Dove Cottage, Dittisham

On the edge of Dittisham, in a fabulous position high on a hill, is this lovely modern house. With amazing views over the beautiful Dart estuary and elegant décor, it is relaxing and magnificent accommodation for older families and groups of friends. Steps lead down to the front door and your smart sitting room where your eye will be drawn to the windows which form the front wall of the house, letting in lots of light and views of the river, and which you can open to the patio to bring the outside in. On cooler days, gather around the lovely cosy wood burning stove or cook together in the sleek kitchen with its traditional Aga, preparing meals to enjoy in the dining area with its big table. Up a step from the kitchen is a useful ground floor twin bedroom, and you will find the other three bedrooms upstairs, all en suite and with fantastic views of the Dart estuary. One of the doubles opens to a balcony where you can step out in your pyjamas for early morning vistas. The vast patio along the width of the house is almost another outdoor room in itself, with its table and chairs for alfresco meals and leisurely sundowners looking over the water. A steep path winds down through the garden, a fun place to explore with its garden room where you can sit and prepare drinks and nibbles in the little kitchen area and two ponds with lily pads. From the bottom of the garden, head through the gate which takes you to the heart of the village with its two friendly pubs, shop and jetty where you can catch crabs and board the pedestrian ferry to Greenway where Agatha Christie once lived and which is now managed by the National Trust. This is boating country, where you can hire vessels, moor dinghies and join the sailing school for some tuition. Blackpool Sands is a stunning beach, a curve of turquoise water and golden sand. Dartmouth is an old and fashionable town where shopaholics will love the boutiques and galleries, or you can play golf at the Country Club. With beautiful scenery and lots to enjoy in the area, Dove Cottage is an outstanding holiday home for a Devon break.