Christian Holiday Cottage, Great Torrington — Peaceful Setting Near Rosemoor
Torridge House is a genuine Christian holiday cottage, Great Torrington, break: a choice of eight cottages tucked away on the edge of tiny Little Torrington, surrounded by fields and private woodland with no public access, giving a wonderfully peaceful, private setting. Children get hands-on time with rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, chickens, ducks and small pigs, and there’s a heated outdoor pool from late May to mid-September, alongside a playroom, games room and quiet office space for those needing to work or simply have some peace. It’s a properly restful base for exploring the wider Christian holidays in the South West, whatever the size of the family or group.
Just up the road, Little Torrington’s own parish church of St Giles has stood since the 15th century, its nave divided from the south aisle by an unusual colonnade of granite pillars said to have been shipped twenty-five miles by sea from Lundy Island and finished on site. Inside is a chamfered Norman font believed to be unique in Britain, a small carved figure of a pilgrim reputedly made by a travelling friar in exchange for hospitality, and a peal of six bells still rung today for services and celebrations. It’s a genuinely lovely, little-visited building, well worth the short walk from the cottages.
Great Torrington itself carries real historical weight. On 16 February 1646, one of the final battles of the First Civil War was fought through its streets between the Royalist army of Lord Hopton and the much larger Parliamentarian force under Sir Thomas Fairfax. The fighting ended decisively when eighty barrels of Royalist gunpowder, stored inside the town’s church, exploded and destroyed the building, narrowly missing Fairfax himself as debris fell around him. The defeat effectively ended organised Royalist resistance in the West Country and hastened the end of the war. The town’s heritage museum tells the story in full for anyone wanting to dig deeper into “the forgotten battle.”
Nature lovers have their own local legend to follow here. Henry Williamson’s classic 1927 novel Tarka the Otter begins and ends in the vicinity of Torrington, with Tarka himself born on the River Torridge that runs past the village; the Tarka Trail now traces 180 miles of the countryside he explored. Closer still, the fields at the edge of Torridge House look out over RHS Garden Rosemoor, begun in 1959 by Lady Anne Berry after she took up gardening while recovering from measles, and gifted to the RHS in 1988.
With sandy beaches, the South West Coast Path, market towns and country pubs all within reach, and Great Torrington itself well stocked with shops including a Lidl, Co-op and M&S Food, this is an easy, well-equipped base for a longer stay. Every cottage has fast wifi, a smart TV and an EV charger, and Bideford, with a full-sized Morrisons, is just twenty minutes away for a bigger shop. Clergy and paid church staff receive a discount of up to 20 percent in term time, and dogs are welcome in most of the cottages.
Perfect for:
- Families, with farm animals to care for and a heated pool from late May to September
- History lovers, with the Battle of Torrington and an ancient parish church close by
- Nature enthusiasts following the Tarka Trail along the River Torridge
- Gardeners, with RHS Garden Rosemoor visible from the cottages’ own field gate
- Larger groups or gatherings, with eight cottages of varying sizes to choose from
- Longer stays exploring the wider South West at an easy, unhurried pace
- Dog owners, with dogs welcome in most of the cottages
Location
Torridge House, Little Torrington, Devon EX38 8PS
How to get here: By car.
Nearest Town: Torrington
Facilities
- Good fast wifi freely available in all cottages
- EV charger
- Comfy beds with bed linen, bath and hand towels – super king, king and single options
- Hand towels, soaps, tea towels, spare loo rolls, laundry and dishwasher tablets provided
- Smart TVs
- BBQs
- Washing machines, tumble dryers, airers and rotary lines
- Fridge/freezers (Hay and Lin cottages have fridge/icebox – freezer available separately)
- Playroom, games room and quiet room/office
- Plenty of privacy as well as a wonderful setting for engaging with others
- Dogs are welcome
- Children are especially well provided for
- Heated outdoor swimming pool from mid/end May to mid-September
- Views over RHS Rosemoor Gardens from the field gate
At Torridge House Cottages there is plenty of privacy as well as being a great situation for engaging with other people. A games room, a cosy quiet room which can be used as a private office, an indoor toddler playroom, outdoor toddler toys, April to end October pet animals to cuddle and care for, and from mid/end May to mid-September a heated outdoor seasonal swimming pool.
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
Weeks from
£785 – £1,055 – 2-bedroom Hay and Lin Cottages
£895 – £1,195 – Drawing Room and 2-bedroom Barn Cottage
£945 – £1,355 – 2-bedroom Stag and Courtyard Cottages
£1,025 – £1,725 – 3-bedroom Tithe and Hen Cottages
£1,395 – £2,155 – 4-bedroom Duck Cottage
Short breaks, mostly in term time, from 65%
Prices shown are without the clergy discount. Clergy and paid church staff receive 20% off in term times and 10% off during school holidays.
Energy Provision: Included.
Availability
Open from March into November.
Arrival and Departure times: 15.00 and 10.00
Booking Arrangements: Weeks start Fridays and Saturdays in main school holidays; short breaks in term times and term-time weeks can start any day of the week.
Pets:
One dog accepted in both Tithe and Barn Cottages.
Two dogs accepted in Courtyard Cottage.
One dog accepted in Duck, Hen and Stag Cottages, if you are happy that the doors open straight out to open-plan gardens with free-ranging chickens.
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following details:
Name: Barbara Terry
Phone Number: 01805 622542
Email Address: barbara@torridgehouse.co.uk
Website: torridgehouse.co.uk