BEACHCOMBERS, sleeps 6 near Bantham Beach

Recently renovated BEACHCOMBERS is the home of an artist and a Head Gardener, located in a beautiful corner of Devon 2 miles from sandy South Hams beaches and the National Trust coastline. BEACHCOMBERS is calming, comfortable and full of sunlight with rural views - a great base after a day at the beach or out walking. Within a couple of miles are the award-winning Bantham beach, stunning rural walks (estuary, coast and moor) and great places to eat. The space This detached bungalow house is set up for couples and families (up to 6 people) who want to enjoy the fabulous beaches and walks of the South Hams. Open-plan kitchen space through to the sitting room with a log burner for your evening fire, oak floors and pretty countryside views. Large flat screen TV with FreeSat channels and a DVD player and SONOS speakers for music and full WiFi. We also leave our walkie talkies which you are welcome to borrow whilst out walking. The kitchen is newly-fitted, and includes a BRITA drinking water tap, integrated fridge/freezer, electric fan oven and grill, microwave, ceramic hob, extractor fan, dishwasher and washing machine. There’s a breakfast bar area for 2, and a dining table for 4-6. The front of the house is hard surfaced for parking and has a bike rack for 4 bikes. After a sandy day you can hose down your boots or wetsuits, and directly access the en-suite from the outside space for straight-from-the-beach showers. Inside the main house are three comfortable, light and airy bedrooms all furnished in cotton bedding. Bedroom 1 has a king size bed with super-comfy SIMBA mattress, bamboo hanging rail, drawers and under bed storage drawers. Its ensuite has a large rain-head shower area with hooks to hang your wet things after the beach, a loo and small basin. Bath towels and stripy beach towels are provided for you. Bedroom 2 is a large twin room (with 2ft 6 singles which can make up a kingsize bed if required - please let us know before your stay), a chest of drawers and a bamboo hanging rail. Bedroom 3 is a double room with small chests of drawers and a hanging rail. The centrepiece of the house is a handmade stained glass panel featuring the South Hams countryside and Burgh Island, which was designed and made bespoke for BEACHCOMBERS by a local Devon glass artist. The family bathroom has a large bath with electric power shower over, family-sized basin and loo. Open the sliding patio doors to a stone terrace, and gravelled and level lawned areas with deckchairs, outdoor dining table, Weber BBQ and fire bowl. The sub-tropical style garden wraps around the house. [NOT AVAILABLE SUMMER 2022: In the garden there is an optional bedroom 4 in a newly built cedar clad 5m x 3m art studio to accommodate 2 people, with king size bed, USB charging points, micro kitchen (kettle, microwave, fridge freezer), black out curtain panels and bathroom with shower, loo and basin.] For everyone's comfort the house is strictly no smoking and we do not allow pets to stay. Guest access BEACHCOMBERS is perfectly located for couples, families and walkers to enjoy quality time in the fresh Devon air. The house is set in a quiet cul-de-sac of similar bungalows on a gentle hill overlooking green hills across the valley and is within easy reach of everything good to do in this lovely area! BEACHES The local beach is Bantham just 2.5 miles down a country lane (voted #1 beach in a recent UK Lonely Planet), overlooking scenic Burgh Island. Undoubtedly with one of the best sandy beaches in the country, the village of Bantham also boasts the famous Sloop pub, coffee shop with views of the Avon estuary, Gastrobus, GastroPizzaBus and Surf School. Here you can surf, body board or paddleboard. In the evenings watch the sun go down, enjoy live music in the summer, and take evening drinks, a portable BBQ and marshmallows for a fire on the beach. BEACHCOMBERS is also close to sandy beaches at Thurlestone, Hope Cove and South Milton Sands and just a few miles from Salcombe. FOOD AND DRINK There are so many places locally to try. Some our favourites within 3 miles are: the bi-weekly Saturday farmers market in Kingsbridge, The Oyster Shack, The CrabShed Salcombe, weekend BBQs at The BeachHouse at South Milton Sands (and it’s sister restaurant School House at Mothecombe), Aune Valley Farm Shop and Cafe, Avon Mill Garden Centre, and the Gastrobus and new wood-fired Pizza Bus at Bantham Beach. There are heaps of great pubs - The Sloop at Bantham, Thurlestone Inn, The Crabshell Inn at Kingsbridge and our local The ChurchHouse Inn which serves wood-fired pizza alongside a good pub menu. WALKING For scenic walking - coast and countryside - you’re spoilt for choice with the South West Coastal path on your doorstep, Avon estuary walks (with mobile phone guides) and Dartmoor a short drive away. Kingsbridge information centre has all the maps and suggested walks you could need. SPORTS For cyclists, Churchstow is on Cycle Route 28 (Kingsbrige to Salcombe section). The Tour of Britain passed right through in 2021! We often ride our bikes with our children to Bantham or Thurlestone. For watersports there is a friendly surf school at Bantham where you can take lessons and hire equipment. There is also a surf/SUP Paddleboard and wetsuit hire at TriOcean surf in the village of Churchstow itself (South Hams Business Park) and lessons at Waterborn in Kingsbridge. We also like to kayak and canoe the local estuaries (the Avon, Kingsbridge/Salcombe Estuary, Frogmore Creek). Nearby Thurlestone has a famous links golf course and grass tennis courts which can be booked on a pay-and-play basis during the summer months. There’s a spa and treatment rooms at the 4* Thurlestone Hotel which is open to non-guests. DAY TRIPS For children as well as the usual rockpooling, beach fun and watersports, try the sea-tractor ride on stilts through the sea from Bigbury to Burgh Island and tell pirate stories whilst having a drink at the 15th century island pub, the Pilchard Inn which also serves wood-fired pizza. In Plymouth visit the National Marine Aquarium and have fish and chips afterwards at RockFish just outside, or in Paignton there’s a fantastic zoo and sealife centre. If you have National Trust membership try Overbecks at Salcombe, or take the car ferry across from Dartmouth to Kingswear and visit 1920's Coleton Fishacre house and its fabulous gardens running down to the sea. Salcombe and Dartmouth are within 20-30 mins drive, or get there by boat taking the Rivermaid ferry service from Kingsbridge. There is a thriving arts and crafts community in the area with galleries, exhibitions and art trails all through the season. If you like sushi there is a fantastic Friday night delivery service by Koto Foods. Other things to note There is a small post office and stores in Churchstow, and more small stores based in Thurlestone and Bantham. You can cycle into Bantham or Thurlestone (c. 2-3 miles) - note its up-hill on the way back! There are excellent supermarkets (TESCO, Morrisons), shops and pubs in Kingsbridge (2 miles), a lovely small 3-screen cinema and leisure centre with a large swimming pool. Note: please check for latest opening information and Covid restrictions.