Guests say
Townend Cottage in Devon receives high praise for its welcoming atmosphere, stunning gardens, and extensive facilities. Guests consistently mention the property's cleanliness, the beauty of the surrounding area, and the comfort provided by the well-equipped and cosy interiors. The pool and cinema room are particular highlights, alongside the friendly and helpful nature of the owners. The property's charm and amenities contribute to memorable stays for families and groups.
Reviewers consistently note the property as 'spotlessly clean', with beautiful bed linen and well-maintained grounds, indicating a high standard of cleanliness throughout.
The property is praised for its picturesque village setting in Devon, with easy access to local pubs and shops, and as a good base for exploring Dartmoor and the surrounding areas.
Guests describe the accommodation as 'comfy and cosy', with spacious rooms and modern bathrooms, suggesting a very comfortable stay for visitors of all ages.
The property boasts a range of facilities including a pool, cinema room, and well-equipped kitchen with an AGA. The extensive gardens and thoughtful touches like games and a table tennis table are highly appreciated.
The owners are commended for their thoughtfulness, with mentions of a warm welcome and helpfulness. While gifts are not guaranteed, the attentive service and provision of amenities contribute to a thoughtful experience.
About this property
This welcoming Devon house is situated on the edge of the Dartmoor village of South Zeal, peacefully above the lane that leads down to the pubs and shop in the heart of the village. Set over three floors, it is a fine roomy holiday home for families or groups of friends, with its flagstone and wood floors and traditional beams. You have the main part (the charming owner lives discreetly in a wing with separate access). The elegant hall leads you to the sitting room with its wood burning stove in a huge inglenook and TV with Netflix or piano for entertainment. The large light kitchen with dining area is an excellent place for everyone to gather around the big table, which also doubles up for games of table tennis, and on sunny days the group can spread out through French windows for drinks on the terrace. The snug with wood burning stove and TV is a cosy room which also has French windows to the garden. Wide stairs curve from the hall up to five bedrooms, with one ensuite, and two more bath / shower rooms. (please take care with the characterful, but uneven floors). On the top floor is the perfect family entertainment space in the shape of a vast cinema room with TV, mini snooker, table football, rowing machine and tiny little door into a playroom for little people, plus another double bedroom. We defy anyone to be bored in this amazing house! The outside is pretty special too, with a seasonal outdoor unheated swimming pool and three acres of gardens to explore with sun terrace with barbecue, as well as a field and orchard for running and playing ball games. If you feel like seeking entertainment beyond the house, head out to the four friendly inns within a mile, or put on your boots and explore the wilds of Dartmoor, or maybe head to town or city amenities in Exeter or Okehampton. Townend is an excellent base for exploring Devon.
Situated on the very Northern edge of Dartmoor National Park South Zeal is a wonderful location for keen walkers with some of the wildest parts of the moor within easy walking distance. With two pubs and a village shop South Zeal is a great base for exploring.
Accommodation
Over three floors.
Five first floor bedrooms: 3 x double (one with en suite shower room), 1 x single, 1 x twin (can convert to super king double).
Shower room with shower, WC, basin, bathroom with bath, shower over, WC and basin, and bathroom with bath, hand held shower, WC and basin.
Top floor super king double (or twin) bedroom.
Cinema room.
Children's playroom.
Ground floor sitting room with wood burning stove.
Kitchen with dining area.
Scullery.
Snug with wood burning stove.
Downstairs WC with basin.
Hall.
Central heating with wood burning stove.Eco-friendly biomass heating.
Microwave, fridge, freezer, washer-dryer, dishwasher, Cinema TV with DVD, Netflix, WiFi, Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Cot and highchair available on request, Off road parking for three cars.
Enclosed garden with outdoor unheated pool (8.5m x 3m x 1m).
Two well-behaved dogs welcome, Sorry no smoking.
Pub less than 1 mile from property.
Professional catering available.
Note: Check-in time 5pm.
Note: The outdoor pool is available from late May to mid September.
Nearby points of interest
- Dartmoor Prison Museum
- House of Marbles
Reviews (53)
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Kris
They went above and beyond to help us which added to a perfect holiday experience for our family. The house is beautiful and itâs clear Jo and Mike have spent a lot of time creating such a lovely place and continuing to look after it. I would happily recommended them and their property to anyone considering a stay. We will certainly stay again.
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Teresa
The property is lovely, so well equipped, plenty of space for all the family's needs and interests from our 5, 8 and 11 year old grandchildren to their parents and us oldies in our 70s. Jo and Mike couldn't have been more helpful. The pool was used every day and even our 11 year old neurodiverse grandson got in there several times and managed to swim a length. Plenty to do in the surrounding area too. The top floor with big screen, pool table, tabletop football and little play room were a delight to the children. The garden was beautiful and the wilder area also lovely for a stroll.
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Jodie
Property is well kept and grounds are absolutely stunning. For a property that accommodates families of up to 10+ we were disappointed that there was no lounge which could accommodate us all seating together and rather than having a family holiday where we could all spend time together we spent the majority of the time apart in separate rooms. Age range of the party was from 9 months to 82 years with one disabled adult. First floor is extremely dangerous. Uneven flooring throughout the entire top floor especially hallway and low beams and stairs are very steep which made it very difficult for the older members of the party to get up and down and a few minor accidents did happen throughout the stay. This is something i think should be made aware on the property details when booking as unfortunately this and the layout ruined the property for us. The owners were in the garden daily, lovely people and very friendly but again this wasn't stipulated in the small print only that the owners lived on site. We would have preferred it if we were just allowed to get on with our day with the privacy we thought we would be having. At times we did avoid going in to the garden or taking the dog for a walk around the grounds due to them being around. Overall not a great holiday and just wasn't for us.