Christian Holiday Cottage, Devon — In a Quiet North Devon Village
This Christian holiday cottage, Devon, occupies one end of a substantial 17th-century longhouse built from cob and thatch, in the quiet North Devon village of Beaford. Cob — a traditional building material of clay, sand, straw and water, built up in courses and then capped with thatch — has been used across Devon for centuries, and an estimated 20,000 cob homes are thought to still be standing in the county today. Beaford itself sits on a ridge above the River Torridge, five miles south-east of Great Torrington, and remains a small, close-knit community built around its own pub, its parish church, and a scattering of farms down quiet lanes.
That parish church, glimpsed from the cottage across the village green, has stood at the heart of Beaford for the best part of a thousand years. Dedicated today to St George and All Saints, and Grade I listed for its architectural and historic importance, it retains a Norman font from the 12th century alongside a 15th-century doorway, arches and windows — a place of continuous Christian worship through the whole of England’s religious history, from before the Reformation to the present day. The Sunday services mentioned by name in this listing are held in a building that has quietly outlasted plague, civil war and reformation alike.
Just five miles away, Great Torrington’s own “historic interest” centres on one of the final battles of the English Civil War. On 16 February 1646, Parliamentarian forces under Sir Thomas Fairfax fought their way into the Royalist-held town, and the battle came to an end when gunpowder stored in the town’s parish church was accidentally set alight. The church was later rebuilt and remains in regular use; each February the town holds a torch-lit procession to mark the anniversary, and the Torrington 1646 heritage trail and museum tell the story in full for anyone who’d like to follow it up.
All of this sits within easy reach of a cottage built for slowing down rather than rushing about. Guests staying at Beehive Cottage often use it as a quiet base from which to reach the North Devon National Landscape coastline at Clovelly, Hartland Quay and Westward Ho!, or to walk sections of the Tarka Trail that follows the River Torridge past Rosemoor. With no garden of its own but a meadow and village green close by, and a well-stocked shelf of books, maps and games inside, the cottage suits guests who want their days led by weather, walking boots and unhurried conversation rather than a packed itinerary.
Rosemoor has its own quiet history of offering rest to those who needed it. Lady Anne Berry began the garden here in 1959 and spent thirty years building up its plant collection before gifting the house, garden and surrounding pasture to the Royal Horticultural Society in 1988; it opened to the public in 1990 and has welcomed visitors ever since. During the Second World War, decades before that gift, Rosemoor was lent to the Red Cross as a rest home for Londoners recovering from the Blitz — a fitting earlier chapter for a garden that, in its own quiet way, still offers exactly that.
Beehive Cottage is perfect for:
- Walkers and readers wanting a simple, unhurried retreat, with the cottage’s own shelves of books, maps and walking guides
- Solo travellers or couples watching their budget, thanks to per-person pricing and a 10% discount for clergy and church staff
- Guests drawn to living Christian heritage, from Beaford’s Norman font to Great Torrington’s rebuilt civil-war church
- Anyone wanting easy access to Dartmoor, Exmoor and the North Devon coast without a long drive
- Owners of one small, well-behaved dog
Location
Beehive Cottage, Exeter Road, Beaford, Winkleigh, Devon EX19 8LR.
Nearest Town(s)
Great Torrington (5 miles), Bideford (12 miles), Barnstaple (14 miles), Exeter (30 miles).
How to get there:
It is possible to reach the cottage by public transport (train to Exeter St David’s and then a local bus from Exeter to Beaford which stops right opposite the cottage). However, ideally one needs a car to access the area easily.
Nearest Town:
Great Torrington (5 miles), Bideford (12 miles), Barnstaple (14 miles), Exeter (30 miles).
Local Area
Great Torrington is the nearest town with supermarkets (Lidl, Co-op, Morrisons, M&S at the garage) and local shops as well as pubs, cafes and restaurants. Most of the shops are small, independent outfits. Torrington is also home to Dartington Glass, with a large factory outlet. It also has a swimming pool with sauna.
Beaford itself has a good pub, The Globe, two doors down from the cottage. Many of the surrounding villages also have characterful pubs. The parish church at Beaford has services every Sunday.
Bideford and Barnstaple have a larger selection of shops, and Barnstaple has out-of-town stores.
The area is slightly off the beaten track, although the spectacular North Devon coast is easily accessible at Northam Burrows and Westward Ho, and the north Cornish coast is also not far away. The coastal path is one of the great attractions of the area, with Clovelly, Hartland Quay and Bude being particularly popular destinations. Both Dartmoor and Exmoor are easily accessibly from the cottage, and there are views of Dartmoor from the top end of the village.
Beaford is one of any number of small, hidden villages down quiet country lanes worth visiting. Torrington, Bideford and Exeter are full of historic interest. There are numerous footpaths from the village and in the area. Just a few miles from Beaford, Rosemoor RHS gardens are very fine, with a nice café and shop, selling a wide selection of plants as well as gifts and books. There are a couple of small nature reserves close to the village.
Facilities
The cottage is a ‘two-up two-down’ end of a large, 17th century thatched and cob house, possibly where the animals were originally housed. It is homely, cosy and comfortable, rather than plush. It’s well supplied with books, maps, walks and local information as well as works of art by local artists. It will particularly suit those who love walking and reading, and who appreciate the quiet and simplicity of the property, as well as those looking for cheaper rental (especially in the height of the season, when even small cottages can command large sums).
The cottage sleeps 2-3 in a double and single bedroom, both with sinks and electric heaters. Most visitors bring their own bedding and towels and clean the cottage before they go, but bedding and linen can be provided at a small extra cost. Similarly, the cottage can be cleaned for a small payment. Downstairs, there is a main living room, with a record-player and radio, plenty of games and good wifi. There is a table and chairs which can be pulled out for dining, a well-equipped kitchen and a bathroom with toilet, bath and shower. Storage heaters in the kitchen and living room provide the background heat, and there is an additional electric heater in the living room and a fan heater in the bathroom.
There is no garden but there is a meadow just across the way where visitors can sit out, and there are benches on the village green next to the churchyard.
Parking is on the street outside or a short distance away up the road by the school (it is possible to park to load and unload right by the cottage door).
By and large, I prefer not to have animals but a small, well-behaved dog may be permitted.
Due to the lack of parking, the property is not suitable for anyone with mobility issues.
Additional Photos
Click to enlarge
Costs
Charges are based on season (low, mid and high) and occupancy (single, double and three person), ranging from £25 per person per night for triple occupancy in low season to £50 per person per night single occupancy in high season. There is a discount for weekly bookings (which are preferred); weekly costs range from £250 in low season for single occupancy to £580 in high season for triple occupancy.
10 per cent discount is offered to clergy and church staff.
Cleaning: Note the arrangement described above under ‘Facilities’
Energy Provision:
Electricity (measured by metre) is in addition to rental costs.
Availability
Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times:
Normally not before 3 pm and departure by 11 am.
Booking arrangements: Saturday to Saturday, except by special arrangement outside of main holiday seasons
Pets: One small dog – by negotiation
Contact the Owner
If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following contact details:
Name: Nicola Slee
Phone Number: 07950 215217
Email Address: beehivecottagebeaford@gmail.com
Website: www.beehivecottagebeaford.com