Rooms

This townhouse is deceptively large inside, spanning three floors. You enter into a long hallway with a shabby-chic dresser, and off to the right is a smart study with books, a sofa and a desk with old writing equiment. The main open-plan living space is on the left, with billowy curtains pulled back to let in daylight at both ends. A cream wraparound sofa and swivel armchairs are positioned around a log-burner, and beachy art decorates walls and surfaces. Cupboards store games and records, and coffee table books and magazines give the whole space a glossy finish.

The lounge connects to the dining room and a contemporary kitchen with smart, slate grey cupboards - more on this in the Eating section below. And at the far end, a door leads to a small but well equipped patio, plus an outhouse with a bathroom and washing facilities for hosing yourself down after the beach, but also for washing clothes.

All bedrooms are upstairs - three on the first floor, one on the second. The Pirate room is the kids room, with two bunk beds (sleeping 4 children in total) and a whole stash of toys for little ones - pick a book and take it to the window seat, which would make a cosy reading corner. The kids' bathroom is located across the hall and has a sage green bath and separate shower. The master bedroom is light and elegant, with an enormous double bed and a very soothing cream and coffee colour scheme. Its ensuite bathroom has twin sinks, a roll-top bath and a shower. Also on this floor is the Oar room, a smaller double with a headboard made out of boat oars, and an ensuite with shower over bath. But my favourite room was the cosy attic room, decorated in soft pink shades, and with a clawfoot bath nestled beneath a skylight in the bathroom.

Features include:

• Bluetooth sound system
• Board games
• Central heating
• Streaming services
• Terrace/balcony
• Tumble dryer
• TV
• Washing machine
• WiFi
• Wine fridge
• Wood-burner

Eating

Self-catering here is a piece of cake - rarely have I seen a holiday home with such a well-equipped kitchen. Nifty in-built cupboards store well-stocked spice racks and top-of-the-range appliances, and there’s a whole selection of gizmos. I was particularly fond of the wine fridge and the extensive range of cook books. Many basics are supplied, including tea, coffee, pasta, condiments and spreads, as well as a welcome hamper of local produce - your gift for booking through i-escape.

Choose to dine inside at the dining table, which has bench seating and a fun lampshade resembling a shoal of fish. Or dine outside on the patio, where there's an Egg barbecue and a very snazzy pizza oven. It's not a big space, but it's a nice sheltered spot for family meals.

You can pick up basic supplies in the village - either at the Post Office, The Stores (cafe) or The Old Cream Shop. For more substantial shops, it’s best to head into Barnstaple or Braunton, which together have the full spectrum of supermarkets.

And when it comes to eating out, there are plenty of options. If you don’t want to drive, head next door to The Manor House Inn, offering a decent locally sourced menu and specials boards, or stroll 100 metres into the village to dine at New Coast Kitchen. There’s a fish and chip shop in the village, too - order takeaway and take them to the beach for a true British seaside experience. Lots more restaurants are recommended by the owners - it’s all in the guest info book.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Full kitchen
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Hit the beach. It doesn’t matter which one you choose, they’re all fantastic. Croyde is 5 minutes down the road, or you can continue to the two neighbouring bays: Saunton Sands - a vast 3-mile stretch of dune-backed beach - is to the south; Woolacombe is to the north. All three are fantastic surf beaches
  
• There are some beautiful walks along the coast - try the loop around National Trust’s Baggy Point, or hike a stretch of the South West Coast Path
  
• Go horse riding along the beach with Woolacombe Riding Stables, or canter into the countryside with Croyde-based Roylands Riding Stables
  
• Have a leisurely stroll around Marwood Hill Gardens, a peaceful, 20-acre garden with three lakes and a tea room (25 mins)
  
• If the weather turns, there are some cute, independent cinemas in the area: Lynton Cinema is in a Grade II-listed former Methodist chapel; Neo Cinema in Woolcabome is a retro-styled 30-seater with comfy sofas
  
• Clovelly is a pretty, car-free, cobbled village clinging to a 400-ft cliff, and makes a lovely day trip (1 hr) - particularly outside of summer months when there are fewer crowds
  
• Take a boat or helicopter trip to tiny Lundy Island to see seals, ponies, prison caves, sea cliffs and (from March to August) puffins

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Plantlife / flora
• Rock pooling
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Wildlife

Kids

This is an ideal base for a family holiday in North Devon. The owners have kids of their own, so the house is superbly equipped for youngsters, with a kids bedroom sleeping 4, and a separate kids bathroom. Croyde itself has a few shops and cafes/restaurants, and the beach is a 5-minute drive away.

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

The Pirate room is the kids' room. It's got two sets of bunk beds, stuffed toys, games, a television and books. The kids' bathroom is just across the hall and has a bathtub plus separate shower. Older kids might prefer to stay in one of the three double bedrooms instead, which all have their own bathrooms.

Distances:

• Supermarket: Braunton (10 mins)
• Hospital: Medical centre Braunton (10 mins); A&E Barnstaple (25 mins)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Croyde Boutique House is in the village of Croyde, on the north coast of Devon in southwest England.

By Car:
The property is a 4-hour drive from London, and a 2-hour drive from Bristol. If you're not bringing your own car and want to hire one, see our car rental recommendations. The house has a parking space around the back.

By Train:
Barnstaple is the nearest station, with direct trains from Exeter.

By Air:
Exeter (85km) is the nearest airport, Newquay (125km) is also an option. For international flights, try Bristol (140km).

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.