Thatched family cottage - Village Heart - Sleeps 8

Wake up in a thatched Devon cottage in the heart of a postcard village — pub and community shop two minutes away, beach twenty minutes down the road, and a sunny patio looking over the church. Our family home sleeps 6 in real comfort (8 with the kids sharing the room that sleeps 4 ), with three big bedrooms, two en-suites, a vegetable garden you're welcome to raid, and the obligatory scones, cream and jam waiting on arrival. The space Welcome to our family home in Talaton - one of East Devon's prettiest villages, and a genuinely special place to spend a summer week. Drink morning coffee on the patio overlooking the church, pop to the beach for the day, come back to the pub for a drink and finish it all off with a feast around the big kitchen table. This is a proper Devon cottage with a thatched roof, vaulted ceilings, exposed beams, the lot - but with all the comforts of a modern family home. It was lovingly rebuilt in 2009 using the original timbers, roof tiles and bricks, plus local oak gifted by the village, so you get the soul of an old cottage with underfloor heating, high ceilings, and rooms that actually work when you've got a crowd to feed and tired children to settle. The Heart of the House Everyone ends up in the kitchen-diner, and ours is built for it: a big farmhouse table, an island, a comfy sofa to flop on, an induction range for the cook in the family, and a door to the garden. It's where holidays happen - long breakfasts, board games, kids drifting in from the garden, a glass of wine while supper's on. The Bedrooms (sleeps 6 in real comfort, 8 with the kids together) Master double upstairs with en-suite and vaulted ceiling Second double downstairs with en-suite - perfect for grandparents or anyone avoiding stairs Family room upstairs with a double plus two singles, or we can zip-link the double into two more singles, giving you four singles in one room (ideal for the kids to bunk in together) Plus a family bathroom upstairs and a downstairs loo too. The lounge and other spaces The lounge is really relaxed, there's a woodburner for chilly nights and a piano for anyone with music in their bones. There's a utility room for soggy beach kit, fast WiFi throughout and a quiet office space tucked away if anyone needs to dip into work. The Garden A pretty enclosed cottage garden with a patio for the BBQ, a vegetable patch and greenhouse - please help yourself to anything that's ready (there's nothing better than kids eating peas straight off the plant). The grass slopes gently away with lovely views over the church and surrounding thatched cottages. There are steps from the back door down to the patio, a hose for rinsing beach gear and a few buckets and spades that we can leave out. The Village Talaton has both a proper village pub and a community shop, two minutes' walk from the front door. A combination that's almost extinct in rural Devon. Pop out for milk, fresh bread, or a pint without ever getting in the car. It's a genuinely lived-in, lovely village - tractors run past from time to time (it's that kind of place, and we think that's part of the charm) and there's a farm down at the end of the road. Why East Devon Is Brilliant for Families You're perfectly placed for absolutely everything: Sidmouth beach - 20 minutes Exmouth - 30 minutes (huge sandy beach, watersports, family attractions) Escot Park (woodland adventures, picnics, indoor play area, otters, mazes) - 5 minutes Crealy Adventure Park - theme park with indoor and outdoor areas. 20 minutes Exeter - 25 minutes (cinema, Clip 'n Climb, kayak & SUP hire, cathedral, restaurants) Dartmoor - 40 minutes wild swimming, ponies, classic walks North Devon surf beaches - 1 hr 15 Haldon Forest mountain biking - 12 miles The Pig at Combe for a grown-up treat - 5 miles Couple of fab local restaurants closer by too Little Touches A travel cot is available on request. Bookshelves are stocked with everything from childhood favourites to grown-up bestsellers. There's a piano if anyone fancies a tinkle, and a stash of games (Scrabble, Bananagrams, the usual suspects). And because it would be rude not to — you'll find a welcome basket of homemade jam, scones and clotted cream waiting for you on arrival. A Few Practicals Parking is on the road directly outside the house, with overflow available 20m away in the church car park. One bedroom is downstairs — we kept the original cottage footprint during the rebuild. Please note we're not able to accept dogs. Our Promise This has been our family home for years and we love it deeply. We'll make sure it's spotless, well-stocked, and ready for you to relax into the moment you walk through the door. We're local, so if you want recommendations for the best cream tea, a quiet beach the tourists miss, or somewhere brilliant for Sunday lunch — just ask. Drop us a message with any questions at all. We'd love to host you in Talaton this summer. 🌿 Guest access The house and garden are yours for your stay. Because it's a working family home, not all the storage is empty. You'll spot a little hanging ornament on the handles of any cupboard or drawer that's yours to use - that's your signal it's empty and ready for your things. We've left plenty of storage for you. Other things to note We're a no smoking or vaping household. If you'd like to smoke or vape please use the garden area. We'll pop out an ashtray.