Gitcombe House

BFB's Overview.

As the Gitcombe Estate appears through the dense trees and wildflowers that border its long drive, it’s clear you've arrived somewhere very special. The setting, in its own private valley, is both magical and instantly relaxing with rural views stretching as far as the eye can see and, nestled amongst them, two pools, a hot tub, a playground, tennis courts and a cluster of nine elegant cottages sleeping from 2-13 ranging from a Georgian manor house to a contemporary wood-framed and glazed retreat, plus a cluster of converted barns with private terraces offering sweeping views over the valley.

Walk into any of the cottages and it's easy to why they've previously been ranked in a Times newspaper 50 Best Cottages feature. Standards of interiors, furnishings and fixtures are exceptionally high with top quality mattresses, fabrics and hand-painted kitchens with granite worktops and all mod cons including huge American fridge freezers - perfect for stowing a freshly delivered Waitrose shop to last the break! Bathrooms are equally 'top spec' with underfloor heating, quality fittings and luxurious REN toiletries. Despite their high level of sophistication, the cottages are wonderfully child-friendly too with integrated stair gates, window locks and safety corded blinds as standard.

For those who can tear the kids away from the pools, soft play and playgrounds, Gitcombe's location is pretty special too. It's less than five miles from the bistros and boutiques of the yachting town of Dartmouth and roughly the same to the 'Conde Nast Traveller - Best Family Beach' winner, Blackpool Sands.

Accommodation Overview:

Gitcombe house sleeps 13 + infants in five bedrooms and seamlessly blends period features and furnishings with modern essentials and family friendly extras to create the perfect, country bolthole.

Guests enter into a large, flag-stoned entrance hall with coat store and turned staircase leading to the generous first floor landing with armchair and full length mirror.

The generous, kitchen/breakfast room (5m x 5m) has bespoke kitchen cupboards, full 'batterie de cuisine' and ample catering space for large family groups. There's an oil fired Aga along with a conventional electric oven and hob, American style fridge-freezer, walk in pantry, digital radio and Bose iPod docking station. For casual meals there's an in room dining table, chairs and pew bench. The handy utility room is accessed via the kitchen and has a washing machine, tumble drier, sink and drying area.

For more formal dining or special occasion meals there's an elegant dining room with an extending mahogany dining table and chairs. There's a beautiful, french chandelier, open fire place, CD player and antique rocking horse.

The spacious drawing room is an ideal for relaxing after a busy day making most of the grounds. It has sash windows and original shutters to two sides overlooking the front garden and wider estate. There's comfortable sofas, armchairs, an open fire with fender, 47" flat screen digital TV, Blue -ray DVD player and Bose sound dock.

There's also a cosy snug room on the ground floor which acts as the perfect 'chill out' room for little ones with a wide screen TV, DVD player and selection of DVDs and games.

Bedroom one is a fabulously appointed, large proportioned master bedroom with en-suite. It has a super king mahogany sleigh bed, wardrobe, easy chair and writing bureau. There's a TV and space for a cot. The en-suite has a bath with shower attachment, WC, basin and heated towel rail.

Bedroom two is a spacious family room (5.5m x 4m) with super king bed (sip and link beds can be made up as two single beds on request) and a further single bed. There's a huge wardrobe, cast iron fireplace, TV and space for a cot.

Bedroom three is a compact twin room (can be made up as super king on request) at the front of the house with TV.

Bedroom four is another large double room, it has sash windows to two sides and overlooks the front garden and grounds. It has a white forged iron, Victorian style 'And So To Bed' super king bed and space for a cot.

Finally bedroom five is a further large double with mahogany king size sleigh bed, cast iron fire place and room for a cot.

Each bedroom has luxury pocket sprung mattresses and blackout blinds.

The house has four bathrooms in total including the master bedrooms en-suite. On the ground floor there is a shower room with drench head shower, toilet, hand basin and heated towel rail. On the first floor there is a generously proportioned family bathroom with cast iron slipper bath, separate shower with french head, hand basin, toilet and bidet. There is also an additional, separate toilet located across the landing with original and working 'thunder box' WC.

Outside the house has an enclosed garden to the front with lawn, flowers and shrubs. A wrought iron gate leads to parking, grounds and outdoor swimming pool. The enclosed rear garden overlooks the grounds and has a wooden dining table, chairs and BBQ. The rear gate leads out to the grounds and lesuite facilities.

The house has parking for 2/3 cars directly in front of the house and space for further cars in the general parking area.

Two traditional, wooden (assembled) cots are available in this property. Additional pop up style travel cots available by prior arrangement.

Location Information

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 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.