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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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3 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Off road parking
- Open fire
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Washing machine
- Dishwasher
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
50 Customer Reviews
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"We enjoyed our week in the Cottage which was a superb venue with a large landscaped secure garden area, which caught the sun all day and evening."
The rooms were a good size and tastefully furnished. Interesting information about the history of the cottage, plus pictures. Very useful local maps and tide timetable booklet, all much appreciated, and plenty of games for later in the day. We would have no hesitation in returning, if available! Bob
Dear Guest, Thank you for the feedback and I am pleased to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Old Maids Cottage and Lee Bay. The cottage is well placed to enjoy the most from the sun even in those early winter days while Lee Bay, with its low housing density and hence light pollution, is a great place for night time stargazing and even lately observing the Northern Lights! Pleased to read that the collection of games on hand came in useful. We hope to welcome you back! Property Owner
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"A beautiful roomy cottage and well equipped."
The large double bedroom was amazingly comfortable with lots of light, space and views to an outside seating area. Just a yellow stain on one of the pillow protectors which was noticed when taking off the bedding. It seemed like the bedding had been put on in a hurry as pillows were not fully in the pillow cases and duvet covers left open at the bottom but we quickly sorted this ourselves. The dishwasher had been left full of dirty dishes which again we quickly sorted. Overall cottage could have been a little cleaner - dirt in corners and a sticky kitchen floor, but bathrooms were all very clean. Fridge smelled of bleach so we wiped it out again to ensure no traces of bleach near food. We couldn’t work out how to get the usual channels on the TV BBC etc and couldn’t find any instructions but it didn’t spoil our holiday and not big TV watchers. The cottage is in a beautiful location and made for a very enjoyable holiday.
Dear Guest, I am so very disappointed to read of the issues you had on visiting the property and apologise that the usual standard of cleanliness had not been maintained for your visit. The right conversations have been had with the housekeeping staff who take care of the cottage to ensure these issues are never repeated. Despite this I am pleased to read that you had an enjoyable holiday and overall found the cottage comfortable and roomy.. I hope you will not be put off visiting Lee again on some future holiday as it is a lovely seaside location. Property Owner
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"Wonderful cottage, well fitted out, in a great location."
Only issue was the washer dryer did not dry clothes. We reported this but heard nothing back.
Thank you for the feedback. The cottage is not advertised with a washer dryer just a washing machine. Most cottages do not provide dryers due to the high energy cost and consumption. A clothes dryer and towel radiators are provided. Property Owner
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"Thank you, we had a wonderful stay and this is a beautiful cottage with a thoughtful owner."
Everything was very clean and well prepared and we enjoyed coming back here after sunny days on the amazing beaches. The sitting room is very comfortable and the layout makes it easy to prepare meals whilst still chatting to people in there. Thank you very much, we really loved staying at Old Maids.
Delighted that you had a good stay and that you enjoyed the comfort and convenience of the cottage. Thank you for choosing to return to Old Maids and I hope I can welcome you back for another return visit. Thank you! Property Owner
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"Absolutely fantastic cottage and would really like to thank the owner for letting us stay."
We had a lovely week and everything we needed. We took our cockapoo with us and it was brilliant. Quiet relaxing holiday with the pub a few steps away which we truly enjoyed. The Grampus thankyou very much. Would definitely go back.
Thank you so much for your feedback. I’m delighted that you enjoyed Old Maids and that everything was to your satisfaction. The Grampus is a great local pub to hang out after a walk or day on the beach and on Friday evenings they have a really great “open mic” night which I hope you enjoyed. Would love to welcome you back to Old Maids Cottage and Lee Bay again some time. Property Owner
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"A beautiful cottage with great facilities."
Also loved the location.
Thank you for your feedback and for staying at Old Maids Cottage. I am delighted that you too enjoyed that something uniquely special that Lee Bay has in terms of timelessness and tranquility. Hope you have taken home some fond memories of your stay. Property Owner
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"This is the second time we stayed here at Old Maids Cottage."
Its such a beautiful spot in an unspoilt quiet location. Goldcrest and Chiff Chaff in the morning and a Tawny Owl at night. Lee is a place you can have peace-which is why we booked again The cottage is excellent-spacious and clean with a well equipped kitchen.
Thankyou for your feedback and for returning to Old Maids Cottage and Lee Bay for your holiday. There is for sure something magical about Lee Bay which manages to retain a village charm from bygone days. I hope we can welcome you back again. Property Owner
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"Old Maids is a wonderful holiday destination and this was our third stay."
It is incredibly well equipped and comfortable. It's always clean and well presented. There's great communication from the owner, who made every effort to make our stay a great one. Old Maids is in a great location for the bay at Lee and The Grampus PH, and extended area of beautiful North Devon coast and countryside. Olds Maids is highly recommended and definitely one of our go to holiday destinations.
Thank you for your feedback and for staying at Old Maids Cottage again. I hope we can welcome you back to Lee Bay soon. Property Owner
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"The cottage was just perfect for our family get-together."
The kitchen was very well stocked with every bit of crockery, cutlery & utensil you may want - even a lemon squeezer & garlic press. The only extra things that would be nice were: - a few more mugs to avoid washing everytime we wanted a drink (there were only 6 mugs). - a towel rail to hang damp kitchen hand & tea towels. - to have one cupboard left empty so is available to store food items people bring with them (there were just two narrow pull out racks that were empty). Note to owner: Updated photos of the bathrooms in the listing would be helpful to show that the two ensuites do also have showers (over baths). Although showers are mentioned in the listing, I had initially looked at the photos and assumed it was only hand held showers (although I did have it confirmed ahead of our stay that the baths also had 'rain-shower heads').
Thank you for taking the time to provide your very helpful feedback and I am pleased that you enjoyed your stay. I can confirm that more mugs have been provided and I agree that the current photos do not do the bathrooms justice as they all have fixed rain showers which are ideal after that long winter walk or day on the beach. We'll get those phots updated. There is now a spare full cupboard for food storage in addition to two vertical cupboards which should provide plenty of food storage . Many thanks and I hope we can welcome you back again in future. Property Owner
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"Lovely cottage."
Well appointed, clean and tidy. Helpful information provided on how everything works and on the local area. Nice welcome pack. We had a cracking little holiday. Thank you.
Thank you for your feedback and for choosing to spend your New Year in Lee Bay. Hope to see you again as part of your future holiday plans. Best, Paul Property Owner
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"Perfect cottage for a lovely Christmas."
The owner had thought of everything. Great gifts on arrival too. Cosy, warm and welcoming.
Dear Luci, So pleased that you chose to enjoy a festive Christmas in Lee Bay and Old Maids Cottage. Thank you for visiting us with your family and we hope to welcome you back one day. Paul Property Owner
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"Excellent, immaculate, spacious and we will be back!"
Delighted that you enjoyed Old Maids and no doubt the surrounding areas. We look forward to hosting you again whenever your holiday plans bring you back to Devon. Thank you! Property Owner
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"Excellent really lovely cottage in a lovely location"
I am pleased to hear that you liked Old Maids Cottage and the surrounding area and we hope to welcome you back to lovely Lee Bay in the future. Property Owner
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"This was possibly the nicest place we’ve stayed in in the UK."
So peaceful, pretty and well equipped. We all slept like logs after beautiful days down at woolacombe beach and a couple of beers at the Grampus across the road. We’ve left feeling truly relaxed and wanting to come back as soon as possible.
Thank you so much for your feedback and I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the cottage and Lee Bay. Also pleased to hear that you rested well after your visits to Woolacombe beach. And after a busy day swimming, surfing, walking and playing on what is a delightful beach, who doesn’t deserve a restorative drink in The Grampus. I hope to welcome you back to Lee Bay again. Property Owner
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"Beautiful cottage which was clean, kitchen was so well equipped (even had cake tins!"
) and the surroundings of peace and quiet with the welcome addition of bird song I would say this is the best place we have rented by a mile.
Very happy to hear that Old Maids Cottage features so highly in your estimations, thank you for your kind feedback. I have tried to equip the cottage to reflect our own home from home including all those little extras that make cooking (and baking!), socialising and relaxing effortless. The stillness and peacefulness in Lee is very special allowing you to enjoy the birdsong which is abundant. Our own son likes to imitate the owl from across the valley in the evening and often gets a reply from the feathery residents. Thank you again for visiting the cottage and Lee Bay. Property Owner
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"This was a wonderful cottage in a wonderful location."
Fantastic coastal walks to both Ilfracombe and Woolacombe. Found the cottage really comfortable, all three bedrooms are very generously sized, and the sitting area is a lovely space to recover from the long daily walks. I can imagine the place would be very cosy in the colder months with the log burner going. The garden space is also generous with lovely views of the surroundings. We loved sitting and watching the world go by. Callie our 15 month old German Shepherd loved her stay. The local beach was fabulous for her early morning swim. We thoroughly enjoyed our week and would definitely return to the cottage the next time we holiday in area.
Thank you for your feedback. I am delighted to hear how much you enjoyed the cottage and the surroundings, Lee is a very special place and I can picture Callie bounding about in the safe, shallow waters of Lee Bay. The cottage is, as you imagine, very cosy in winter, an ideal retreat after a walk on the coast and a drink in the Grampus before resting tired legs in front of the log fire. I hope we can welcome you to Lee again at any time of the year. Best, Paul Property Owner
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"Excellent accommodation."
Well equipped and maintained. Extremely comfortable, quiet location, couldn't ask for more.
Thank you for staying at Old Maids Cottage and providing your positive feedback. I hope we can welcome you back to Lee Bay for a future visit. Thank you. Property Owner
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"We stayed February half term in this fabulous, well equipped and homely cottage with extremely comfortable beds."
The grandsons loved building dams, canals, tunnels and sandcastles at Lee Bay, Sandy Bay and several other beaches a short drive away. The villagers, staff at the Grampus Inn and the School House Art and Craft shop were all very friendly, a privilege to be part of their community. Evelyn
Delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable stay in Lee and in the cottage . Sounds like your grandchildren enjoyed the quite pleasures of lovely, secluded Lee Bay beach. Thank you for the feedback and I hope Lee can welcome you back in the future. Property Owner
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"Only stayed one night."
Lots of feedback saying it is haunted and have to agree definitely not comfortable
Thank you very much for your feedback. Having owned Old Maids Cottage for a number of years now and I can assure you that, despite the feedback you received, there has never been any confirmed, rumoured or reported sightings of ghosts, ghouls, vampires, monsters, vampires, sirens, pixies, elves or poltergeists. Property Owner
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"All fine."
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"Old Maids Cottage is a beautifully restored home-from-home."
We stayed during a very cold week, but we found the cottage warm and cosy. We enjoyed evenings by the fire and loved the cottage’s modern facilities. The village of Lee is lovely, and the Grampus pub is great. It's a great base for exploring North Devon. Thank you.
I am delighted that you enjoyed the full amenities of the cottage that makes for a pleasant, cosy stay during the winter and hope that you will return to enjoy the stunning coastline again in the future. Property Owner
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"Old Maids is a wonderful cottage for a restful week away."
It is very well maintained and has everything you need. The Grampus Inn is a very friendly local pub to spend an evening or two.
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"Excellent property, our stay was great."
Would definitely recommend to anyone.
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"Old Maids Cottage is situated in a lovely quiet position in Lee."
We had a wonderful relaxing stay and totally chilled out. There are plenty of places to visit, walking routes and watersports available at Lee Bay. Very clean and comfortable cottage with all amenities that we required from our stay. Would highly recommend this property, plenty of room for 6 people.
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"What a lovely find."
The cottage is beautiful and felt very welcoming and the bay and surrounding countryside are England at its best. Having a bathroom for each room was a real bonus and the photos didn't actually do justice to the space available and how well equipped the cottage is. The pub and bay were also much closer than anticipated and the food at the pub, very tasty. You can get phone signal down at the bay and at the top of the garden which is also next to a very quaint, friendly shop. There is also a lovely shaded park behind the hall for little ones. Recommend bringing some tea tree oil or similar for the horse flies - it is farming country after all!
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"This property is so pet friendly and in a beautiful location."
It is a high end property and all of the family loved their stay there Highly recommend
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"The cottage was well designed clean and well equipped!"
In a very quiet location down a very windey narrow country lane ! Nothing around apart from one pub and other properties ! No shop! It was on the dog friendly site which I dispute! Large dogs can jump off the wall (?which mine did) small dogs can get under the gate! Dog owners think carefully before booking!
About 75% of bookings for the cottage are from satisfied owners with well behaved dogs and this is the first comment about the size of the walls and the gate. While it is not possible to change the wall height I shall look to resolve the gap beneath the gate which is about 5 inches. One of the charms of Lee Bay village is its quite location near to the sea, devoid of the usual seaside pedestrian traffic, in this respect it is very unique. The nearest shopping area is Ilfracombe 2- 3 miles away while Tesco's and some of the other large brands delivers to the village. Thank you for the feedback. Property Owner
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"Delightful cottage with all that was required for an enjoyable holiday."
Beautifully situated and within a stones throw of the Grampus pub which served gorgeous food.Would definitely stay again! Thank you very much for allowing us to share and stay in this lovely property.
Delighted that you enjoyed Old Maids and all that Lee Bay has to offer. I look forward to welcoming you back in the future and if there is anything I can do to make your stay even more enjoyable please let me know. Best Wishes, Paul Property Owner
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"Old Maid's Cottage is a delightful place to stay."
It has all the charm of an old thatched cottage but with modern amenities. It's spacious, comfortable, well equipped and very clean. It's in walking distance of the pub and bay and is perfect for those wanting to get away from it all. It's great for walkers too. This is the second time we've stayed here and we love it and hope to stay again.
Delighted to hear that your return visit was enjoyable and I want to thank you for your feedback and hope that we can welcome you back to Old Maids Cottage again in the future. Best Wishes, Paul Property Owner
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"Beautiful cottage and location."
Would highly recommend.
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"Excellent cottage - bedrooms very good size and beds very comfortable - 3 great ..."
Excellent cottage - bedrooms very good size and beds very comfortable - 3 great bathrooms - great location - good walks - very close to the beach which is dog friendly
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"This is such a beautiful cottage."
Would highly recommend especially for a quiet relaxing break.
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"A wonderful cottage with everything thought of."
We had a lovely time in the cottage and exploring the local landscapes. Returning to a fistful warm cottage with the beautiful wood stove and comfy sofas and beds was idyllic. Thank you.
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"Could not fault this property, the only complaint would be the late check in time 5pm (It was getting dark) plus the early check out 9."
30 am We were told extra cleaning due to virus to blame ! 8 Hours It would put us off booking again if this was the case
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"A very comfortable and cosy cottage, really well equipped and nicely furnished."
We enjoyed lighting the wood-burner most evenings and a great location just a short walk to the beach.
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"This was the most beautiful weekend!"
The occasion was my 30th birthday so myself and two friends stayed at Old Maids Cottage. Everything was immaculate, warm, and comfortable. The location was perfect, the cove stunning and we couldn't have asked for more. I had the best birthday! Thank you
Thank you for choosing to spend your special day at Old Maids Cottage and I am delighted that you and your friends enjoyed the stay and the lovely Lee Bay location, even in winter it's hard to beat the beauty and peace and quite of the area I received your note about the Woodland Trust, thank you for that! I hope the cottage can welcome you again some day, Take care, Paul Property Owner
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"Excellent accommodation warm and comfortable and very well equipped."
A perfect early January break to help dispel the mid winter blues. Grampus very friendly pub
Dear Sir...please excuse the formality as we are asked not to use names in our notes... Thank you for your feedback and I am delighted that Old Maids Cottage provided you with a nice place for a break and to start the year. We hope to see you back in lovely Lee bay in the future. Best wishes for a great 2022. Paul (the owner) paul Property Owner
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"Brilliant location, right in the centre of Lee and lovely accommodation."
The cottage is very comfortably furnished with all the right touches including super comfy beds; well equipped bathrooms and kitchen; warm central heating with lovely log burner and it is kept very clean.
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"Old maids cottage is a wonderful place to stay in."
Very comfortable and very clean. Everything you could wish for provided.
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"Beautiful cottage which was immaculatey clean on arrival."
Have been staying in holiday cottages for 40 years now and this is one of the quietest we have stayed in. The only noise I heard at night was an owl. Beautiful place for some R&R or to explore Devon.
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"Absolutely lovely cottage just a couple of issues the child lock was on the oven had to look up on the internet how to unlock it as instructions did not cover ,the tumble dryer would not dry clothes ."
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"We throughly enjoyed the cottage it was lovely Had everything you needed for a great family holiday would denfinatly stay there again."
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"A beautiful cottage, very well equipped and plenty of room for a family of six."
Lovely location with a short walk to the picturesque Lee Bay Beach, not a bucket and spade Sandy beach but fantastic for rock pooling and incredible views, also the food in the village pub is great .
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"Lovely cottage and location."
Lee beach is stunning when the tide is out, so plan your visit to coincide with low tides. Lots of walks on your doorstep. The cottage attracts every person that passes by, so you do feel a little in the spot light at times as you relax outside. The septic tank pump died during our visit so we had to be conservative with our water for a day while they arranged it to be replaced, however, the owners dealt with it quickly, and sent a couple of bottles of wine which was a lovely gesture. Overall, highly recommended!
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"Old Maids Cottage was very wonderful with all the facilities you'd need for a comfortable stay."
Parking for up to 4 cars made it very easy to park up and forget the car with a very short walk to the pub and not much further for the beach. We had a fantastic holiday and would happily go back again with plenty more to discover in this stunningly beautiful coastline.
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"Every detail was thought about."
beautiful furnishings and decor . amazing setting
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"Old Maid's cottage is a very cosy cottage and has everything you need, situated in Lee Bay which is stunning and only a 10 minute walk away."
It was very clean and had a well equipped kitchen, the log burner was lovely.
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"I feel that the loss of 16 hours of rental time on the property due to " extra deep cleaning " for coronavirus without any reduction in cost was unfair."
I understand that this cleaning needed to be done but when we had only rented the cottage for a total of 3 nights this was a large chunk of time that we lost with no reimbursement.
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"The cottage was beautiful, very comfortable and presented to a very high standard."
The village is pretty and quiet but still has a nice pub and art gallery/giftshop and its just a short walk to the bay. Lots of great beaches and places to see within easy driving distance. A great place to unwind, I would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a high quality, relaxing place to escape to.
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"Old Maids Cottage is a lovely 17th century thatched property."
There has been no expense spared renovating to modern standards, but sympathetically done to retain the character of the original building. Every facility has been provided by the owner including wifi, which is a bonus as there is no phone signal at all. When booking Old Maids be prepared for people passing by photographing the cottage several times a day, it really draws the eye and is the typical "chocolate box" property. Having said that we would not hesitate in booking again, and when all this coronavirus thing is over we may just do that.
Summary
- Three bedrooms: 1 x double with en-suite bath and rain shower, basin and WC, 1 x double, 1 x super king zip/link beds with en-suite bath and rain shower, basin and WC
- Shower room with walk-in rain shower, basin and WC
- Open-plan living room with kitchen, dining area and sitting area.
- Underfloor heating and wood-burning stove
- Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, Smart TV with WiFi
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- Off-road parking for 4 cars
- Patio area with furniture and lawn area
- 2 dogs welcome
- Please enquire if you wish to bring 3 dogs
- Sorry, no smoking
- Pub is 100 metres away, , shop within 3.1 miles
- Please note: all toilets in the property are on the first floor
The property
Ilfracombe 2.8 miles.
Resting in an area of outstanding natural beauty and within striking distance of the glorious Lee Bay Beach is this listed, thatched dwelling, Old Maids Cottage.
This truly characterful accommodation is ideally situated for a family seeking to explore North Devon, with its dramatic coastline and the rolling countryside of the Exmoor National Park.
Admiring the tradition of the quaint village of Lee with its winding streets including two thatched cottages, relax into your evening within the brightly decorated, open-plan living room.
This home by the sea offers a contemporary, galley-style kitchen, boasting quality appliances to ensure that you and your loved ones can cater for yourselves during your stay.
Follow the room around to be welcomed in by the sitting room, where the woodburning stove invites you in after an action-packed day of exploring.
After preparing a delicious evening meal, gather with your loved ones in the dining room, offering a wonderful space for planning the days ahead or whiling away a couple of hours playing one of the board games that are on offer at this cottage.
Follow the staircase up to find three spacious bedrooms, each featuring leaded windows, a refreshing ambiance and plenty of storage for your personal belongings.
Choose to catch your rest within either the double bedroom, a zip/link bedroom with an en-suite bath or the double bedroom which features a glass screen which separates the room from the stylish en-suite bath.
To the outside, you will find ample off-road parking, as well as a raised patio area where alfresco dining can be enjoyed during the summer months or a glass of something refreshing can be had as you soak up the final glimpses of sunshine.
For those special occasions, a short stroll will bring you to the local pub in the village of Lee, or for picking up the essentials head to the town of Ilfracombe where a selection of shops awaits you.
Whilst staying at the Old Maids Cottage, be sure to head to the local beach where views of the Bristol Channel can be enjoyed, or head to Ilfracombe where you can look forward to walking along the iconic South West Coast Path.
Ilfracombe itself comes with a vast array of attractions to suit all ages, including the Ilfracombe Aquarium, Ilfracombe observatory and its sandy beach which overlooks Arganite Bay.
Old Maids Cottage promises to be a wonderful escape to this corner of North Devon.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £250.
About the location
WOOLACOMBE
Ilfracombe 7 miles; Barnstaple 11 miles; Exmoor National Park 21 miles.
The seaside town of Woolacombe is located on the north Devon coast and is home to a wonderful 3 mile long golden beach which has been awarded Blue Flag status and has safe family swimming. Woolacombe has won many awards and is a fabulous holiday destination with a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. Woolacombe lies within the North Devon Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with its dramatic coastal cliffs and landscape. Along the coast is the bustling seaside town of Ilfracombe and from here you can take a boat trip to magical Lundy Island, a place of natural beauty, which will provide you with an unforgettable experience. Exmoor National Park is close by with its rolling countryside and quaint villages. A fabulous area for a superb family holiday.
Please note that mobile phone reception in Lee Bay village is limited and not available inside the cottage. While there are reception hotspots in the property grounds, visitors should use “Wi-fi calling” on their smart phones and via the ultra high speed internet while in residence
This property offers the following short breaks:
- Winter
- Off-season
- Last minute
- Christmas