert Adam's Pulteney Bridge over the River Avon, as well as a wonderful assortment of shops and restaurants. Visitors to mystical Glastonbury (the site of the celebrated festival) will discover its 13th century ruined abbey, and sweeping views from the famous Tor. Also not far distant is Wells, the smallest city in England but boasting one of its finest cathedrals. Traditional seaside amusements can be enjoyed on Weston-Super-Mare's promenade and piers and there are pony rides on the beach at Brean. This is wonderful walking and cycling country and the hills, forests and heathland of the Quantocks and Exmoor are easily accessible. Fishing, riding and golf can be found within 5 miles. Shop and pubs serving food 1 mile.

Nestling deep in the beautiful Devon countryside Otter Falls is set in 120 acres of the unspoilt Otter Valley – a rural idyll of sparkling lakes, leafy woods and beautiful rolling countryside abundant with wildlife. For those seeking a select collection of high quality accommodation with superb facilities and a peaceful and relaxing location, Otter Falls is the perfect choice. The superb facilities include a magnificent indoor heated swimming pool (with sunbathing terrace), sauna and table tennis. Games room with pool table. You also have an all weather tennis court and a 9 hole putting course for summer use. Off the beaten track, yet within easy reach of sandy beaches and lovely villages of Dartmoor and Exmoor, Otter Falls is the perfect base for exploring this wonderful area. The mild climate and cosy central heating makes this the perfect base for relaxing off season holidays and short breaks, too. With the wide range of accommodation available at Otter Falls the bistro offers the perfect setting for out of season family parties (prior arrangement required). Honiton, a mecca for antique hunters, with a wide range of shops, restaurants, pubs and a twice weekly market, is only 5 miles away and there is a cosy pub in the village of Upottery, a mile away. The elegant Edwardian resort of Sidmouth, the delightful fishing village of Beer and romantic Lyme Regis are all under 20 miles.

Set on a quiet 'no through' lane, flower filled in summer, this quaint little fisherman's cottage (left) lies a short walk from Appledore's restaurants, inns, galleries, shops and lively quay. From here, there are scenic boat trips, fishing for bass or mackerel and a pedestrian ferry to Instow's sandy beach. An excellent maritime museum displays the history of this ancient seafaring area. A renowned golf course, indoor swimming pool and a centre for canoeing, abseiling and other activities are within 2 miles. Bideford is 3 miles, and many visitor attractions are under 5 miles. Exmoor and north Cornwall are easily accessible.

Set amidst tranquil Devon countryside, these attractive cottages boast outstanding views over a valley teeming with wildlfe and shared enjoyment of an indoor swimming pool and children's pool, open all year round and heated to around a delightful 30°C. A jacuzzi and sauna offer an opportunity to relax and unwind whatever the season, whilst the 8 acres of shared grounds afford plenty of space for gentle strolls and picnics. There is also an all weather tennis court as well as a games room with pool and tennis tables and, for children, a large, safe outdoor play area. North Hill Cottages sit within a short drive of Devon's famous golden coast – miles of sandy beaches at Woolacombe, Croyde, Putsborough, Westward Ho! and Saunton. These glorious beaches are a paradise for surfers of all ability levels, with boards, wetsuits and expert tuition available at most locations. Just 3 miles away is Barnstaple, north Devon's ancient capital whose charming blend of old and new combines a fascinating glimpse of times gone by with exciting browsing in the indoor Green Lane shopping centre, its Pannier Market and its theatre which is the centrepoint of the annual North Devon Festival. At the railway station, one can pick up the famous traffic free Tarka Trail and bicyle hire is available from Fremington Quay, just up river. Close by is Bideford, a historic fishing port and market town with steep, narrow medieval streets and a busy quay from where visitors can enjoy a two hour boat trip to Lundy Island. Also within easy reach is Braunton nature reserve, a beautiful 'lunar landscape' wilderness of sand dunes, noted for its rare and exotic plants. Within easy reach are the glories of Exmoor National Park – among its numerous attractions are the charming coastal resorts of Lynton and Lynmouth, linked by a unique water-powered funicular cliff railway; the National Trust's mesmerising Watersmeet – a woodland gorge with beautiful walks where the East Lyn River meets Hoaroak Water; Badgeworthy Water – the supposed hideout of the notorious 'Doone' family; Dunkery Hill – at 1705 ft, the highest point of the moor; and the ever popular of Minehead – a traditional seaside resort and the start of the West Somerset Railway. There are splendid National Trust properties at Arlington Court, Dunster Castle and Knightshayes Court. This is wonderful walking country too. Magnificent views can be savoured amidst the tantalising beauty of Exmoor National Park and all along the north Devon coastal path. With its soaring cliffs, quaint harbours and long stretches of beach, almost entirely made up of designated areas of outstanding natural beauty, north Devon's fabulous coastline is a joy to explore. Riding, sailing and golf are all readily available locally, and fly fishing can be enjoyed at Blakewell Fisheries, conveniently located at the end of the drive leading to the cottages. Pubs serving food and a good choice of shops are found in Barnstaple, 3 miles. Comfortably furnished, warm and welcoming, and enjoying an excellent range of facilities as well as easy access to a host of attractions, North Hill Cottages are the perfect choice for year round holidays and special breaks in north Devon.