Rooms

The nine cottages vary in size with 2-6 bedrooms, all decorated in neutral tones with white crisp linen, soft duvets and quirky L-shaped cabin beds for little ones in many of the smaller cottages. All the houses have double and twin rooms, as well as cot options.

The row of five stone barn cottages (sleeping 4-6) and the detached Garden Cottage (sleeps 8) emerge out of the valley sides, rather like organic rocks. This means you enter the cottages at living room level and then descend down wooden staircases to compact bedrooms and bathrooms beneath. You'll find Jane Churchill fabrics in stripes and checks, muted Farrow & Ball colour palettes and Villeroy & Boch bathware. Each has a private deck for sunny days and a cosy log burner for winter evenings.

The original Georgian farmhouse, Gitcombe House (sleeps 13) has a more traditional feel and layout. Rooms are much larger, with higher ceilings, wide sash windows and carefully sourced antique furnishings. With 6 bedrooms, an elegant dining room, large kitchen, comfortable drawing room, snug, and private garden, it's ideal for extended family groups with grandparents, or for a group of friends with children.

Our favourite is the new Gitcombe Retreat (sleeps 8), an ultramodern vision of farmhouse-chic, with four luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms. We loved the huge oak-framed open plan living area with floor to ceiling windows, wrap-around terrace and private hot tub, all with spectacular views of the rolling Devon countryside.

The Retreat has a double disabled access room on the first floor, with an ensuite that cleverly re-imagines helpful rails and handles in sleek chrome design and soothing automatic lighting. There's also a twin room and shower room on the ground floor of Gitcombe House for those not able to tackle stairs.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

Each cottage has a fully-fitted designer kitchen, with Fisher Paykel ovens and hobs, Miele appliances, Dualit toasters and everything you need to prepare meals for the whole family (there's even kids' plastic cutlery and crockery).

Outside, you'll find barbecues and wooden outdoor dining furniture. Gitcombe Retreat and Gitcombe House also have fantastic larders. Stock up on all food and drink for your stay before you arrive. Helpfully, you can also order food to be delivered to your cottage. Local businesses include Annie's of Totnes, which can deliver fruit and veg boxes; Riverford Organic Farmers, Waitrose and Sainsbury's.

There's a Morrison's in Totnes, which is a handy place to stop en route down to Gitcombe. Those staying in Garden House, Gitcombe Retreat and Gitcombe House can also hire a chef from a local restaurant to cook for you one evening.

Follow the road back towards Totnes and there are a couple of pubs alongside the River Dart: you can walk to the family-friendly Maltsters Arms in Tuckenhay or a bit further to the The Waterman's Arms where you can sit next to the cascading water while tucking into traditional pub grub. Cross the stepping stones and up the hill to the sensational Durrant Arms for traditional ales and great food. For fresh seafood, head to the Anchorstone Cafe in nearby Dittisham, where local fisherman drop off sizeable crabs and lobsters to the adjacent pontoon each morning.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Chef on request
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Shopping service
• Toaster
• Self-catering

Activities

• Gitcombe Estate is weatherproof: if skies are grey, head inside to the heated pool, sauna, steam room and kids' soft play area, or stick to the hot tub
  
• In sunshine, enjoy the outdoor pool and tennis court - a personal trainer and a tennis coach can be arranged at an additional cost
  
• The team can organise a cheese and wine tasting session for you in the comfort of your own cottage
  
• A local beautician in Totnes provides exclusive treatment packages for Gitcombe guests in the salon (including facials and manicures)
  
• Explore the wild, ethereal moorlands of Dartmoor on foot
  
• Go crabbing in pretty Dittisham - the pontoon is opposite the Ferry Boat Inn pub (though make sure you follow the crabbing code)
  
• Hop on the ferry from Dittisham to Greenway, Agatha Christie's family holiday home, now owned by the National Trust
  
• Blackpool Sands is the closest beach - a sheltered bay with shingle. Other beaches nearby include Salcombe and Hope Cove for golden sands, Bantham Beach for watersports and surfing, and Bigbury on Sea
  
• For shopping, head to the waterside towns of Dartmouth (there's also a castle) and Salcombe
  
• There are a number of golf clubs in the area
  
• Go canoeing along the River Dart estuary, starting from Tuckenhay or Stoke Gabriel. Stops along the way include shipwrecks, pubs, wildlife, storytelling, campfires, barbecues and wine tasting

  Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Boat trips
  • Cycling
  • Golf
  • Hiking
  • Historical sites
  • Kayaking
  • Shopping / markets
  • Surfing
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Well being
  • Wine tasting

Kids

Gitcombe Estate is a secluded wonderland for young children: from cutlery to sleeping arrangements and play areas, you needn't leave the estate to keep them entertained (though being in this part of Devon, there's so much nearby to tempt you away including a beach under 10 minutes' drive away). Teenagers may not appreciate the magical isolation of the valley, though the mezzanine chill out areas in some of the terraced cottages (and separate small lounge in Gitcombe House) might give them the space and independence they need.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

All the cottages have fantastic bedroom options for kids: Garden House, Haytor and Burrator have compact bunk/cabin bed type rooms for younger children. All the cottages have twin rooms and can take baby cots; Maristow and Meavy also have a single sofabed. The two larger properties, Gitcombe Retreat and Gitcombe House are suitable for extended families or if you want to join up with friends with children.

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour's drive
• Hospital: 10 mins' drive
• Shops: 5 mins' drive

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Gitcombe Estate is located in a secluded valley between Totnes and Dartmouth, with views as far afield as Dartmoor.

By Air
The nearest airports are Exeter (60km), Newquay (114km), and Bristol (157km). If you're flying to or across the UK, you can hire a car.

By Car
A car is essential to get the most out of your stay. It is a four-hour drive from London, two hours from Bristol and 45 minutes from Exeter. There's free parking around the estate by the various cottages, as well as EV charging (bring your own cable). The Retreat has a private charging point.

By Train
Totnes station (30km away) is on the main line from Paddington to Penzance via Exeter.

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

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