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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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1 Bathroom
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Ground floor accommodation
- Ground floor bedroom
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Washing machine
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
27 Customer Reviews
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"Lovely location, great garden for the dogs."
Grest shower, comfortable bed. A bit unfortunate it was a cold week for September and we couldn't work out the heating.
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"We had a great week at Highdown."
Our only observation was for some instruction for how to operate the cooker and also the TV. Plus a few more kitchen utensils would help, like a large collender, especially if 6 people were occupying the cottage. We would definitely come again.
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"Don’t book this property."
I arrived and there were cobwebs, dust, hair and spiders all over the property. The toilet had not been cleaned and there was an awful smell across the property. The bath does not work properly and overall the cleanliness of the property was so bad. You are paying a lot of money so it would be more worth staying at the coastguards or any other property than here. Also Sykes themselves are so bad, no customer service no contact nothing. I tried to complain and they have ignored me for weeks on end then just closed the case.
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"A delightful old fashioned property with good garden area for dogs."
All amenities provided. Be aware a Smart TV to operate. Property at top of steep hill but easy reach of the beach
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"Homely, fabulous garden and sea views."
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"Misleading marketing with very poor quality service and terrible property."
Worst holiday experience to date would never use again.
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"Very relaxing and nice and quiet"
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"My husband and I wanted just a few days to totally chill with our dog Stanley, this for us was a perfect spot, it has a fully enclosed garden for our Stanley to roam around he settled in instantly."
... It reminded me of my nanny's house in some ways, it's in an old style which some people would not like because it's not top of the range in many ways but for us it was a little nugget of gold....we will be booking it again for a chill few days in the future...
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"An old fashioned seaside bungalow as shown in the photos online."
It could perhaps benefit from some updating but we had everything we needed and the views were stunning. Worth walking up the steep hill for! As the property has been in the same family for years we would have been interested in any old photos and pictures to see the changes to the bungalow and Bigbury. We were 3 adults and the property worked ok for us. Would we go again? Yes.
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"We had a lovely stay at Highdown."
Very comfortable and clean. Wonderful position with great view. The garden was a god send as we could relax knowing that our border terrier was safe and secure. The open fire was a lovely added extra. I do think it would be abit of a squeeze for more than 4 adults. Need to mention…. Please can you get a different can opener !!!!. And that was the only issue!!!!. We loved it so much I’ve already booked again for next year !!! . Thankyou
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"Lacked that homely feel."
Dated decor that with a small investment could be great. Stunning views but it is on a very steep hill that is not mentioned. One annoyance was we were surprised to find netflix available so when it rained one day we decided to watch some films thinking this would be ok. However we received a message to us us if we could kindly log out when we had finished so the owners could watch! Please don't offer this service if we are not allowed to watch. Overall we had a great time. Thank you
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"Terrible accommodations dirty and out dated"
I am sorry that you did not find the property to your liking. It is cleaned immediately prior to every visit and it has been described as good to “incredibly clean” by other guests. My offer of a supplementary inspect and clean was rejected. Highdown is “dated” in the sense that it is a mid 20th century seaside cottage, not a modern construction full of glass and chrome. It has been equipped to be comfortable and functional. Property Owner
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"Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Highdown - the location is great , Bigbury on sea ,Burgh island & Challaborough are only a short walk away."
We took our small dog ( Westie ) the gardens are beautiful & well maintained and almost enclosed ( she could get through the gaps in the gate across the drive ) . The bungalow is very homely , we particularly loved sitting in the front sun porch watching the world ( well sea! ) go by , fantastic views over the Devon coastline . We did feel that the bungalow would be too small for anymore than 2 or 3 Adults or a family with small children . Although we needed for nothing -everything had been considered & was incredibly clean , we do feel that the property needed an overall update & some money spending throughout to make your time spent at Highdown more comfortable . We were happy with the price we paid but we do think £2000+ in the high season is unreasonable for this property. In summary , a lovely little spot & we will definitely look to book again :)
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"This cottage was just what we wanted."
Great views. Great location. Great garden for our dog: great size and really secure so we could relax whilst she played outside. Loved the open fire too.
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"Lovely place."
Nice and homely. Great value. Thanks for a lovely stay.
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"Lovely cottage and very comfortable stay lacking nothing we needed."
In 2021 We paid less than £1000 in high season. We looked to book again but at an increase in price exceeding 200% we don’t think that would be a fair price for this property. Gate is very narrow.
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"Perfect base for a lovely holiday."
Bigbury- On-Sea is a beautiful area. Cottage had a lovely garden which was completely safe for our dog.
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"A really comfortable little holiday home."
We found everything we needed and thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
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"Wow..."
Bigbury-on-Sea is beautiful. Highdown is situated at the top of a very steep hill. Beautiful views to Burgh Island, which is worth a walk over, even just to have a drink at the Pilchard Inn. Little cafe/takeaway down on the beach car park which is pretty basic but lovely food. There is a food store within walking distance on a caravan park along with Fryer Tucks fish and chips (also very nice) but it is along quite a narrow cliff path. WiFi was very hit and miss but kind of expected that to be honest. Make sure you visit Pickwick Inn (pub) which is so lovely. Great food, lovely atmosphere and very dog friendly. Beware of the narrow lanes in the area, cars go pretty fast round them and although there are pull in places it does get a bit scary at times. Highview itself is a lovely bungalow. Pretty dated but we quite liked that. Could have been a bit cleaner but very cosy and warm. Loved sitting in the little dining area looking out to the sea even when it was raining. The garden is lovely too, wraps around the whole bungalow and is very safe for dogs. On two occasions we did have a chap come right through the garden to the shed at the back apparently to collect laundry? If he’d of knocked and said he was about then we would have been happier but to suddenly see a man walking around outside was a bit unnerving. The patio area again is lovely but not for small children. There’s quite a drop down a grass bank at the front of it. All in all we went away as a family of four (2 grown up children) after having an illness for most of the year to have some quality time together and a well earned rest and that’s exactly what we did. Would we go back there again? Yes definitely
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"The property was dated and a couple of the table lamp shades were broken, but overall the property was ideal for what we needed."
Perfect location to a fantastic beach.
We apologise for the broken table lamps. They have been replaced with something more robust Property Owner
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"Comfortable, well equipped for a short stay, fantastic location."
House was freezing on arrival which was a shame late at night, and the WiFi didn’t really work.
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"Everything was perfect, Highdown might be dated as one reviewer hinted at but it had a lovely warm atmosphere that soon as you walked through the door it said “Welcome”."
We were able to relax and feel at home straight away. It has all mod cons, but no phone or mobile signal. I would advise any one with anything a bit bigger than a people carrier to give this one a miss as the entrance is narrow so is the lane outside. Other than that I would give it 5 stars.
Thank you for your feedback and we are delighted that you enjoyed your stay. Yes, unfortunately the mobile signal signal is very poor, apart from at the top of the garden. We use wifi calling. The gateway to the drive is 2.35m so suitable for eg a Ford Galaxy or Range Rover with care Property Owner
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"Had a lovely holiday."
Everything was as stated would only suggest extra refuge bags & possibly an extra black bin. Otherwise excellent value for money & good views of the sea!
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"The bungalow is very dated and smells terrible."
The only pluses were the fantastic scenery and weather. Failing those we would have come home. We only had one small, thin bath towel each and there were no deck chairs to sit on in the garden. We were very disappointed but I will check the reviews in future!
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"We have been fortunate to have stayed in a few Sykes holiday lets, and have never been disappointed."
However, we would not have booked Highdown last year if we had read the recent reviews written. But here is an update - Highdown is old and tired looking, but we felt the owner had read the same reviews and had made an effort to make changes. The property was clean, thick soft white medium size fluffy towels (no hand towels), tea towels, hand soap, and washing up liquid was provided, and the kitchen was well equipt. We found the master bedroom's mattress to be comfortable, and also there were two radiators to use if you found the property not warm enough. The only complaints we would make are, the little utility room with the large fridge freezer has a funny smell and this problem needs investigating, and there was no shower curtain / screen. Meaning that every time we used the shower, we had to mop the bathroom floor. (We must admit that we did not contact the owner regarding these problems, because we could not get a signal on our mobile). The welcome tea / coffee / sugar / milk and biscuits after along journey was very much appreciated. Thankyou. Bigbury on Sea is a beautiful location.
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"No frills cottage in a great location."
We were concerned about previous reviews and as is clear in the photos, Highdown is an older cottage which still feels more like a residential than a rental property. The owner had worked hard to make the place clean and fresh for our arrival, even down to a new coat of paint in the utility room. Good points - the house was generally comfortable (although the mattress in the master bedroom should be replaced), the kitchen was well equipped (though no pantry provisions except salt and pepper) - it was not at all spacious, as stated in the description but certainly adequate, there is a large fridge freezer in the utility which is useful, the wifi and TV were excellent, the conservatory when sunny was delightful, the fire was cozy and the garden a nice size (although not completely dog-proof - a tenacious terrier would squeeze through the front gate in a second). The driveway was tight, but we managed to get our Landrover 4x4 in with a bit of skilful manoeuvring (on my part). Less positively, we arrived in a wet and windy Easter week and storage heaters hadn't been turned up so the house was very chilly. On colder days I think the heaters struggled to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the day and into the evening. The bathroom needs some storage (shelves, a bathroom cabinet?) as there was nothing to accommodate the smellies of 6 people and the provision of towels were a disappointment. Not sure why they state they are provided when all you get is one thin medium sized towel to last a week and no hand towels. I suggest you take your own. The owner however was responsive and did provide an extra electric radiator and a couple of hand towels on request. All in all we had a nice stay as Bigbury on Sea is a heavenly location for kids of all ages and dogs - The Journeys End pub has superb food. I wouldn't rent this cottage again as I think its rather basic and overpriced, but if you have realistic expectations it is a nice base from which to explore the area.
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"The cottage is tired, dated and smells musty."
The heating is inadequate, especially in cold weather and there were no logs left for us as listed in the handbook. The towels were old, thin and stained and with one small towel each, we had to buy our own. The mattresses are old, lumpy, saggy and neither of us slept well all week due to back pain. Although we were left milk and biscuits, there was no washing up liquid or cloth, soap, hand towel which would have been helpful and what we usually get in a cottage. We also noted that none of the electrical items had been PAT tested. The top window in the small twin bedroom didn't open and there is a cracked window in the lounge/conservatory. We did however love the area and would go back there but just not in your property.
Summary
- All ground floor
- Three bedrooms: 1 x double, 2 x twin
- Bathroom with bath, shower over, basin and WC
- Kitchen with dining area
- Sitting room with open fire
- Conservatory with dining area.
- Electric storage heaters with open fire
- Electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washer/dryer, dishwasher, TV with Freeview, DVD, Bluetooth speakers, WiFi
- Fuel, power and starter pack for fire inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off road parking for 3 cars
- Enclosed lawned gardens with furniture
- Two small to medium well-behaved dogs welcome
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shop 2 miles, pub 1 mile
- Note: Mobile phone coverage intermittent
The property
This traditional seaside, detached, single-storey, dog friendly cottage is situated on a slope above Bigbury-on-Sea, on the south west coast of Devon.
Just a short stroll from this lovely cottage, is the South West Coast Path and Bigbury Beach, one of the best beaches in the South Hams, making it ideal for families.
The cosy interior of this much-loved holiday home has a south-facing conservatory with sea views, ideal for summer breakfasts, plus an open fire in the sitting room for cosy winter afternoons after a walk on the beach with the dog.
The spacious kitchen also has a dining area and plenty of space for six people to eat comfortably.
There are three bedrooms, two with sea views across the bay, and all sharing a bathroom.
Outside this delightful cottage is a private, enclosed, wrap-around garden with plenty of lawn area for ball games and a lovely place to relax with a refreshing drink or dine alfresco.
Bigbury is a popular all-year-round holiday spot, with its own golf course just a mile and a half from the cottage and a fabulous beach with a causeway across to Burgh Island.
The island is celebrated for its Art Deco design and for the inspiration it gave to its regular visitor, Agatha Christie, to write one of her best known murder mysteries, 'And Then There Were None'.
Perfect for classic bucket-and-spade holidays, Bigbury-on-Sea is also ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kayaking.
Equipment hire and lessons can be booked for all of these activities at the Discovery Surf School.
Also located by the beach is the Venus Cafe, which serves delicious, organic and free-range food throughout the year.
Keen walkers will be spoilt for choice here with some of the most spectacular stretches on the South West Coast Path being right on the doorstep.
For anyone who can tear themselves away from this idyllic location, the charming towns of Modbury, Salcombe and Kingsbridge are all close by, whilst Plymouth, Dartmouth and the wild open spaces of Dartmoor are also all within easy reach.
This delightful cottage offers a perfect seaside getaway for an energetic family.
Changover day must be a Friday.
About the location
BIGBURY-ON-SEA
Modbury 6 miles; Plymouth 12 miles.
Bigbury-on-Sea is located in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and is ideal for family holidays. Dusted with sand and lapped by shallow waters, the beach offers safe fun for groups particularly if you’ve got children in tow. In addition, Bigbury-on-Sea beach is dotted with rock pools, so there’s plenty of entertainment for budding marine biologists. There’s also a wide and varied selection of watersports available to visitors who prefer their holidays to feature a little adrenaline rush. Windsurfing and kite-surfing are popular here, with hire facilities located right on the beach. To give you some peace of mind, there are lifeguards present at Bigbury-on-Sea beach during May to September and the beach also has a first-aid room. You can even take the dog onto the beach, although they are restricted to certain areas during the summer. Bigbury’s most famous landmark is Burgh Island, which overlooks the beach itself. The island is accessible at low tide, when the waters reveal a causeway that links it to the beach. However, when the tide is in you can still reach the island by hitching a ride on the popular and unique ‘sea tractor’. Burgh Island boasts an award-winning hotel, elegant and rather genteel, it’s an ideal romantic retreat for couples. Explore the South Devon coast with its fabulous sandy beaches and its breathtakingly beautiful coastal path or simply take time to visit some of the charming estuary towns and villages dotted throughout the area, such as Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Dartmouth. The city of Plymouth and the wild open spaces of Dartmoor are also both close at hand.
View more holiday cottages in Bigbury-on-sea
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter