With wonderful views of the countryside from the roof terrace and on-site facilities including indoor and outdoor pools, this lovely end-of-terrace cottage is excellent for a relaxing stay in south Devon.
Harberton Cottage is one of eight luxury holiday cottages set in the peaceful grounds of a 14-acre, private, family-owned estate in south Devon. This end-of-terrace cottage is perfect for a grown-up stay for one or two couples but is also a good option for a baby-friendly holiday. Admire the views over the grounds towards Dartmoor from the rooftop terrace and enjoy the beauty of the location. Guests of all holiday cottages here have access to luxurious facilities including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a shared hot tub, a tennis court and children’s play areas. Meanwhile, fantastic days out include Dartmoor National Park, stunning beaches and the waterside towns of Dartmouth, Salcombe and enchanting Totnes.
There’s a small flight of steps to the entrance of this end-of-terrace cottage where you’ll find the first floor, open-plan living/dining/kitchen space. A light and airy space with a vaulted ceiling, it’s a calming place to relax.
There’s comfortable sofa and armchair seating to sink into and watch TV, while the log burner is there to provide an extra layer of cosiness on cool evenings.
When it comes to preparing meals, the small, but well-equipped kitchen area features an oven and hob, microwave, American fridge, freezer, toaster and kettle. There is also a washing machine and tumble dryer. Meanwhile, the dining table seats up to four guests.
A staircase with an integral stair gate leads from the living area down to the ground floor bedrooms. Bedroom one is a standard double with an en-suite shower room with a WC and basin. Bedroom two is a spacious twin bedroom with two single beds. (Both bedrooms have room for a cot if required.)
There is also a family bathroom with a bath with a shower over, a WC, a hand basin and a heated towel rail.
The outdoor space, which is accessed via the French doors in the living area, is a delightful, secluded roof terrace furnished with a dining table and chairs. On fine summer days make use of the BBQ to whip up a delicious lunch, while the views from up here sweep across the grounds towards Dartmoor National Park in the distance.
Parking is available in the general parking area behind the row of cottages.
You’ll also have access to the estate’s 14 acres of beautiful grounds, plus shared on-site facilities. These include an indoor swimming pool, an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, a tennis court and children’s play areas.
With wide sandy beaches, remote moors, and chocolate-box villages, Devon is a stunning holiday destination at any time of year. It’s also a haven for bird watchers, offering a rich variety of landscapes and habitats, with dozens of nature reserves and over 200 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs).
One of the county’s highlights is the Exe Estuary, a vital breeding and feeding ground for thousands of wildfowl and waders, including avocets, redshanks, snipes, little stints, and sandpipers. Surrounding the estuary are several nature reserves, such as Dawlish Warren National Nature Reserve, where reedbeds, meadows, ponds, and saltmarshes support large populations of black-tailed godwits, dunlins, grey plovers, red-breasted mergansers, and wigeons. With its family-friendly sandy beach backed by dunes, it’s a fantastic spot for a day out.
Just 15 minutes from Exeter, Haldon Forest is a vast conifer plantation that supports five species of breeding birds of prey: goshawks, hobbies, sparrowhawks, buzzards, and kestrels. A bird hide and viewing point, managed by Forestry England, offer the chance to see these impressive raptors up close. The forest is also home to nightjars, crossbills, and a variety of butterflies. Walking and cycling trails, play areas, treetop rope courses, and picnic spots make it an excellent destination for families and nature lovers alike.
Owned by the National Trust, Lundy, an island in the Bristol Channel, is easily reached by boat from Ilfracombe or Bideford. From April to July, thousands of seabirds arrive to breed, including puffins, razorbills, guillemots, fulmars, kittiwakes, and Manx shearwaters. The island is also a magnet for migrating birds, with rare visitors from as far afield as North America and Siberia recorded annually.
Slapton Ley, the largest freshwater lagoon in southwest England, is separated from the sea by a narrow shingle ridge known as Slapton Sands. Surrounded by reedbeds, marshes, and woodland, it provides a rich habitat for birds such as Cetti’s warblers, reed warblers, sedge warblers, and grasshopper warblers. On the water, look out for great crested grebes, gadwalls, and water rails. Other wildlife in the area includes otters, badgers, dormice, and several bat species.
Exmoor National Park offers a remarkable diversity of habitats, from moorland and farmland to ancient woodland, rivers, and dramatic coastline. The open moors are home to Dartford warblers, linnets, and whinchats, while the woodlands host pied flycatchers, tree pipits, redstarts, and all three British woodpecker species. Along the rivers, look for grey wagtails, dippers, and kingfishers. The coastal edges are frequented by curlews, ringed plovers, turnstones, and occasionally knots, ruffs, and curlew sandpipers. Visitors can also enjoy walking and cycling routes, canoeing and kayaking, charming historic villages, Dunster Castle, and of course, Exmoor’s iconic wild ponies.
Located in the heart of the county, Dartmoor National Park is more rugged and wild, with dramatic granite tors and deep river valleys, perfect for a day of exploration. Bird watchers should look out for ground-nesting species like meadow pipits, skylarks, and stonechats. The moor also supports ring ouzels and red grouse, and is one of the best places in the UK to hear the distinctive call of the cuckoo in spring. For those wanting to cool off after a hike, Dartmoor has some of the finest wild swimming spots in the country.
