Fishing boats on a pebble beach at Beer in East Devon.

Discover Delightful Coast and Country Holiday Cottages in Devon

Coastal, Countryside and Moorland Holiday Cottages in Devon

For many visitors, renting holiday cottages in Devon is the most enjoyable way to experience this charming County. Here are beach apartments overlooking wide sandy bays from Woolacombe in North Devon to Slapton Sands in South Devon. Discover thatched cottages in quaint coves such as Beer, Lee Bay, Blackpool Sands and Ladram Bay, with clear waters backed by lush green Devon countryside. 

Stay in a thatched Devon holiday cottage in the heart of the countryside to explore deep flower-filled lanes or the wild moorland landscapes of Exmoor and Dartmoor. The many picturesque and historic towns and villages from Clovelly to Budleigh Salterton scattered across Devon offer a fine choice of self-catering accommodation. 

Find quaint thatched cottages in sleepy villages, stylish barn conversions on working Devon farms or waterside apartments in converted fishing lofts and harbourside warehouses on the South Devon coast. Devon's mild climate makes the County a popular choice for self-catering cottage holidays all year round, as Christmas Day surfers on the North Devon beaches at Croyde and Saunton will testify. At the same time, wild daffodils and primroses appear in the hedgerows as early as February, adding colour to winter and early spring walks in the countryside.

A stone-built barn conversion in North Devon overlooks a farm courtyard
Seekings Cottage
Knowstone
Devon
England
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Seekings Cottage is a delightful farm cottage for two located on the edge of the beautiful Exmoor National Park near South Molton. Several good pubs are nearby, including one with a Michelin-star within easy distance.

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A 3-storey holiday home is surrounded by lawns and a spacious block paved parking area.
Ley Park
Welcombe
Devon
England
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Discover Ley Park, an enticing large holiday cottage in North Devon, offering a captivating blend of comfort and coastal charm. It is perched half a mile from Welcombe, a hamlet just a short stroll from Welcombe Mouth Beach. This smart retreat boasts sea-view bedrooms, a cosy wood-burning stove, and a spacious dining room. Ideal for family gatherings, the enclosed garden with a patio and grassy area provides a scenic backdrop. Explore this idyllic holiday let in North Devon for an unforgettable coastal escape.

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Battens
Northleigh
Devon
England
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Battens is a delightful stone-built cottage on a working farm in a beautiful rural corner of East Devon within easy reach of the coast. The pet-friendly holiday cottage near Colyton sleeps six. It offers ample enclosed grounds, lovely views, a patio and a games room, plus sunny open-plan spaces with sophisticated design, exposed beams and peace & fresh air.

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Large, 2-storey, Victorian house with a tree-lined garden
Stoneleigh
Northam
Devon
England
Sleeps
17
Bedrooms
9

Stoneleigh is a gorgeous 19th-century North Devon holiday let designed by prominent Victorian architect William Bryden and situated on the coast in Northam. This large, child-friendly holiday home boasts ornate brickwork, original sash windows, a traditional games room, and space for up to 17 guests.

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Comfortable cotton sofas in an open-plan living area
2 Putsborough
Woolacombe
Devon
England
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Part of the brand-new Byron Apartments complex on the ground floor of a block of apartment homes, 2 Putsborough in the heart of Woolacombe, Devon, offers a luxurious coastal holiday for up to four guests, a pet-friendly apartment with an en-suite master double and access to indoor pool and gym.

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2-storey holiday cottage in Beer built with limestone blocks
Craft Cottage
Beer
Devon
England
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
4

Craft Cottage successfully blends luxury with charm. The pet-friendly, stone-built holiday cottage in Beer sleeps six and promises a seaside holiday in style. A delightful garden offers space to relax, while the interior features exposed walls and rustic charm, plus elegant décor & stylish furnishings.

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A deck with a hot tub and sun beds overlooks a surfing beach.
Memory House
Woolacombe
Devon
England
Sleeps
7
Bedrooms
4

For many people, especially previous guests, Memory House is Woolacombe's most prestigious holiday cottage. It enjoys uninterrupted views of Woolacombe beach across to Putsburough. The large ground-to-ceiling windows across the entire ground floor mean you can watch the surfers over breakfast or magnificent sunsets over the sea in the evening.

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A 2-storey holiday cottage with a large sun terrace overlooks a sandy beach.
Coast View
Woolacombe
Devon
England
Sleeps
10
Bedrooms
5

A luxury five-bedroom holiday home in North Devon with a hot tub and spectacular coastal views. This large property is just a short walk from the beach and the lively seaside resort of Woolacombe.

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Exterior of a large thatched Dartmoor farmhouse amidst mature gardens
Langstone Farm on Dartmoor
Devon
England
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

View Langstone Farm, a rural holiday home near Chagford, Devon, just two miles from the vibrant little town. This four-bedroom country haven offers a rustic interior with exposed beams, a fully equipped kitchen, and an inviting sitting room. Enjoy superb views, a tranquil pond, and ample off-road parking. Surrounded by green hills and close to wild moors, it's an ideal escape for a family or friends seeking a relaxing break in Dartmoor National Park. Discover more about this charming rural retreat by reading the fuller description.

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Torbay Seaside Cottages

To the south of the County are the bustling Victorian seaside resorts of Torquay, Paignton, Exmouth and Teignmouth, these days offering much more than a traditional bucket and spade holiday (although buckets and spades are still essential holiday must-haves). It's a haven for superb family theme parks such as Diggerland, an adventure theme park with a real emphasis on DIGGERS! An invigorating construction experience for adults & children. It is highly recommended!

Sleepy East Devon Cottages

To the southeast corner of Devon are the charming and genteel Edwardian resorts and villages of Sidmouth, Beer, Branscombe and Budleigh Salterton. Here, a perfect day can be spent chuntering around Lyme Bay in a self-hire boat, and catching mackerel to BBQ back at your holiday cottage in the evening. For delightful views of the River Ax estuary - and the chance of a Devonshire Cream Tea in Colyton, enjoy a sedate ride on restored trams at The Seaton Tramway that runs from Seaton along the estuary to Colyton. 

Idyllic North Devon Holiday Cottages

North Devon is much wilder and quieter than the south but just as welcoming to visitors. Here are the extensive sandy surfing beaches of Croyde, Woolacombe, Westward Ho! and Saunton Sands (perfect for beach cricket and sandcastle building when the tide is out). Tiny coast-hugging villages such as Lee Bay or Clovelly delight visitors at any time of the year. The principal coastal towns of Barnstaple and Bideford provide all the services and supplies you need to enjoy a self-catering holiday in a rural or seaside holiday cottage. North Devon also has the occasional geographical claim to fame, such as the biggest village in England (Braunton) and the longest High Street in England (Combe Martin). For visiting walkers and cyclists, the superb Tarka Trail offers more than 40 miles of level cycling on old North Devon railway lines that follow the river valleys and estuaries of the Taw and Torridge. There are plenty of bike hire shops along its route if you don't have space to bring your bikes.

Coastal, Countryside and Moorland Holiday Cottages in Devon

For many visitors, renting holiday cottages in Devon is the most enjoyable way to experience this charming County. Here are beach apartments overlooking wide sandy bays from Woolacombe in North Devon to Slapton Sands in the South Hams. Discover thatched cottages in quaint coves such as Beer, Lee Bay, Blackpool Sands and Ladram Bay, with clear waters backed by lush green Devon countryside. 

Stay in a thatched Devon holiday cottage in the heart of the countryside to explore deep flower-filled lanes or the wild moorland landscapes of Exmoor and Dartmoor. The many picturesque and historic towns and villages from Clovelly to Budleigh Salterton scattered across Devon offer a fine choice of self-catering accommodation. 

Find quaint thatched cottages in sleepy villages, stylish barn conversions on working Devon farms or waterside apartments in converted fishing lofts and harbourside warehouses on the South Devon coast. Devon's mild climate makes the County a popular choice for self-catering cottage holidays all year round, as Christmas Day surfers on the North Devon beaches at Croyde and Saunton will testify. At the same time, wild daffodils and primroses appear in the hedgerows as early as February, adding colour to winter and early spring walks in the countryside.

Find Cottages in Dartmoor and the Heart of Devon

Inland Devon is equally inviting to visitors. Quiet thatched villages such as Broadhembury, Coleford, Sampford Courtenay or Chittlehampton can be found at the end of slow drives down deep Devon lanes (all replete with excellent pubs and idyllic holiday cottages). Exeter's city centre is well worth at least one day's visit to see the magnificent Cathedral (picnic on Cathedral Green) followed by a trip down to Exeter Quay on the River Exe, full of craft shops, bars and restaurants. Hire a bike and follow the ship canal towpath through Starcross to the coast. Make it past the enticing pubs such as the Twin Locks, and you'll find yourselves collecting sea shells and nibbling seaside candy floss on the beach at Dawlish Warren before a leisurely ride home to your holiday accommodation.

Devon's centre is the wonderful Dartmoor National Park - offering picturesque wild walks and drives across the moors. Visit Widecombe and Princetown - the latter now earning a reputation as an artistic centre as well as being the location of the famous prison. Above all, find and climb a tor - there are hundreds from which visitors can choose. Dartmoor is also home to England's 'newest castle'. Now wonderfully restored by the National Trust, Castle Drogo, designed by Edward Luytens just outside Drewsteignton, was built in the early 20th Century and is a fascinating place to visit.

South Devon Coast and Countryside Cottages

Devon's maritime heritage and traditions can be discovered in the south coast ports of Dartmouth. Taking an Edwardian paddle steamer upriver to Dittisham past Greenaway, Agatha Christie's house, is now open to the public. Discover more of Devon's scenic heritage by water at Salcombe or Plymouth, where a boat trip visiting all the historic maritime naval yards along Plymouth Sound will provide an entertaining history lesson.

For steam train lovers, occasional mainline rail excursions to and from Exeter, steam a-plenty can be found within an easy drive of many holiday cottages. In the popular (and idyllic) South Hams region in Devon's southern corner, ride the South Devon Railway from Buckfastleigh to Totnes or from Paignton to Kingswear (and then by ferry to Dartmouth). In North Devon, discover the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway, which operates a mile or so of scenic track from Woody Bay Station - combine this with a clifftop walk along the South West Coast Path between Woody Bay and Martinhoe and you have the perfect day out!

Family-Loving Devon

With so much on offer in Devon and, it's not just the large attractions that appeal to visitors. In North Devon, visit The Gnome Reserve, where over a thousand gnomes add colour and enchantment to a woodland walk. The Reserve was once nominated for a Turner Prize. If not Gnomes, they try sheep: The Big Sheep in Bideford has everything from baby lambs to feed to roller coaster rides - all year round! It is no wonder that many of Devon's self-catering holiday cottages and seaside apartments welcome the same visitors year after year!

Devon Destinations