Located in a quiet and peaceful area, this charming retreat offers a chance to enjoy the beautiful coastline with nearby local attractions.. Ground Floor:
Living room: Freeview TV, DVD Player, CD Player, French Doors
Dining room: Electric Woodburner
Kitchen: Electric Cooker, Microwave, Fridge, Freezer, Dishwasher, Washing Machine
Bedroom 4: Zip And Link 2 x Single (3ft) Beds, Pull Out 2 x Single (3ft) Beds, Smart TV Ensuite: Bath With Shower Over, Heated Towel Rail, Toilet
Bedroom 5: Zip And Link 2 x Single (3ft) Beds, Pull Out Single (3ft) Bed, Pull Out 2 x Single (3ft) Beds. Oil underfloor oil central heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and Wi-Fi included. Cot and highchair. Tumble dryer (shared with other property on-site). Terrace with garden furniture and barbecue. Large garden (shared with other property on-site). Ample parking. No smoking. Visit England 4 Star.. Nestling in a quiet, peaceful rural hamlet just 4 miles from the popular village of Hartland, and one mile from North Devon’s English Heritage Coastline, these two character barn conversions, completed to a very good standard and full of modern comforts, are set within their own private gardens. Situated within easy reach of all the local attractions, the cottages make a perfect holiday destination for all ages. Rugged English Heritage Coastline can be picked up from a maze of footpaths literally from your door to take in the spectacular Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and SSSI delights, a haven for keen walkers, bird watchers and naturalists. Hartland itself is a thriving rural village with post office, stores, garage and church along with local pubs serving food. Nearby beaches and coves include Speke’s Mill Mouth, Hartland Quay and Welcome Mouth, Bude Widemouth Bay and Westward Ho! are a treat to explore. Golf at nearby Bude and sea fishing close by along with fishing, water sports and sailing at nearby Tamar Lakes. The pretty fishing villages of Clovelly, Bucks Mills and Appledore are within an easy drive or walking distance for keen walkers taking you through National Trust coastal paths. Lundy Island by helicopter or boat can be picked up at Clovelly or the historic port and market town of Bideford, offering a good selection of shops, pubs and restaurants. Local family attractions include the Big Sheep and Milky Way, and gardens at Docton Mill, Hartland Abbey and Clovelly Court. Fishing nearby. Shops and pubs 4 miles.
Free WiFi
There is an evening curfew for noise at the property.
One or more beds can be linked to form double or twin beds (please advise the owner of your preference soon after booking).
Suitable for up to 2 pets
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The guest will be charged 50% amount for a cancellation after the reservation is made.
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 no carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
About the area
Bideford
Located in Bideford, this cottage is in a rural area. Shipwreck Museum and The Castle Bude are cultural highlights, and some of the area's attractions include Docton Mill Gardens & Tea Rooms and The Milky Way Adventure Park. The Gnome Reserve and Wildflower Garden and The Big Sheep are also worth visiting.
Docton Mill Gardens & Tea Rooms - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
Spekes Mill Beach - 20 min walk - 1.6 km
Childspit Beach - 16 min drive - 5.8 km
Restaurants
Bush Inn - 18 min drive
Red Lion Hotel - 18 min drive
The West Country Inn - 11 min drive
The Old Smithy Inn - 8 min drive
Wrecker's Retreat - 9 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Speke's Retreat - 18827 pet-friendly?
Yes, pets are allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Speke's Retreat - 18827?
As of 16 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Speke's Retreat - 18827 on 12 June 2026 start from AU$504, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Speke's Retreat - 18827?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Speke's Retreat - 18827?
Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Speke's Retreat - 18827?
Checkout is at 9:00 AM.
Where is Speke's Retreat - 18827 located?
Situated in a rural location, this cottage is within 1 mile (2 km) of Docton Mill Gardens & Tea Rooms, Speke's Mill Mouth Waterfall and Spekes Mill Beach. Childspit Beach and South West Coast Path Section 9 Trailhead are also within 2 miles (3 km).
Reviews
9.4
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
It’s a very nice quiet surrounded with the lush green area and it has very Pleasant walking
It’s a very nice quiet surrounded with the lush green area and it has very Pleasant walking trail which takes you to the beach About 20 minutes walk . I would recommend this place if somebody looking for a nice and quiet break
Mohammad Islam
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Lance Vinter
5 June 2025
A great holiday location, for all the family.
A great holiday location, for all the family. Eleven of us and two dogs fitted into the accommodation easily. The property was clean and spacious and had many extras included, especially in the kitchen. The books and games were a nice touch.Although the choice of local shops was sparse, we shopped on our days out for food and drinks.We would recommend if you’re looking for a quiet and out of the way holiday. A fantastic area to explore and there’s plenty of places I’d never even heard of to visit.Hope to be back again in the future…
Lance Vinter
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Judith
29 Dec 2020
Beautiful cottage in a very quiet area.
Beautiful cottage in a very quiet area. Stunning scenery and walks, but hilly and no shops or amenities within walking distance.
Friendly hosts who live locally and have thought of everything to enhance the stay.
Would love to return and explore further.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo
Judith
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Alan
1 Nov 2020
Great cottage in a nice quiet remote location.
Great cottage in a nice quiet remote location. 10-15 minutes drive from the nearest pub/restaurant. It has everything you need if you are doing your own cooking. Very comfortable. Alison was very welcoming she also drove to Hartland to get me a pint of milk and then later returned with the best loaf of bread. Couldn't recommend enough.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo
Alan
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Marie
21 Aug 2020
We loved staying at Spekes Retreat and enjoyed walking around the area and to the falls.
We loved staying at Spekes Retreat and enjoyed walking around the area and to the falls. A bit of a drive for restaurants and beaches but not undo able
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo
Marie
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Christine
9 Aug 2020
Spekes retreat is excellent for a large family group.
Spekes retreat is excellent for a large family group. Very comfortable and well equipped kitchen. Rural location ideal for walking and exploring lovely area of the country.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo
Christine
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Clare
26 July 2020
Lovely cottage.
Lovely cottage.
Very remote, nothing locally except walks and one very nice tea room. Make sure you have everything you need on arrival!
A few things could be improved: fix the light above the cooker, it needs decent pots and pans (especially as self catering is fairly essential being so far away from a town), fix the knob on the cooker (very loose so couldn't tell what temp it was and consequently burnt our tea!).
Overall we had a lovely stay, there was 11 of us and there was plenty of space. If peace and tranquility is your thing, far from the madding crowd, this is definitely a good choice.
Review independently collected and verified by Reevoo
Clare
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Tracey
11 Dec 2019
Needs a more thorough clean as lots of cobwebs around but then it is an old property.
Needs a more thorough clean as lots of cobwebs around but then it is an old property. Lots of bulbs need replacing, Shame basics not there like tea and coffee, sugar and salt pepper etc also should have soap in each bathroom. However, it was very reasonably priced and warm and mince pies a nice touch. We have a great time as walking was amazing straight from the accommodation
Tracey
From a partner site
10/10 Excellent
Ruth
3 Aug 2019
We had a wonderful holiday in a beautiful part of the country.
We had a wonderful holiday in a beautiful part of the country. Spekes Retreat had everything we needed and the owner was really lovely and very helpful to our needs
Ruth
From a partner site
8/10 Good
PAUL
9 May 2019
A good place to get together with the family and with the bonus of being pet friendly it meant every
A good place to get together with the family and with the bonus of being pet friendly it meant everybody was able to attend. The property is not within easy walking distance of any shops or pubs and transport is essential but it's peaceful location and walks nearby make up for that. There is plenty of room and all the bedrooms are en-suite with a good sized kitchen and large dining table. We had a slight issue with the heating being too hot and the kitchen could do with some decent oven gloves but apart from that we had a excellent family weekend and would return.
PAUL
From a partner site
8/10 Good
Kathryn
21 Mar 2019
Good spacious accommodation for a large group.
Good spacious accommodation for a large group. Lots of en suite shower rooms a definite asset! Very well equipped kitchen.
Kathryn
About the host
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