Holidays in Devon, Self-Catering Cottages and Apartments

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. Looking for a relaxing staycation or active holiday? Click here to explore our full North Devon Holiday Cottages Listings.

  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

5 Middlecombe in the seaside resort village of Woolacombe, Devon, is part of the North Devon coast’s newest self-catering holiday destination, a child-friendly first-floor apartment with access to the complex’s many amenities and boasting an open-plan living area, private balcony, and en-suite master bedroom.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Spacious, open-Plan interior of a modern seaside holiday apartment.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

A modern luxury apartment home in a brand-new North Devon coastal complex, 5 Putsborough in the heart of the seaside resort village of Woolacombe, Devon, offers a family-friendly holiday stay, a pet-friendly home with a master bedroom having a  king-sized bedroom and an en-suite bathroom, private balcony, and access to indoor pool and gym.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Luxury defines 6 Middlecombe, a coastal apartment near the beach in Woolacombe Bay in Devon. The pet-friendly holiday apartment features a sun-drenched balcony, a sophisticated interior with light and airy spaces, an indoor swimming pool, a games room, a sauna, a treatment room, and fun in the sun.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Independent Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
3-storey contemporary seaside apartment block with glass-screened balconies.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

The golden sands of Woolacombe Bay beckon guests at 7 Putsborough, a sophisticated seaside holiday apartment in Devon. The pet-friendly apartment in the Byron complex boasts contemporary styling and modern comforts, plus access to a swimming pool and other facilities, all a short walk from the beach.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

If a picturesque setting and luxury living are what you're looking for, you'll love this contemporary Georgeham holiday lodge with a hot tub. Set in a charming North Dvon village near Braunton, this pet-friendly holiday home is just a short drive from sandy beaches at Saunton and Croyde and offers a stylish interior.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A twin-gabled holiday cottage nestles between two tall trees.
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

In the heart of the North Devon countryside lies Somers Hiscott, a luxury six-bedroom holiday home which can comfortably accommodate up to 12. Located in Hiscott near Barnstaple, Somers Hiscott offers its guests peace and tranquillity on a large 41-acre private estate.

  • Accessible By Train
  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

This serene countryside eco-lodge is a perfect spot for a romantic getaway. It is pet-friendly and has a private hot tub, making it all the more delightful. Thistledown is located in the coastal village of Georgeham, near Braunton, and is just a short drive away from some of the most stunning beaches. The rural retreat offers beautiful views and is situated in North Devon.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A contemporary glass-fronted eco-lodge with a hot tub and large garden.
  • Sleeps 2
  • Bedrooms 1

Looking for a pet and eco-friendly holiday lodge with a hot tub in North Devon? Top Meadow is the perfect place for you! It's just a short drive from some of the area's most spectacular beaches. The lodge is spacious, bright, and stylish, with a large covered deck. You'll be able to enjoy fantastic rural views in a truly relaxing setting.

  • Active Holidays
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages with Hot Tubs
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

Orchard Cottage is a large 4-bedroom farm cottage in North Devon, a rural location near South Molton on the edge of Exmoor. This family-friendly rural retreat is ideally located for exploring Exmoor and North Devon's fabulous award-winning beaches.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior and courtyard of a stone-built, Exmoor barn conversion
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

A stunning farming estate with a swimming pool in the heart of North Devon, The Old Stables is a rural holiday cottage located in a scenic valley between Bishop's Nympton and South Molton on the edge of Exmoor National Park with easy access to Devon's coastline and other attractions.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Cottages with Car Chargers
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Holiday Cottages With a Pool
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A spacious oak-beamed double bedroom with a bed, wardrobe and large sofa.
  • Sleeps 8
  • Bedrooms 4

Apple Mill is a delightful Grade II listed holiday cottage in East Devon, accessed via its own driveway. This large rural retreat near Tipton St John sleeping 8 has a secluded, private garden, hot tub and courtyard.

  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A lighthouse on a clifftop overlooking the ocean.
  • Sleeps 5
  • Bedrooms 3

Situated on the grounds of a working lighthouse at the southernmost point in Devon, Landward Cottage near the abandoned coastal village of Hallsands overlooks Start Bay. It offers gorgeous sea views and a pet-friendly three-bedroom South Devon holiday cottage featuring a gravel patio and cosy sitting room.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
An ancient granite built and thatched Dartmoor longhouse overlooking a lawn.e
  • Sleeps 12
  • Bedrooms 6

Explore Hole Farm, a large Dartmoor holiday cottage just 2 miles from Chagford. This historic thatched Devon longhouse, built in medieval times, offers a unique stay with impressive features. The spacious sitting room boasts an open fire and an inglenook fireplace. Flexible accommodation includes four bedrooms and a separate cottage in the courtyard. With 130 acres of traditional Devon fields, it's perfect for large families. Pet-friendly and surrounded by captivating landscapes, Hole Farm is an ideal quirky retreat for groups seeking history, charm, and plenty of Moorland walks.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A white-rendered contemporary house fronted by iron-railings.
  • Sleeps 6
  • Bedrooms 3

Introducing Exmoor View, an inviting countryside property nestling in North Molton, a peaceful Moorland village in North Devon. Step into a contemporary, pet-friendly retreat where stylish touches of grey and white walls and hints of lilac and purple pay homage to the nearby heather-clad moorland. This 3-bedroom Exmoor holiday home sleeps six.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Village cottages overlook a sandy South Devon beach.
  • Sleeps 4
  • Bedrooms 2

Positioned at the end of the three-mile shingle beach at Slapton Sands, you couldn’t get closer to the sea if you tried. Step inside this beautiful apartment, and you’ll instantly feel at home. Enjoy the fantastic sea views from the Juliet balcony, or relax in the spacious open-plan living areas.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages

Why Stay in a Holiday Cottage in Devon?

  • Devon has something for everyone. There are plenty of coastal, countryside and moorland Holiday Cottages in Devon to choose from. Enjoy bustling market towns, quiet villages and varied coastal settings.
  • Devon has something for everyone. Families will enjoy the beaches and adventure parks. Hikers will love the coast paths and moors. Surfers will be able to enjoy well known surf spots, while birdwatchers and nature lovers will have an array of places to visit.
  • 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.
  • 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' Castle Drogo which is now wonderfully restored by the National Trust.

 

What Can You Do and Where Can You Visit From Your Devon Holiday Home?

  • 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!
  • 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.
  • 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 Clovellyin North Devon will delight visitors at any time of the year.
  • The main North Devon 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.
  • 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!

 

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.

 

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!