Gitcombe - Hayloft

	Sleeps 2+an infant in 1xdouble
	Gitcombe has both indoor and outdoor (May - Mid Sept) swimming pools. The indoor pool has Roman style wide steps steps - ideal for sitting and splashing. There's aslo a heated outdoor whirlpool that little ones can use with supervision.
	Treatments via a visiting beauty and massage therapist can be pre-booked.
	Selection of traditional children’s board games in each cottage. Tennis racquets, tennis balls, buckets, spades, crabbing nets and lines available to use on help yourself basis in wooden shed
	brilliant hand carved wooden playground includes a train, pirate ship and infant, child & garden chair swing, tennis court, basket ball post and net
	cows and sheep in surrounding fields and lots of natural wildlife. Resident pooch Tango enjoys playing with children and fetching balls and sticks
	soft play room with ball pool
	Beautiful Blackpool Sands beach 20 minutes away, privately owned with mother and baby facilities, and the award winning child friendly Venus Café serving organic food
	Cots, highchairs, socket covers and plastic crockery are provided on request. Stairgates are not neccessary at the Hayloft and the ladder steps to the loft storage area can be easily removed.
	List of trusted baby sitters available. CRB baby sitters also available.
	Private chef services available by pre-arrangement
	Delicious ready meals available for delivery to your cottage. Two waterside pubs within a10 minute drive, or 45 minute walk (each way).
	Large, safely enclosed, balcony with valley views. Furnished with teak furniture.

Overview

The Hayloft is one of eight stylish and luxurious character cottages within the exclusive Gitcombe Country Cottages Estate near Dartmouth. Each boasts tasteful Scandinavian Country-chic influenced interiors and luxurious touches granite topped kitchens plus a scenic and tranquil setting nestling in their own private valley in the heart of Devon's sought-after South Hams region.

As well as a stunningly scenic setting, a short drive from Dartmouth and Conde Nast Traveller award-wining Blackpool Sands, the cottages also have a private health club with large indoor heated ...read more inside

Overview [continued]

... pool, Klafs sauna and steam rooms, plus a kids soft play area and a sun deck with outdoor whirlpool offering truly beautiful inspiring views over the rolling hills, woodland and meadows of valley setting . There's also an outdoor pool (open in summer), all-weather tennis courts and beautifully hand carved wooden play area. All in all, Gitcombe is just as enchanting for kids as it is for adults - who could fail to have fun playing spot the moo cow across the valley whilst splashing about in the outdoor hot tub!

The Hayloft is a contemporary studio apartment with high vaulted ceilings, real wood flooring a luxurious bathroom and a special little balcony overlooking the valley - ideal for wildlife-spotting over morning coffee or evening drinks. The apartment is a perfect hideaway, or even honeymoon destination, for a couple and a baby with its king-sized double bed and space for a cot (travel cot provided). Crawlers and toddlers love the open plan living, dining, sleeping area where they can roam safely always in site of grown-ups. The separate kitchen area comes complete with granite worktop, dishwasher, washer/drier, fridge (with ice box), microwave, ceramic hob and oven. Whilst the aforementioned bathroom is large with bath with shower over and heated towel rail. Flatscreen TV, Freeview, DVD and CD player and full electric central heating throughout. Room for car in general car parking area. Sleeps 2+infant

Short breaks of 3-4 nights are available between Sept-May annual, with shorter stays (min 2nts) and flexible arrival days accommodated Nov-Mid March. See prices tab for more details and use 'Ask the Owner a Question' under 'Owners' tab for special requests.

Local Knowledge

Gitcombe lies in Devon’s exclusive South Hams, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with beautiful coastline to the south and the wild landscape of Dartmoor National Park to the north. Blackpool Sand, voted Best Family Beach in Britain by Conde Nast Traveller Magazine is just a few minutes drive away and boasts a special toddler’s sandpit, paddling pool area and an award winning café/take away serving organic childrens meals.

Further afield are the glorious sandy beaches and coves of Salcombe, Hope Cove, Bigbury, with shallow shelving waters, ideal for paddling and little swimmers. May be take a ride on the sea tractor to Burgh Island with it’s unique Art Deco hotel (non residents not actively encouraged in the hotel). The nearby pretty waterside village of Dittisham on the River Dart, offers unbeatable crabbing opportunities, the perfect low cost activity to while away hours for little ones and parents alike. Then stop at the ever popular Anchorstone Café for a glass of wine and some local mussels whilst you watch the boats sail past. Also within a short drive is Pennywell Farm with its brilliant hands-on attractions. Don’t miss their adorable miniature pigs.

Venture up on to Dartmoor and see ponies and their adorable foals wandering freely and then head to the Miniature Pony Centre at Mortonhampstead, they have miniature donkeys too. There are two steam railways in the area to spoil the boys, one chuffs along the coast over at Kingswear and the other winds up river to Buckfastleigh. Woodlands leisure park has a vast indoor play zone for little one and more to amuse older children outside.

Nearby Dartmouth is a stylish little town, set on the River Dart, with a long waterfront and lots of boats and waterside activity to enjoy, not to mention chic art galleries, boutiques and fabulous eating places. For relaxed fine dining try Angelique restaurant now run by the Michelin star group 10 in 8 who run several restaurants across the country including L'ortolan in Reading. Also worth noting is the new Rockfish Grill owned by Mitch Tonks' group the owner of the fabulously popular Seahorse restaurant, Rockfish Grill offers equally popular more family orientated dining. For traditional fish and chips why not try Rockfish takeaway in Bayards cove ( Dartmouth), perfect enjoyed quayside in the summer whilst watching the boats float by. For a gourmet treat they also offer takeaway lobster.

A little further afield, lies Salcombe, another chic waterside town. Riverford Field Kitchen, part of the Riverford group(who can deliver fresh organic food boxes to Gitcombe cottages), offers farm tours, sometimes tractor tours, to see how their organic vegetables are grown and then lunch in it’s fab Field Kitchen, with great food and canteen style tables and benches. The menu caters for meat eaters too. And for lovers of wine and cheese, don’t miss Sharpham Vineyard, at the forefront of wine making in the UK. Visit its winery for some great award winning white wines and the farm shop for divine Sharpham cheeses made at its own creamery. Then head for the Vineyard Café for more excellent food.

A big hit with guests in the Totnes Rare Breeds Farm which is right on Gitcombes doorstep and offers plenty of opportunity for stroking, patting and cuddling the animals.

• 88 Severn Road, Cardiff, CF11 9EA

• +44 (0)845 489 0140

• info@babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk
• www.babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk