Holiday cottages in South Hams

Ashprington: pretty village with good food pubs, straddling Bow Creek, a tributary of the River Dart. Totnes (very attractive old town on the Dart), 4 miles. Dartmouth and golf, 8 miles.

Holiday cottages in Ashprington, Devon

Aveton Gifford: old village (pub, shop/PO) beside the River Avon where it becomes tidal. Within 5 or 6 miles are several villages (Bigbury, Bantham, Thurlestone) on an excellent and varied stretch of coast: sandy beaches, coves, cliffs, golf courses, the Avon estuary (fishing, birds), pretty thatched-cottage village centres. Kingsbridge, 4 miles.

Holiday cottages in Aveton Gifford, Devon

Avonwick: village (good pub, PO/shop) beside the River Avon. South Brent, 1½ miles; Dartmoor's southern edge (good walks), 2 miles; 1½ miles to A38 so easy access; Totnes (attractive old town, boat trips to Dartmouth), 5 miles; sea/sandy beaches at Bigbury-on-Sea, Bantham, Mothecombe, 10 miles; Plymouth, 15. Golf, 3 miles.

Holiday cottages in Avonwick, Devon

Bantham: tiny village (good food pub, shop, seasonal café) with fabulous sandy beach at the mouth of the River Avon. When tide is out, ¾ mile walk across the sand to Bigbury-on-Sea (golf) and Burgh Island. Hotel spa, restaurant and golf at Thurlestone, 2 miles; Kingsbridge, 4; Salcombe, 5.

Holiday cottages in Bantham, Devon

Battisborough Cross: hamlet a mile from the mouth of the beautiful River Erme estuary at Mothecombe (lovely sandy beach) and from the open sea (cliffs, coast path). Holbeton village (good pub, excellent restaurant, PO/shop), 1½ miles; Plymouth, about 10½.

Holiday cottages in Battisborough Cross, Devon

Beesands: tiny village (good pub) beside the beach (coarse sand/pebbles) and on the coast path, looking straight out to sea and across Start Bay to Start Point and its lighthouse. Locally caught fish for sale, but nearest shop at Chillington , 3 miles. Kingsbridge and East Portlemouth, 6 miles. A remarkably unspoilt farming area with beautiful, little built-on, coast.

Holiday cottages in Beesands, Devon

Bigbury: hamlet (church, good food pub, shop) of mostly ancient cottages, 1½ miles from Bigbury-on-Sea and its superb sandy beach. St Ann’s Chapel (another good food pub, PO/shop), 1 mile. Award-winning seafood restaurant, 1¼ miles. Golf (spectacular views from course), 1 mile.

Holiday cottages in Bigbury, Devon

Bigbury-on-Sea: village (PO/shop) with south Devon’s biggest sandy beaches (café, surf school, seasonal beach shop), stretching to Burgh Island (The Pilchard pub; famous Art Deco hotel - you can walk to it at low tide, go by long-legged tractor at high). Good windsurfing; fine cliffs for walking and sea-bird watching. Golf, 1 mile. Kingsbridge, 10 miles; Salcombe, 15.

Holiday cottages in Bigbury-on-Sea, Devon

Blackawton: lovely village (pub, PO, shop, church) in a maze of protecting lanes and beautiful, gently hilly, streamed-and-wooded South Hams farmland. Excellent golf course/country club, 1½ miles. The sea at Blackpool Sands (sandy beach), about 4 miles; Slapton/Slapton Sands and Dartmouth, 5 miles.

Holiday cottages in Blackawton, Devon

Capton: hamlet tucked in lanes and farmland 2½ miles from Dittisham - idyllically situated little village (pub) on the River Dart where it is broad, lake-like, wooded, full of boats, beautiful. Dartmouth, and the sea at Blackpool Sands (good beach, easy access), 4 miles. Excellent golf course/country club and woodland 'leisure park', both 2 miles. Totnes, about 10.

Holiday cottages in Capton, Devon

Challaborough Bay: popular sandy bay flanked by private homes, a family run holiday park, and good fish ‘n’ chip café (seasonal), ½ mile from the pretty village of Ringmore and its real ale pub. Bigbury-on-Sea and Burgh Island, ½ mile by coastal path, 3½ by car. Golf, 3 miles.

Holiday cottages in Challaborough, Devon

Chillington: old cottage village (good PO/shop, pub) on the road between Slapton Sands, 2 miles, and Kingsbridge, 6 miles, on the edge of that wonderfully unspoilt peninsula (see East Prawle). Slipway on tidal creek, 1½ miles. Nearest beach, Beesands, 1½ miles.

Holiday cottages in Chillington, Devon

Churchstow: little village with fine church, good children-friendly pub (former church house), PO/shop and bakery, 2 miles from Kingsbridge. The sea/beaches at Thurlestone or Bantham, 3½ miles; Salcombe, 7 miles.

Holiday cottages in Churchstow, Devon

Curtisknowle: from the River Avon at Gara Bridge a tiny lane leads uphill, through woods, to - after about ½ mile - this hamlet, once part of an ancient estate. California Cross (nearest pub, good petrol station shop, 2½ miles). Kingsbridge , 6 miles. Totnes, about 7 miles. Dartmouth, 11 miles.

Holiday cottages in Curtisknowle, Devon

Dartington: little village (church) beside Dartington Hall (beautiful gardens, arts centre - concerts, films) and associated Cider Press (craft shops, restaurants), 2 miles from Totnes. Buckfast and its abbey, about 4 miles; the sea/sandy beaches at Torbay, about 9.

Holiday cottages in Dartington, Devon

Dartmouth: once a famous Elizabethan port, it still has the loveliest old town centre in Devon, beside the harbour and broad-wooded river, full of boats of all sizes and with views to Kingswear . Many 16th/17th cent. timbered buildings (including pubs), narrow streets, pretty shops, good restaurant. Nearest beach, 2 miles. Boat trips up river to Totnes, or (car ferries) across to Torbay. Tours of Britannia Royal Naval College. Boats for hire (fishing); golf, 4 miles. Royal Regatta in August. Music Festival in May.

Holiday cottages in Dartmouth, Devon

Diptford: village in lush South Hams farmland above the River Avon valley (fishing). Totnes, 5 miles; Dartington Hall (arts centre, craft shop), 7; Kingsbridge, 8. The sea (beaches) at Blackpool Sands, Bigbury-on-Sea or Thurlestone, about 11 miles; Dartmouth, 12; Dartmoor, 5. Very central for lots to see/do. Nearest pub, 2 miles.

Holiday cottages in Diptford, Devon

Dittisham: idyllically situated, end-of-lane little village (PO/stores, two pubs, church) beside the beautiful lake-like River Dart. Wooden jetty (crabbing), pedestrian ferry to Greenway (Nat. Trust, once Agatha Christie’s), boats for hire, dinghy moorings, sailing school. Dartmouth, 4½ miles (ferry). Coarse sand beach (river), 1 mile; sandy beach (sea), 6.

Holiday cottages in Dittisham, Devon

Down Thomas: tiny village (PO/stores, pub), a mile from sandy beach and nearby golf course at Bovisand Bay, and 5 miles south of the centre of Plymouth with its theatre, cinemas, shops, Hoe, Barbican and history.

Holiday cottages in Down Thomas, Devon

East Allington: little South Hams village (good food pub, church), 3½ miles from Kingsbridge, and about 8 from the good sandy beaches at Thurlestone or Bantham; Dartmouth, 6 miles. Golf. Woodlands Leisure Park (animals, children’s activities), 4 miles.

Holiday cottages in East Allington, Devon

East Portlemouth: exclusive, historic village across the sandy estuary from pretty Salcombe, the best boating/sailing place in the West Country. Pedestrian ferry (5 minute journey) runs continuously to Salcombe’s interesting shops, pubs and restaurants (8.30am to 7.30pm in summer, reduced times in winter); harbour taxi available until late at night in summer.

Holiday cottages in East Portlemouth, Devon

East Prawle: village (shop, pub, good food café) a mile from the sea in the middle of an unspoilt peninsula (farmland, cliffs, coves, beaches). Superb scenery, cliff-birdwatching and walks – coast path to little sandy cove beaches (nearest 1 mile). East Portlemouth, easy 3½ mile walk. Kingsbridge by road, 9 miles.

Holiday cottages in East Prawle, Devon

Ermington: village (pub, bistro, PO/shop, church) amidst beautiful, rolling farmland. Sea/beaches and glorious coast 3 miles away at the River Erme estuary (Wonwell), and 5 miles away at Newton Ferrers, Mothecombe or Bigbury-on-Sea. Dartmoor, 3½ miles. Modbury (shops, restaurants, pubs), 2. Plymouth, 11. Easy access (4 miles from A38).

Holiday cottages in Ermington, Devon

Galmpton: little village with church/farm restaurant, one mile from sea/sandy beaches at Hope Cove (pub, PO/shop) and Thurlestone; Salcombe, 3 miles; Kingsbridge, 3½.

Holiday cottages in Galmpton, Devon

Gara Bridge: hamlet in the deep and wooded River Avon valley (trout, salmon fishing), 2 miles from Moreleigh. Lovely woodland/riverside walks. Kingsbridge, 5 miles; the sea (sandy beaches) at Thurlestone, about 8. Riding stables locally.

Holiday cottages in Gara Bridge, Devon

Hallsands: once a thriving fishing community, famously swept away one stormy night in 1917. Now a few dwellings and a gem of a shingle cove, right on the stunning coastal footpath in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – 1 mile coastal walk to excellent pub at Beesands. Kingsbridge, 8 miles, Salcombe, 12.

Holiday cottages in Hallsands, Devon

Halwell: small village (church, good food pub, filling station for basic supplies, bus route) in wooded farmland on the A381 between Totnes, 7 miles, and Kingsbridge, 6. Dartmouth and the sea/beach at Blackpool Sands, 7 miles. Dartmouth Golf and Country Club (indoor pool), 3 miles; also, leisure park (activities, animals). Central South Hams base.

Holiday cottages in Halwell, Devon

Harberton: attractive, unspoilt village with 14th cent. pub (good food), surrounded by farmland 2 and a half miles from Totnes and the River Dart. Nearest sea at Paignton, 10 miles, or Blackpool Sands, 13. The southern fringe of Dartmoor, 6 miles.

Holiday cottages in Harberton, Devon

Harleston: sleepy hamlet of fine houses and scattered farms at the end of a no through road, deep in hedgerow lanes 1½ miles inland (green lane) from Slapton and the long fine pebble beach of Slapton Sands. Dartmouth, 9 miles, Kingsbridge 7 miles. Salcombe 11 miles.

Holiday cottages in Harleston, Devon

Hemerdon: hamlet of old stone cottages and pub in lovely well-wooded hilly farmland, absolutely rural and unspoilt yet only 1 and 1/4 miles from Plympton (shops) and 7 from Plymouth's centre. Bovisand (sandy beach), about 7 miles; Saltram House (Nat. Trust), 2.5 miles; Dartmoor and Ivybridge, both about 4 miles.

Holiday cottages in Hemerdon, Devon

Heybrook Bay: cove village (good food pub) on the South West coast path facing Cornwall across the mouth of the river Tamar. Sandy beaches at Wembury and Bovisand, 2 miles. A narrow rough path leads down to the sea and its small pebbly beach. Plymouth with its theatres, shops and historic Barbican, 5 miles.

Holiday cottages in Heybrook Bay, Devon

Holbeton: a good community, off the beaten track, old village with a mixture of small thatched and stone cottages, fine medieval spired church, good pub (click here for their website), PO/stores (fresh croissants every day!), in rolling farmland ½ mile from the River Erme's beautiful wooded estuary (footpaths). Excellent sandy beach at Mothecombe about 1½ miles. More fine beaches and golf at Bigbury, 5 miles. Plymouth, 9 miles.

Holiday cottages in Holbeton, Devon

Hope Cove: little fishing village (shop, pubs) with harbour and sandy beach between red cliffs 4 miles west of Salcombe, very pretty along its shore and with one especially lovely old area of thatched cottages. Superb cliff walks - Bolt Tail to Bolt Head (National Trust) and on to Salcombe. Golf at Thurlestone, 3 miles; Kingsbridge, 6.

Holiday cottages in Hope Cove, Devon

Ivybridge: small town (shops, arts centre showing films and live events, leisure centre with indoor/outdoor swimming pools, railway station, start/finish of the Two Moor’s Way footpath) at Dartmoor’s southernmost edge. From it the beautiful River Erme valley leads through oak woods to moorland (prehistoric remains). Mothecombe (sandy beach), Plymouth and Noss Mayo/Newton Ferrers, 8 miles.

Holiday cottages in Ivybridge, Devon

Kellaton: sleepy, tranquil hamlet with occasional vehicle and horse-rider passing through, a mile from the lovely, unspoilt sandy beach at Lanacombe and coast path to Start Point and beyond, and 1½ miles from pub at Beesands. Shops, restaurants, galleries at Kingsbridge, 7 miles. Superb boating/sailing at Salcombe.

Holiday cottages in Kellaton, Devon

Kingsbridge: small market town (excellent shops, good pubs, leisure centre with indoor swimming pool) and waterfront (sailing and motor boats) at the head of the many-creeked Kingsbridge estuary (boat trips) leading to the sea at Salcombe. Tremendous variety of beautiful places and things to see/do within 5 or 6 miles.

Holiday cottages in Kingsbridge, Devon

Kingston: remarkably off-the-beaten-track little village (good pub, church) with lots of pretty houses, a mile from the River Erme’s beautiful wooded estuary and good sandy Wonwell beach. St Ann’s Chapel (PO/shop), 1 mile. More fine sandy beaches and golf at Bigbury-on-Sea/Burgh Island, 4 miles; for shops, pretty Modbury, 3½ miles.

Holiday cottages in Kingston, Devon

Loddiswell: little hillside village (pub, essential shops, church) above the beautiful River Avon valley, 3 miles from Kingsbridge, 5 from the sea (beaches) at Thurlestone and Bantham or Bigbury-on-Sea. Fishing lakes and lovely gardens to visit nearby.

Holiday cottages in Loddiswell, Devon

Lower Broadaford: tiny, peaceful hamlet 2 miles from Ivybridge. You’re welcome to walk the owners’ 8½ acre valley of water meadows, steep cleaves and ancient woodland. Marvellous Mothecombe beach, 6 miles, and other excellent beaches nearby. Pubs at Ugborough and Wrangaton (shop), 2 miles. Dartmoor, 1 mile. Riding, golf, kite surfing, fishing nearby.

Holiday cottages in Lower Broadaford, Devon

Moreleigh: tiny village with pleasant pub in lovely, little-visited (because well off main roads), hilly, wooded farming country in the heart of the South Hams, not far from the sea, flirting with the beautiful valley of the River Avon (fishing). Sea/beaches at Bantham and Thurlestone, 8 miles. Kingsbridge, 6; Dartmoor, 8.

Holiday cottages in Moreleigh, Devon

Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo: adjoining small villages beside the lake-like River Yealm estuary, sheltered by oak-wooded hillsides, popular for sailing, lovely for walking or just sitting. Essential shops (Newton Ferrers) and good food pubs. Low tide footpath across the creek. Tennis courts; riding stables. Pedestrian ferry to coast walk to Wembury, and secluded beach. Mothecombe (nearest sandy beach by car), 4 miles. Plymouth, 11.

Holiday cottages in Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo, Devon

Prawle Point: the most southerly point in Devon: stunning scenery, craggy cliffs, National Trust, gannets diving, own sandy cove, 400 yards and coast path to others. East Prawle , with PO/shop, pub, 1 mile. Lannacombe Cove, 2 miles. Easy 3 mile walk round the headland to the estuary mouth and East Portlemouth with its big and beautiful sandy beach, yachts and pedestrian ferry to Salcombe. Kingsbridge, by car, 9 miles.

Holiday cottages in Prawle Point, Devon

Ringmore: extremely pretty village (fine church, excellent pub), ¾ mile by car from sandy beach or, by footpath, less busy Ayrmer Cove (Nat. Trust) and coast path. Good walking. Bigbury-on-Sea, 1½ miles by foot, 3 by car. The Erme estuary, 4½ miles. PO/shop, 1 mile. Excellent seafood restaurant, 2 miles.

Holiday cottages in Ringmore, Devon

Salcombe: one of the most beautifully sited small towns in Britain, at the mouth of the Kingsbridge estuary, a yacht haven with creeks, sandy bays. Waterside pubs, nice shops. Boats to hire, fishing, superb Nat. Trust cliff walks/gardens; museum, tennis, outdoor swimming pool (in summer); pedestrian ferry to East Portlemouth (lovely beaches). Thurlestone (golf), 6 miles.

Holiday cottages in Salcombe, Devon

Sherford: sleepy hamlet of pretty cottages and scattered farms 3 miles inland from Slapton, the long fine pebble beach of Slapton Sands, and the coastal footpath. Kingsbridge, 5 miles. Dartmouth with one of the loveliest old town centres in Devon, and Salcombe, 9 miles.

Holiday cottages in Sherford, Devon

Slapton: lovely village (two pubs, PO, narrow streets, church) on the hillside down to the sea (1 mile). There, the long lake/lagoon of Slapton Ley nature reserve (birdwatching) and Slapton Sands (pebbles, not sand, but multi-coloured and an unspoilt mile of them). For sand, 4 miles. Superb cliff walks not far. Dartmouth and Kingsbridge, about 8 miles.

Holiday cottages in Slapton, Devon

South Milton: little village (fine church, some thatched cottages) at the head of an unspoilt farming valley leading in 1½ miles to Thurlestone’s sandy beach or village. Kingsbridge, 2½ miles; Salcombe, 4.

Holiday cottages in South Milton, Devon

South Pool: very pretty and prettily situated village (good food pub, fine 13th cent. church) at the head of a creek off the Kingsbridge/Salcombe estuary. Cottages, almost all old, slope to little hump-back bridge where a stream becomes the creek (high tide sailing/boating) with little-used footpaths beside it. Lovely sandy beaches, moorings and pedestrian ferry to Salcombe at East Portlemouth, 3 miles. Start Point (lighthouse, super cliff walks, sea-bird-watching), about 3.5; Slapton Sands/Ley Nature Reserve, 4; shop, 1.5 miles; Kingsbridge, 5.

Holiday cottages in South Pool, Devon

St.Ann’s Chapel: village (good food pub, PO/shop) of cottages and scattered farms 1½ miles inland from the huge sandy beach at Bigbury on Sea. More beautiful beaches at Thurlestone and Bantham, 2 miles away across the River Avon estuary (5 by road). Golf. For shops, pretty Modbury, 2½ miles.

Holiday cottages in St Anns Chapel, Devon

Stadbury: Domesday farmstead high above the River Avon estuary, 1½ miles from Churchstow (good pub, PO/shop, bakery) and Aveton Gifford. The Avon Estuary Walk passes through Stadbury to the sandy Avon estuary and a secluded creek, and, in 2½ miles, Bantham (4 miles by road) and the coast path. Excellent birdwatching and walking. Bantham, Thurlestone and Kingsbridge, 4 miles.

Holiday cottages in Stadbury, Devon

Stoke Gabriel: pretty and beautifully situated village (three pubs, PO, shops, restaurant, medieval church) sloping to a creek (boats) off the River Dart estuary. Sandy beaches at Torbay, and Totnes (attractive old town on the Dart), each 4 miles. Brixham, good golf (Churston) and car ferry to Dartmouth, 5 miles.

Holiday cottages in Stoke Gabriel, Devon

Strete: hill-top village (two pubs, restaurants, PO/shop) ½ mile from the sea. Blackpool Sands (huge stretch of coarse sand), 1½ miles, and, a mile away in the other direction, the magnificent, unspoilt crescent of Slapton Sands protecting the lake/lagoon of Slapton Ley nature reserve (birdwatching) from the waves. Dartmouth, 5 miles.

Holiday cottages in Strete, Devon

Thurlestone: one of the best places for a seaside holiday on Devon’s coast. Horseshoe sand beach between cliffs (lovely walks); seaside golf course; village (PO/shop, pubs). Tennis, windsurfing, sea-fishing. Splendid coast all the way from Bantham and the Avon estuary (birdwatching) to the great cliffs before Salcombe, 5 miles. Kingsbridge, 4.

Holiday cottages in Thurlestone, Devon

Torcross: village at the southern end of Slapton Sands (one unspoilt mile of fine, multi-coloured shingle and no buildings) and the fresh water lagoon of Slapton Ley (nature reserve, birdwatching, famous for migratory wildfowl): three shops, PO, pub, restaurants, chapel, otherwise just old fishermen’s cottages and a few Victorian houses built when the village became a small resort. Beautiful and unspoilt coast and country (hilly farmland, stream-valleys) all round (an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Nature Conservation Zone, and a Coastal Preservation Area). Superb cliff walks. Dartmouth , 9 miles; Thurlestone , 11 miles; Salcombe , 13 ½ miles.

Holiday cottages in Torcross, Devon

Totnes: very old town at the River Dart’s highest navigable point – boat trips to Dartmouth, popular, fashionable (especially with artists and crafts people); very attractive main street (good shops) climbing to superb church and Norman castle ruins. The sea (and excellent zoo) at Paignton or Torbay (several sandy beaches), 6 miles, Dartmouth, about 11 miles.

Holiday cottages in Totnes, Devon

Tuckenhay: pretty hamlet with two friendly pubs beside a creek off the River Dart. Dittisham , 3 miles. Totnes , 4 miles.

Holiday cottages in Tuckenhay, Devon

Ugborough: village on a knoll, clustered round its church, looking enticing, almost Italian, from the B road by-passing it. Two good pubs: a shop or two. Ivybridge, 2.5 miles. Dartmoor and golf, 2. Plymouth, 13.5 miles. Nearest sea/sand: Mothecombe or Bigbury-on-Sea, both about 10 miles.

Holiday cottages in Ugborough, Devon

Washbourne: hamlet in narrow wooded lanes, about 1½ miles from Tuckenhay (pretty village on the River Dart, pub). Harbertonford (shop, pub, garage), 2½ miles. Totnes, 5 miles; the sea at Blackpool Sands, 5. Dittisham, 5½. Dartmouth, 7. Dartmouth Golf and Country Club, 2½. Woodlands Leisure Park (animals, children’s activities), 3.

Holiday cottages in Washbourne, Devon

West Alvington: old village (pub) 3 miles from the sea (sand) and golf at Thurlestone; Kingsbridge, ½ mile; Salcombe, 5.

Holiday cottages in West Alvington, Devon

Woodleigh: sweet little village with church, well off the beaten track in the soft, wooded River Avon valley. Lovely riverside walks to excellent garden centre tea room. Loddiswell (good food pub, essential shops), 1½ miles. Kingsbridge, 5. Lots of boats at Salcombe and fine beaches at Thurlestone, both 10 miles.

Holiday cottages in Woodleigh, Devon