This is the special setting for Sea Cottage, the white cottage in this photograph.
There is such a stylish but cosy interior at this cottage, with the bonus of a wood-burning stove for out-of-season holidays here.
The main bedroom with its comfortable bed and pretty furnishings. This room looks out over the Tarka Trail.
The galley-style kitchen is extremely well-equipped and leads through into the main living-area.
The pretty garden is fully enclosed with view to enjoy.
Walk out the front door and on to the beach or follow the coast path.
Looking back towards the cottage from the sheltered garden with open views to one side. There is an area of lawn as well.
There is plenty of comfortable seating for all in this bright and tasteful room.
The twin bedroom is through the doorway to the right of this photograph. The double bedroom is off to the left.
There is a pretty little farmhouse table.
Another view of the kitchen
Visit the renowned deli in Instow for some fresh local produce.
A lovely surprise awaits you here.
This is looking back towards the entrance. There is a second shower to one side of the entrance lobby and a separate WC to the other.
Another view of the main bedroom, the en suite is through the middle door.
Friendly seaside details will put you in the holiday mood the moment you arrive.
This is the en suite shower-room for the double bedroom.
You will all love the artwork that decorates the walls.
This is the twin bedroom with 2'6" beds.
Vintage oars make charming wall art.
Sea Cottage is in a unique position with direct access to the beach and the Tarka Cycle Trail, with the local cricket club and access track to the cottage on the other side of the Cottage.
Walk down into the town and catch the ferry over to Appledore.
Instow's sandy beach is wonderful at low and high tide.
Sea Cottage is tucked away in the sand dunes to the left of this photograph of Instow.
The passenger ferry will take you from Appledore to Instow during the summer months.
The Instow Cricket Club is a stone's throw from the cottage. This must be the best location to watch a summer match!
Woolacombe is one of many stunning north coast beaches.
This is the seemingly endless beach at nearby Saunton Sands.
Charming Clovelly is a short car journey away.
Sit by the harbour at Clovelly and take in the lovely view of the village.
Take the passenger ferry to Lundy Island from Bideford for a day of bird watching.
Have a day of adventure at North Devon Wake Park where you can wakeboard, paddle board or enjoy the giant aquapark!
Sea Cottage
2660Instow | Sleeps 4 + cot
7 Nights from £439
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearby pub
Situated within easy reach of the beach and just off the "Tarka Trail" cycling and walking path, so the perfect place to stop off for refreshments!
July 2022
Excellent food and friendly service
Great location, good choice of food, dog friendly and attentive staff.
Nearby beach
A great beach for children with acres of sand at low tide, shallow waters and usually calm seas. There are plenty of facilities nearby in the village. Dog restrictions apply so please check locally.
October 2022
Very busy doggy beach
Nice beach but a little too busy for us. Great that it is dog friendly but I think everyone with dogs goes there. More dogs than people.
September 2022
Instow beach
Instow beach is a lot more than 3/4ml on foot or by car from Appledore! And it is not walkable because there is a river in between!
November 2021
A dog’s paradise
We came in November and there were so many dogs and owners on the beach. My little dog was in her element.
November 2021
Great to visit whatever the weather
Great walks based around a village with good pubs, a fantastic deli (John's) and an amazing fish shack near the beach and car park The Glorious Oyster, serving great no fuss fish dishes
July 2021
Instow John's deli near the beach
Great deli for picnic boxes, fresh crab sourdough roll. Amazing cakes
July 2021
Instow John's deli near the beach
Great deli for picnic boxes, fresh crab sourdough roll. Amazing cakes
June 2021
John's of Instow
Chocolate brownies to die for. Melt In the mouth and very chocolatey.
Nearby walk
The Tarka Trail covers over 160 miles of pathways and bridleways in Devon and forms part of the Devon Coast to Coast Cycle Route. Park in the Instow car park (fee paying) and pick up the trail along Marine Parade. The trail will take you pretty much as far as you want to wander with easy flat paths and estuary views. Just watch out for cyclists, it's a popular route. Take a look at the AA link for route details.
Nearby town
Located where the rivers Taw and Torridge combine and flow into the sea, Instow is a pretty waterside village and perfect for a spot for sailing or windsurfing, and for families to take advantage of the sheltered sandy beaches.
April 2017
Pretty Village
Such a pretty village and the local beaches are lovely. Try John's Deli, a great place for breakfast, lunch, cakes etc.
April 2014
Have Cream Tea at the Commodore Hotel
The Commodore Hotel offers Cream Tea for non-residents. You can sit inside or outside and enjoy a good cream tea as well as a gorgeous view across the estuary. If the tide is coming up and the sun is setting, this is a marvelous experience.
August 2013
Beautiful, sleepy Instow
Instow is a pretty little village and makes a perfect base for exploring North Devon. It retains a sedate pace of life, perfect for winding down from the rat race. Johns' deli provides everything you need to spoil yourself at breakfast time, and there are a couple of restaurants to spoil you at suppertime. The Tarka Trail is on your doorstep and it would be rude not to hire some bikes and meander through the pretty Devon countryside for an hour or two.
Also nearby
Set deep in the north Devon countryside, The Rosemoor estate was once the home of Lady Anne Palmer. Lady Anne developed a passion for plants when she met noted plantsman Colllingwood Ingram while recuperating from measles in Spain. Over the next 30 years, she travelled the world to collect specimens for her garden, which she gave to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1988. The estate now comprises 65 acres of land, which includes rose gardens, a winter garden, a fruit and vegetable garden, a formal garden, woodlands, and many stream and lakeside plantings, making Rosemoor an enchanting place to visit whatever the season.
November 2023
Beautiful gardens
Amazing place to visit even in the rain!! Beautiful gardens, credit to the staff! We had lunch in the restaurant which was amazing too - well worth the visit!!
October 2023
Fabulous place, outstanding gardens
A return visit for us.
An exceptional day out if you love nature and gardens. We were lucky our visit coincided with the Festival of Apples in October. Beautiful place and everything offered is of the highest standard.
July 2023
Fanstastic
Spent the best part of the day exploring the walks around the estate and through the fabulous formal and informal gardens, plenty of seating in the grounds to appreciate the flowers, plants and trees, choice of refreshment options from snacks to restaurant, a very good shop and parking very easy, worth the effort to visit.
August 2022
Gorgeous day out
As an RHS member and regular visit to Hyde Hall I’ve been keen to visit the other gardens so when on holiday nearby, a visit to Rosemoor was a must. It is truly fabulous, we visited on a beautiful, sunny, summer day so we saw it at it’s best but I can see how there is interest whatever time of year you visit.
The staff are friendly and we received a great welcome and explanation of the layout when we arrived, such a lovely touch.
The garden is split into two parts, Lady Anne’s garden which has beautiful trees and planting best seen at a gentle stroll and the more formal gardens laid our directly near the entrance which are also stunning. The cool garden was gorgeous especially on a hot day.
August 2021
Stunning gardens
Beautiful selection of show gardens and fabulous fruit and vegetable gardens. Well worth a visit and a cream tea
July 2021
Rosemoor RHS
Well worth a visit and 25 minutes from Forest View. Beautiful well kept gardens.
June 2021
Mr
Lovely
February 2009
Beautiful, well-managed gardens, well worth a visit whatever the season.
October 2008
The garden is absolutely gorgeous and very well looked after. The staff are very friendly and welcoming and the restaurant had great locally sourced food. A great day out for adults and children.
August 2008
Roses Galore!
The rose collection - one of the largest in the West Country - is very impressive. In full bloom in the summer, the scent of over 2,000 flowers is quite sensational. The Rose Weekend, held in June, was very informative, with advice on growing your own, as well as walks and activities for children.
A retro delight, to take tea back in the forties and fifties close to the seafront at Westward Ho!. A traditional tearoom with cakes and light bites to be washed down with a variety of teas and coffee. This lovely little cafe was voted the best for 2011/2012 in the North Devon Food Awards.
September 2024
Brilliant
Really lovely, old fashioned, tea shoppe. We had afternoon tea for four at 11am in the morning (the only slot available). If you want to go please be sure to book weeks in advance. Plenty of savoury rolls (cheese, chicken, ham, tuna), cheese savoury scones, plain scones with jam and clotted cream and about six different home made cakes. We did our best but ended up taking most of the cakes away with us to eat for tea (and breakfast the next day). £20 per head and well worth it
July 2024
Tea on the green
Nice little cafe but beware of the Bueno Hazelnut slice,
July 2024
Mahoosive scones
You only need one scone on their delicious cream tea. My favourite cake is malteser cake. Never lets me down.
June 2019
You need to feel hungry before you call in here.
Fantastic small retro café serving hot and cold light meals along with cream teas to die for. Sit outside looking at the sea and town green on inside and wallow in an era gone by. Food excellent, portions enormous and staff were efficient and friendly.
August 2015
Still fantastic!
We first found Tea on the Green in 2012, and whenever we've been anywhere close (that means within a 1 and half hour drive!!) we've always spent the day at Westward Ho! and included something to eat here. The lunches are great, with excellent choices (you won't go hungry) and the cakes are magnificent. It's always busy though, so you have to be prepared to wait or maybe sit outside.
September 2014
The cream teas really are to die for!
September 2012
A visit a must if you are in Westward Ho
What a lovely little place to stop for tea and cake. Although it was next to where we were staying whatever time of day we walked past it was always full and we determined to try it during our week in Westward Ho so waited across the road until a table outside was empty and ran across before another lucky person was able to sample their lovely food and surroundings. Just amazing.
April 2012
WOW!!!! The MOST incredible tea shop!
You MUST visit this tea shop! From the outside it's easy to miss or walk past as its not big but once inside it is just fantastic. all decor and music is 1950's and there is so much attention to detail especially the lovely crockery. But best of all the menu is amazing. Cakes are delicious and such a great choice of drinks and food. I'd recommend booking a table to avoid any disappointment!
Two miles of sand stretching into the distance backed by a pebble ridge which divides the beach from Northam Burrows Country Park, a magnificent stretch of salt marsh, grassland and dunes.
October 2024
Beautiful
Had a lovely day out here. Weather was nice and sunny for October. Beach was fantastic, bit rocky to get onto the sands but once on the sands dogs loved it. Lots of people with dogs on the beach. Nice walk along the front too and a couple of bars and eating places but a lot were shut as it’s probably end of season.
September 2024
A step back in time
It’s seen better days, quite dated, feels like you’ve gone back to the seventies. Most of it was closed (late September), but the amusement arcades were open and provided us with an hours entertainment. Not sure I’d want to sit in the beach, it looked very pebbly but maybe if the sun was shining I might feel differently.
August 2022
Clean
Parking at this beach is £5 a day to pay for the toll road. From the car park, it is a short walk to the sandy, lifeguard patrolled beach. It is clean with decent waves for jumping and/or body boarding . Be warned that the tide comes in quickly and there is a warning tannoy giving all beachgoers 20 minutes to pack up and clear off! There is a good choice of places for lunch
May 2022
Beautiful beach
A beautiful, slightly windswept beach. Brilliant for surfing or a walk, with a lovely beach cafe in the dunes. Although the access from a private toll road comes with a (fair) price, this is much easier than getting to the beach by parking in the town (which makes a slightly run-down and shabby impression). Great beach to spend half a day with a picnic!
September 2016
the pier house
Gorgeous restaurant serving lovely food. Stunning views while you eat.
April 2012
Awesome beach for surfers/bodyboarders!
This beach is incredible...2 miles of the most incredible surf I've ever seen and however busy it gets it never seems crowded.
September 2011
Felt like I was a kid again
The beach is huge....3miles of it! Although it's a sandy beach, the sand never actually dried out during our visit. But that was great for sandcastle building. Plenty of surfers make use of the beach and the rock pools are fantastic. Great fish and chip shop just up from the beach. Parking is easy. Definitely worth a visit.
September 2010
Vast expanses of golden sand
Westward Ho! beach is a 'Blue Flag' beach, offering vast expanses of golden sand. Good for surfing, it is patrolled by lifeguards and is one of the safest in the area. An added attraction for youngsters are the many rock pools to explore at low tide.
With stunning estuary views, this waterside pub/restaurant offers a seasonally changing menu using the best local ingredients. Open for breakfast (book in advance), lunch, dinner and all day for drinks, this is the perfect spot for dining out. Children are welcome, as are dogs on the ground floor.
October 2024
Anniversary Dinner
Above excellent
August 2022
Super evening
Wonderful to have a pub with gorgeous views, delicious food and great service so close to our cottage.
Set in the beautiful coastal village of Instow and right on the waterfront with outstanding views across the estuary. You will find a variety of local ales and a menu offering locally sourced produce here.
September 2013
Both people and dog friendly with excellent food!
We arrived at 6 on Thursday night and got a table - just! Very busy already, which is always a good sign. A really lovely restaurant/bar setting, many with window seats and views over the beautiful beach area. Dogs are allowed in the bar level (there's up and down stairs seating too) - it was one of the reasons we chose it. The waiting staff were absolutely top notch - really friendly and helpful. The choice of food was great, service was prompt and the food itself was really excellent (I heartily recommend the belly pork and stir fry- wow!). All in all, a great eatery and one that we couldn't find fault with. If you're in Instow (or the surrounding environs) take a trip to the Instow Arms and enjoy the hospitality and food at great value-for-money prices too!
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