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400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down

Family-friendly cottage in Ilfracombe with a water park

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400 Year Old Cottage
Country Kitchen
Modern Appliances
Breakfast Bar & Bespoke Window Seats
42in Flat Screen TV with Sky TV & DVD

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 790 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Fireplace
  • Barbecue grill

Explore the area

View map
  • Place, Ilfracombe Harbour
  • Place, Woolacombe Beach
  • Place, Sandy Cove Beach

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 7)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

3 Single Beds and 1 Double Sofa Bed

1 bathroom, 2 half bathrooms

Downstairs Toilet & Wash Room

Toilet

Family Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

On Suite

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down

Our 400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down.
Packed with original features such as the inglenook fireplace and wood floors this cosy cottage is equally welcoming in the heart of winter as coming in straight off the beach.

There are 3 Bedrooms and 2 Bathrooms and an extra downstairs toilet. Downstairs has 2 reception rooms with SKY TV and a country kitchen & Utility room.

There are some restrictions with the bed layout. The two upper bunk beds are only suitable for children. We can arrange for an additional double sofa bed (in the biggest bedroom) to be made up at an extra cost if your party is all adults or you want extra beds to a maximum of nine guests.

A walled garden gives you somewhere safe to play or sit and enjoy a summer BBQ, watching village life go on around you.

In the barn there is some wet play facilities including table tennis and darts.

We have new off street parking at the cottage for one car. It can be busy at times, however there should always be another space outside our barn or alternatively, especially if you have more than one car, there is a free village car park just off of Thorn Park. (1 min walk)

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washing machine
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Free WiFi
Outdoor space

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

Pets allowed: less than 25 kg per pet (limit 2 pets total)
We love well trained pets but not on the furniture
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
If you smoke in garden please ensure its left tidy
At least 2 guests should be under 14 years old due to bunk beds.
We don't usually allow all adult parties. This is mainly due to the sleeping arrangements being unsuitable when using the upper bunk beds.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts
A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Ilfracombe

Located in Ilfracombe, this cottage is in a rural area and near theme parks. The area's natural beauty can be seen at North Devon Coast and Woolacombe Beach. Travelling with kids? Consider Marwood Hill Gardens and Watermouth Castle. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and scuba diving nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and horse riding.
View more Cottages in IlfracombeOpens in a new window
Map
Nr Woolacombe, ENG

What's nearby

  • Ilfracombe Harbour - 12 min drive - 12.3 km
  • Ilfracombe Beach - 12 min drive - 9.2 km
  • Hele Bay Beach - 13 min drive - 12.2 km
  • Woolacombe Beach - 14 min drive - 7.9 km
  • Sandy Cove Beach - 22 min drive - 12.6 km

Getting around

  • Barnstaple Station - 25 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Stables Bar and Lounge - ‬12 min drive
  • ‪The Rock Inn - ‬10 min drive
  • ‪Good Food & Drink Depot - ‬5 min drive
  • ‪The Old Mill Pub - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Ebrington Arms - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is 400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows pets (limit 2 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet. Some restrictions may apply, so please contact the property for more details.

What time is check-in at 400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at 400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is 400 year old cottage is in the lovely North Devon village of West Down located?

This family-friendly Ilfracombe cottage is located in a rural location, 2.5 mi (4 km) from North Devon Coast, and within 6 mi (10 km) of Woolacombe Beach and Marwood Hill Gardens. Ilfracombe Beach and Wildersmouth Beach are also within 6 miles (10 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy
Rating 10 - Excellent. 56 out of 72 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 72 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 72 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 72 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 72 reviews

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great property and Location

The property layout, location and amenities were perfect for what we were looking for. The communication with Mark was very helpful throughout not only the booking process, but in the lead up and during our stay too. The village shop and pub had everything we needed to help make our stay as smooth as possible.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Barbara N.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely !

Property very nice but could do with decorating.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Lisa P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous cottage & lovely Host

We travel to North Devon every year and normally stay in Woolacombe. However, this year we went with another family and this collage was perfect for us all. We did have a hiccup at the start which was completely out of the host's control and Mark was absolutley brilliant in sorting us out. The accommodation is lovely and Mark is very attentive. We particularly liked the snug and the large kitchen, which was well equipted, plus a washer and dryer (fabulous!). Outside you can wash out wetsuits and leave to dry. Actually, the rooms are bigger than they look in the photos and we all felt it was really homely. To cap off a great cottage, there is a wonderful pub within a 2 minute walk with nice food and a welcome glass of something cold. A great spot with only a 15 minute drive to Woolacombe Beach. Finally, we left a few raincoats when we checked out. Mark was really great in getting them back to us quickly :). Great stay!
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Harriet B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great base for exploring the beaches of North Devon. We had a lovely week. The house is really well stocked, especially the kitchen. All the bed were really comfortable and the house had a really good layout with lots of space for breakout areas (great for adult and kids).The front garden was secure for dogs and small children. We had a great time and would highly recommend it.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

6/10 Okay

Carol T.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Cleanliness
It was a lovely size for 4 adults, 2 grandchildren and 1 dog. Even though we all loved the cottage, the pictures up are deceiving. It’s all pristine all newly painted. In reality, the paint work inside and out need tidying up, scuff marks on the walls, the top of the American fridge freezer is thick with dust, as between the washer and dryer. In the furthest bedroom there is a lot of mould around the window. There were cobwebs in every corner top and bottom. Dust under every piece of furniture. The cottage could be amazing with a little tlc. The front garden also required a face lift.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

ym s.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

best holiday ever

we had a really nice holiday - beautiful area!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

Kerry M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

West Down

We had a lovely stay in the cottage at West Down. The village is very close to Woolacombe beach so great location. The cottage was very clean and had lots of space for us all.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024

6/10 Okay

Brit V.

Liked: Cleanliness, communication, location
Disliked: Check-in, listing accuracy

Family holiday 2023

Property has good and bad points, its in a really quiet village,but the single track road's in and out are not the best, it is 400 yrs old so quaint but watch your head if your 5 foot 11 or taller, the step down from bottom of stairs to dining area is treacherous and needs addressing, the kitchen is very nice with everything yiu need but theres a dampness to the house, the "barn" situated next door has dartboard,wet suits for kids and a table tennis table but it was extremely dusty cobwebs everywhere and obviously hadn't been cleaned for a long time. Small front garden with seating,no back garden. The grandkids hurt there feet on sharp pins in the stair carpet which we covered with tape. On first arrival the house wasnt ready the cleaners told us to come back in half hour,when they'd had all day to clean it. We asked the extra bed be made up and were told it would be an extra £20, this wasnt done and if took us seconds to do it ourselves. Kitchen lights kept tripping out, the cottage is well positioned for visiting Ilfracombe and Woolacombe ,the local shop has only very basic supplies but the pub when open is lovely. We did enjoy our time there but for the price it could have been ,should have been better. Needs improvement.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Sabuj M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely Cottage for families

Excellent cottage and a lovely village location. Kids enjoyed a lot. Thank you so much.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2023

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage in quiet village

The cottage was lovely and comfortable and clean, we enjoyed our stay there. The village is quiet but pub was only a very short walk away and food was lovely. The ship in the village has all the supplies we needed. There were a couple of steps (from kitchen to Utility and living room to hall I think) which weren’t obviously visible and we managed to miss them a couple of times so watch out for that if you have kids running about. All in all a lovely stay and would recommend.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

8/10 Good

Stephanie C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

West Down holiday Cottage

Overall a very pleasant stay in a lovely, comfortable, very well equipped cottage. There are a few items in the cottage which are starting to appear a bit 'tired'. The off road parking space was a little tight for our car (Toyota RAV4), particularly as we had to reverse in at an angle. Would still recommend.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

Stephen C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely place in a nice village

quaint place to stay and cosy just far enough away from busy tourist places but close enough to visit if need be.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2021

10/10 Excellent

Becky P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely village location!

Great location close to lovely Sandy beaches, the cottage was cosy and warm, there is a great pub in the village which had nice food. Would definitely go back again was absolutely perfect for our family.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Restful stay in Devon Country Cottage

Lovely cottage set in a rural Devon village. It is obvious the Hosts intend for guests to have a comfortable stay as all needs are catered for at a high standard. Its proximity to beaches and a great pub in the village for food is a plus also.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Rita H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

August holiday with family

Lovely cosy cottage in a pretty Devon village. Clean, comfortable and well equipped, any issues we had were dealt with very satisfactorily by our host Mark. The children enjoyed all the nearby beaches and we had a fun day out at Watermouth Castle followed by table tennis in the barn. Thanks to a previous review we also caught the visiting Fish and Chip van on Monday.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Beverly S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage

We will keep returning, great location
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Sean S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Property

Would thoroughly recommend this property to anyone thinking of staying in North Devon. More spacious than we thought it would be based on the photos.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Catherine D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful property. Great location in gorgeous village.

Booking was easy, communication was good. House is beautiful, location was superb. Pretty much perfect.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jason H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulously Location

West Down is a great location & very central for everywhere we wanted to visit. The pub, which is a short stroll away & the village shop are both brilliant bonuses. The cottage is a very good size for 4 adults & 2 dogs with everything very clean when we arrived. It makes a very comfortable holiday home, with plenty of space & character. A full size ironing board would have been useful as would a few more details about the village & local area. For example, an excellent, mobile fish & chip shop visits every Monday which we only discovered by accident. However, these are minor things & certainly didn’t detract from a very enjoyable stay.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Theresa L., Newport, Wales, UK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

June getaway

Lovely long weekend in a beautiful setting!

10/10 Excellent

NicolA H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

May trip

Lovely cottage, nice village pub and near to the lovely beaches of Devon.
Stayed 5 nights in May 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kate B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family getaway

Lovely cottage, excellently equipped, in a great location to explore the local beaches. Pub served a great takeaway too! We enjoyed a relaxed weekend and will no doubt return!
Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

Kieran K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Home from home

The cottage is absolutely lovely, really good communications with the owner All the facilities in the cottage are excellent, the town is quiet with a lovely local shop. It’s a good base for all the lovely Devon beaches.Will go again
Stayed 6 nights in Apr 2021

10/10 Excellent

rebecca m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cosy

Clean, cosy and quirky property, close to many local attractions, good comms with owners, would recommend!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Kieran K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A well thought out holiday home, with a lovely little touches

A well thought out holiday home, with a lovely personal touch. If anything the photos don’t do the place justice, it’s really lovely.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020

About the host

Hosted by Mark & Wendy Giardelli

Host profile image
We bought Leigh Cottage as a second home when the kids were all little.

Now they are growing up it seems the right time to rent it out and let others enjoy this charming 400 year old cottage.

Why they chose this property

With it's original features such as the inglenook fireplace and wood floors this cosy cottage is equally welcoming in the heart of winter as coming in straight off the beach.

What makes this property unique

Close to the bustling beach of Woolacombe and busy harbor of Ilfracombe this cottage provides a tranquil space to chill and enjoy village life.

Languages:

English
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