... We booked our holiday through Coastal Cottages, we selected a cottage contained in a converted barn on the old part of the site.
The price for our week 13th-20th July was a grand total of 395.00GBP, split between the three of us this worked out quite resonable.
Our cottage in the ... Read review
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Advantages: Everything Disadvantages: You have to have a car
...We booked our holiday through Coastal Cottages, we selected a cottage contained in a converted barn on the old part of the site.
The price for our week 13th-20th July was a grand total of 395.00GBP, split between the three of us this worked out quite resonable.
Our cottage in the brochure was described as a pretty natural stone barn conversion decorated, furnished and equipped to a very good standard comprising of ... ...electric fire and colour tv. Small kitchen with electric cooker and fridge. Open staircase to first floor landing, bedroom one with double bed and bedroom two with two single beds, all with cupboards. Bathroom/WC. Courtyard. Electricity by £1 coin meter. Use of outdoor heated pool.
It took us approximately 4 hours to reach Horseshoe cottage, upon arrival we were a little bit more pleased than we had anticipated. The brochure failed ... more
On Saturday the 13th July, myself, my daughter and a couple of friends went to Woolacombe, North Devon for a week of peace and relaxation. Yes, we left the men at home!
Woolacombe is on the north coast of Devon just a short distance from Ifracombe. We booked our holiday through Coastal Cottages, we selected a cottage contained in a converted barn on the old part of the site.
The price for our week 13th-20th July was a grand total of 395.00GBP, split between the three of us this worked out quite resonable.
Our cottage in the brochure was described as a pretty natural stone barn conversion decorated, furnished and equipped to a very good standard comprising of entrance doorleading into sitting/dining room with two settees, storage heater, electric fire and colour tv. Small kitchen with electric cooker and fridge. Open staircase to first floor landing, bedroom one with double bed and bedroom two with two single beds, all with cupboards. Bathroom/WC. Courtyard. Electricity by £1 coin meter. Use of outdoor heated pool.
It took us approximately 4 hours to reach Horseshoe cottage, upon arrival we were a little bit more pleased than we had anticipated. The brochure failed to tell us that this property was on an 18 hole golf course (www.willingcott.co.uk), with pub and clubhouse, three fishing lakes and a newly refurbished outdoor pool which was kept at bath temperature.
The cottage was very twee (my new word), it took us twenty minutes to work out that the £1 coin electricity meter had been scrapped and the kitchen did not contain a freezer which made storing our ice cream for late night munchies near on impossible. The bathroom was of a decent size but alas did not have a shower, so we had to resort to using a good old fashioned plastic jug.
A bit about the surrounding area.
*** WOOLACOMBE ***
Woolacombe is situated 2 miles from where we were staying, the beach has won the blue flag and premier beach seaside award so the beach is fantastic for children and families. Its sands stretch for around three miles long, and the tide when out is 1/2 mile. This beach is also high on the list with surfers.
*** CROYDE ***
This is a chocolate box picture, thatched cottages, clotted cream shops, ice cream parlours, cafes and pubs. The beach at Croyde is also on the list of winners, also very popular with the surfing fraternity.
*** ILFRACOMBE ***
A lot prettier than I remember, from the harbour you can catch a ferry to take you out to Lundy Island which is situated 12 miles of the coast for approximately 25.00 GBP per adult, they also run boat trips out to see the dolphins and seals. The beach at Ilfracombe is only accessable through the tunnels that have been quarried beneath the cliffs. This is an excellent place to explore rock pools.
Excellent fudge shop near the harbour!
*** WATERMOUTH CASTLE ***
A small family attraction aimed at children, based in the grounds of the castle. For 7.50 GBP you get to tour the castle and the dungeons which are great fun, along with old fashioned arcade games like fortune telling from the early part of the 1900's. Set in gardens it has many attractions, not large ones but enough for the smaller children to enjoy themselve whilst us grown ups take a back seat.
*** DARTINGTON GLASS ***
For 4.00 GBP this is a must a short drive from Torrington, here you get to see the history of Dartington glass. You get to see the men making all Dartington products from moulding to the finished process of packaging for the shops. At the end of the tour you are conveniently deposited inside the shop, not a place for the clumsy! Prices are very resonable as they are factory seconds, but you would never know unless you examined it with a microscope.
You can also have casts made of your or your childrens hands in Dartington Glass, the price 4.95 GBP for children under 16, 7.95 GBP for adults. This proccess is done by placing you hand into csting sand then the liquid glass is poured into the mould. It takes 24 hours for the glass to cool so you can either return to collect your finished product the follwoing day or have it delivered for 5.95 GBP.
*** APPLEDORE ***
This is an old fishing port with some excellent tea shops and pubs. You can happily sit here and watch the fishing boats come and go, or take a walk up the narrow side streets, one of which takes you down to the Lifeboat station where you are free to take a look around. We found this place was excellent for Crabbing.
*** QUINCE HONEY FARM - SOUTH MOLTON ***
The quince honey farm is situate on the A361, upon arrival we were slightly disapointed with the appearance. But when inside you pay 4.00 GBP and you get to tour the building at your own lesiure, here you see millions of bees coming and going from their hives (all behind glass). Most of the displays were electronic, so upon pressing the buttons certain hives opened.
They had bee hives inside letter boxes, in baskets and hanging from the ceiling.
You can also was videos on how they collect and manufacture the honey and wax into all different types of products. When finished you are returned to the start at the shop where you can purchase all the products known to man that contain honey or beeswax.
Would I go here again?
Yes, definately.
Would I use the same Cottage company?
Yes, definately.
This is a superb place to get away from it all for a week, Willingcott Valley where we were based was out in the middle of now where, down narrow country lanes. It made it the ideal quiet retreat, even with the children. Next time I would make it a little longer so we could discover more of North Devon.
Its only when you go away in this country that you forget we have such beautiful countryside and some spectacular scenery.
More information can be found at www.coastalcottages.co.uk or www.willingcott.co.uk directy as they also hire out holiday homes.
