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Orchard Cottage, Holcombe

Orchard Cottage, Holcombe

Orchard Cottage, Holcombe Village, Holcombe, Dawlish, Devon, EX7 0JT, United Kingdom

Secure your booking for just £10

Property details

Two bedrooms: 1 x king-size, 1 x twin. Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC. Kitchen/diner. Sitting room.

Key features & notes

Gas central heating
Electric oven, ceramic hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, kettle, toaster
Smart TV, WiFi
Fuel and power inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Highchair and travel cot available on request at time of booking
Off-road parking for 1 car
Front patio area with furniture
Two well-behaved pets welcome
Sorry, no smoking
Shop 1.6 miles, pub 0.1 miles, beach 0.6 miles

About where you'll be staying

Holcombe is situated between the seaside resorts of Dawlish and Teignmouth, and is in a designated conservation area with a picturesque village centre lined with pretty thatched cottages, a village shop and traditional pub. Holcombe’s history has been associated with smugglers and has been impacted by the growth of the railways – the Bristol to Plymouth main line goes along the coast at Holcombe and is one of the most scenic stretches of the rail network in the country. The beach at Dawlish Warren is a sandy Blue Flag beach backed by sand dunes and small lakes and stretches for miles to reach the Exe Estuary in one direction, and Dawlish town in the other. A safe beach, lifeguarded in summer, provides a perfect place for seaside fun, and has many free, open-air events, children’s entertainers and spectacular firework and air displays during the summer season. Nearby there is much to occupy the visitor along the English Riviera coastline, including Paignton Zoo, the Dartmouth Steam Railway, the picturesque fishing harbour of Brixham and the long pier and promenade at Teignmouth. A typically English seaside resort, great for family holidays at any time of year.

See More Holiday Cottages In Devon

Bird watching in Devon

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.

Nature on your doorstep

RSPB Aylesbeare Common
11.9 miles
Venn Ottery
12.8 miles
Blackadon
14.7 miles
Dart Valley
15.2 miles
Slapton Ley
20.9 miles

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