Bumble Cottage

This beautiful holiday cottage in a small South Hams village is what dreamy Devon holidays are all about. Forget pokey and dark, Bumble Cottage is light-soaked and spacious with oodles of tastefully styled room to unwind in with all the family, including the dog.

Leave the door, and it’s mere steps to the nature lover’s paradise at Slapton Ley. Amble two minutes in the opposite direction and you’ll find yourself on miles of pearly white beach edging one of Devon’s most beautiful bays. Sunny days are spent lazing on the beach or paddling in the ocean while cooler days are whiled away over a seafood lunch in nearby Dartmouth. Of course, if you’d prefer to hang out at home you’ll be able to do so in complete comfort, either playing boardgames in the lounge in front of the fire or curling up in one of four fabulous bedrooms to catch up on your reading. Cook dinner in the fully fitted kitchen, potter the nearby coast path, throw sticks into the sea for the dog, then enjoy dinner and a G&T on the front terrace in the salty air.

Bumble Cottage is delightfully traditional on the outside and fabulously chic on the inside. Lovingly restored by its owners, every room has been immaculately designed and styled. Stroll up the front path and through the main entrance and you’ll discover a gorgeous airy space that’s peppered with original features of exposed stone and timber; beautifully balanced with sea-foam green walls, contemporary Scandi-inspired furniture and textured soft furnishings. There are areas to get cosy in like the ground floor snug with cast iron bread oven (uncovered during the property's restoration), while the open plan kitchen / diner with its breakfast bar is where you can converge for a frothy coffee and conversation. Upstairs is all about having your own sanctuary to retreat to, and with four luxury bedrooms to choose from (two with waterside views), you’ll be able to indulge in blissful afternoon naps and deeply comfortable nights of sleep.

Torcross is a uniquely positioned slice of idyllic village life on the Devonshire coastline. Sporting a Mediterranean-like seascape to the front, it is backed by the lushest of countryside behind, both spliced by the Slapton Ley Nature Reserve which is also the largest natural lake in south-west England. Virtually equidistant from the towns of Dartmouth and Kingsbridge there’s plenty to see and do in the area so, for a special occasion meal out or a spot of boutique shopping you’re no more than a short drive away. Torcross itself is home to the seafront Start Bay Inn, so those in the mood for good old fashioned pub food will be delighted by the quality of food and its colossal portions. Slightly further afield but not by much, Stokeley Farm Shop is a great spot for stocking up on locally made gifts and homegrown produce. They also serve a mean full English and wood-fired pizzas but be sure to get there early as it’s one of the worst kept secrets in the South Hams.