Book with the owner direct
Owner/Property
Manager: Wendy Bardner
Book this Cottage by contacting the owner
directly to confirm
price, property details and availability.
Booking directly with the owner means you pay the owners price with
no added booking fees or extra charges.
Overview
Description
Tucked away in a tranquil riverside village, home to 'Tarka the Otter', this beautifully presented private cottage offers the perfect escape, just a short drive from North Devon’s breathtaking sandy beaches and dramatic coastline. Ideally situated for outdoor enthusiasts, why not enjoy surfing, swimming, paddleboarding, crabbing, and rock pooling—or simply unwind with scenic walks along the South West Coast Path. With both Dartmoor and Exmoor within easy reach, it’s an ideal base for exploring the very best of North Devon and North Cornwall.The cottage itself is set on a quiet lane, just a two-minute stroll from the friendly village pub, which also serves food, and five minutes from the village park featuring a well-equipped playground that’s perfect for children of all ages. There’s also direct access from the village on to the traffic-free Tarka Trail—a dedicated cycling and walking route stretching across North Devon—turn left and head out into nature and the peaceful surroundings of lush countryside or turn right and head out towards the coast, following the banks of the River Torridge.
For shopping and entertainment, the charming town of Great Torrington is just a five-minute drive away. Here, you’ll find a mix of convenience and character, with supermarkets like M&S Simply Food, Co-op, and Lidl alongside independent shops and a small local market. The town also boasts a vibrant arts centre, cinema, theatre, and a swimming pool for rainy-day fun or relaxing afternoons.
Just ten minutes away, the historic port town of Bideford offers even more variety, with larger supermarkets, an array of shops, cosy cafés, and great restaurants. It’s also home to the lively Burton Art Gallery and its delightful French café, as well as a large riverside park featuring an excellent playground and a spacious outdoor paddling pool—ideal for hot summer days.
Families will also find plenty to explore nearby, with a host of attractions including The Big Sheep and The Milky Way adventure parks, Watermouth Castle, Exmoor Zoo, the Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park, North Devon Wake and Aqua Park, Lynton & Lynmouth Funicular railway, Woody Bay steam railway, Dartington Crystal and the stunning RHS Rosemoor Gardens—all just a short drive away.
The beaches are the main focus with our closest and most family friendly being Instow and Westward Ho! but the popular surf spots of Croyde, Saunton and Woolacombe are just a short drive away and perfect for a day of swimming and sunbathing or strolling for miles along the dunes.
The Cottage:
Thoughtfully designed with comfort and style in mind, this spacious, family-friendly holiday home is spotlessly clean and perfectly set up for modern day living. Whether you're a multi-generational family, a group of friends, or a couple looking for more space than a typical holiday cottage usually offers, you'll find everything here for a relaxing, stress-free stay.
Ground Floor:
Entrance Hallway – Welcoming and practical, with plenty of space to store coats, boots, beach gear, and toys.
Kitchen/Diner – Fully equipped with everything you need: a full-height integrated fridge-freezer, gas hob, electric oven, microwave, dishwasher, wine cooler, filter coffee machine, kettle, toaster, and all the necessary utensils. A farmhouse-style dining table seats six comfortably, with a high chair available.
Family Room – A cosy and relaxed space with a large sofa and armchair, Smart TV, DVD player, books, games, and puzzles. Large double doors open out directly onto the terrace—perfect for keeping an eye on little ones whilst cooking or enjoying a glass of wine in the evening.
Main sitting Room – Light and spacious, with two comfortable sofas, an armchair, a large Smart TV, DVD player, and a lovely wood-burning stove for cosy evenings in the cooler months.
Garden Room – A bright, south-facing room with a comfy sofa and armchair—ideal for a morning coffee, quiet read, or afternoon snooze.
Study – A generous workspace with a large desk and chair, perfect for remote working. High-speed WiFi is available throughout the cottage.
Cloakroom/WC – Includes a built-in washing machine and tumble dryer for added convenience.
First Floor:
Super King Bedroom – Features a zip-and-link bed that can be arranged as two full-size singles on request (please let us know when booking), with drawers, a wardrobe, and a hairdryer.
King Bedroom – A tranquil space with a large wardrobe, drawers and armchair plus an en-suite shower room with sink, WC, heated towel rail, and hairdryer.
Twin Bedroom – Ideal for children or friends, with two full-size single beds, wardrobe, and drawers.
Family Bathroom – A spacious bathroom with a deep double ended bath with shower over, large sink, WC, and heated towel rail.
For Little Travellers:
We’ve thought of everything to make your stay easy with young children. Available on request: travel cot, baby bath, changing mat, step stools, children's toilet seats, potty, stair gate, high chair, toddler bed guard, child’s dining chair, children’s tableware and cutlery, plug-in night lights, plus a lovely selection of puzzles, toys and books. Just let us know what you need when booking.
Included Amenities:
We provide high-quality cotton bed linen, bath and hand towels (please bring your own for the beach), tea towels, 2 toilet rolls per WC, hand soap, washing-up liquid/brush/sponge, dishwasher tablets, cling film, foil, salt and pepper, olive oil, a small amount of laundry detergent and fabric conditioner plus basic cleaning supplies. A starter basket of logs is provided for the wood burner (October to April).
Outside
Enjoy the sunshine on the large, private, south-facing decked terrace, complete with outdoor chairs, sun loungers, a parasol, and comfortable dining furniture. There’s also a gas BBQ—perfect for al fresco meals after a day of adventure. The fully enclosed and gated garden features a lawn and flower beds, with ample space for safely storing bikes, surfboards, and other outdoor gear.
Parking
The private driveway accommodates up to three cars.
Please note: EV charging is not available on site, but facilities are located nearby.
Key Collection:
Keys can be collected in person or from a secure key safe. We live locally and are always happy to provide recommendations or assistance during your stay.
Pet Policy:
We’re sorry, but we do not accept pets.
Booking Information:
During peak season, our standard changeover day is Friday. However, we’re happy to be flexible where possible—so do get in touch if you’re looking for alternative dates.
From mid September to Easter (excluding peak holiday periods), we often offer shorter stays, including 3-night weekends, 4-night midweek breaks, and occasionally 2-night weekend stays. Just drop us a message, and we’ll do our best to accommodate your plans.
Thank you for considering Weare Cottage for your holiday. We’d love for you to read through our guest reviews to get a real sense of what we offer.
If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to get in touch—we’re always happy to chat and are confident you’ll feel right at home here.
Thanks,
Wendy & Duncan
52 Reviews
Leave ReviewFantastic stay!
By MC on 02-Mar-2025We had a fantastic stay at Wendy’s, it exceeded all of our expectations. Every room was even better than the photos, it was tidy and modern but still felt like home. We really appreciated all the small touches that make the big differences. Wendy had given us so many extra’s and gone above and beyond so much more than other hosts that we have stayed with.. Wendy checked in and made sure we were ok as well as being available if we needed anything at all. She also provided early check in and a late check out to help make our stay even better, she’s been the most supportive host we’ve had yet.
Beautiful cottage!
By Tracey Cherry on 02-Aug-2024Thank you for sharing your beautiful cottage! It’s wonderfully equipped, clean, comfy, we felt so welcomed. The cottage and the surrounding area are so peaceful and relaxing and a great spot for exploring North Devon. I’m sure we will be back again one day! Thank you again so much
A wonderful stay
By Jackie Robinson on 11-Jun-2024A wonderful stay for Mum's 70th birthday! a beautiful cottage which had absolutely everything we needed. We enjoyed dinner out locally and also had a lovely bbq. North Devon is an idyllic area to explore, we will be back. thank you to Wendy and Duncan for your hospitality and making this such a lovely cottage!
Lovely village
By JS on 14-Sep-2024Thank you, the house and village were lovely. The house had everything we needed and more. Some lovely little touches that make all the difference! We will be back!
Outstanding cottage
By SB on 23-Sep-2024Outstanding cottage in easy driving distance of the beaches and towns. Really enjoyed our stay, would definitely stay again.
Gorgeous cottage!
By MB on 06-Sep-2024My 3 fantastic friends surprised me by booking 2 nights in this beautiful cottage for my big birthday. Wendy you are the perfect host, making sure we had everything we needed and more. The cottage is immaculate with everything you need for a completely relaxing stay. We all wanted to stay longer and would quite happily live in this gorgeous cottage! We ate one night at the local pub and the locals, landlady and landlord, were all so friendly and welcoming and the food was delicious. This cottage is perfectly positioned to explore North Devon; we ventured out to Appledore, Croyde and Saunton Sands. Hopefully we will be back to visit one day.