Cottages in Devon

Where the cottages are

BritStays lists 1102 cottages in Devon, and they cluster in a handful of towns. Torquay has the most (73), followed by Ilfracombe (71), Dartmouth (69), Brixham (64) and Paignton (62). Bideford (57), Salcombe (55) and Woolacombe and Croyde (41) complete the busiest areas. Torquay, Brixham and Paignton together account for nearly 200 listings, so if your dates are fixed or you need a particular size of cottage, that's where you'll have the widest choice. There are also cottages in Dawlish, Exmouth and Sidmouth if you'd rather look beyond the main clusters.

Coast or countryside

Many of the example stays have seaside-sounding names, such as Turtle Beach and Starfish Shack in Paignton or Coastal Retreat in Ilfracombe. However, only six listings in this set mention sea views. If a view of the water matters to you, don't rely on a cottage's name. Filter for sea views and ask the owner to confirm what you'll actually see from the windows.

If you're after walking and open landscape, Dartmoor National Park is the main draw. The busiest cottage areas on BritStays are towns, though, so check the map carefully before you book. A cottage in a well-stocked town may still be a fair drive from the moor.

Families, couples and groups

Most of the example stays sleep four, which suits a couple with two children or two couples sharing. A few stand out for other kinds of trip:

• Couples: Wow Holidays - The Honeymoon Suite in Woolacombe and Croyde sleeps 2.
• Larger families: Deepend in Dawlish sleeps 7, 19 Salcombe Retreat sleeps 6, and Shells Shore in Paignton sleeps 5.
• Standard family of four: Jubilee Cottage in Dawlish, Kittiwakes Cottage Appledore Devon in Bideford, Blurridge Barn in Combe Martin, Upper Forge in Salcombe, and The Pig on the Hill - Saddleback and The Pig on the Hill - Cumberland in Westward Ho!

Cottages for larger groups are fewer, so if you need space for six or more, start looking earlier than you otherwise would.

Bringing the dog

Only five cottages in this set are flagged as pet friendly, and the same number mention a hot tub. That doesn't necessarily mean other owners refuse dogs, because facility details aren't always fully filled in. Still, don't assume. Contact the owner before booking and ask about the number and size of dogs allowed and any extra charge.

Getting there and getting around

Transport is where the data is most useful. Just over half the cottages (584) have EV charging nearby. 451 are near a bus stop and 215 are near a train station. If you'd like to arrive by train, Paignton is a good place to start: Turtle Beach, Starfish Shack and Shells Shore are all near a bus stop, a train station and EV charging. Jubilee Cottage in Dawlish offers the same combination.

Only 13 listings mention parking and just nine mention WiFi. That almost certainly reflects gaps in the listings rather than reality, but if you're driving or need to work during your stay, ask before you pay.

What to do once you're there

There's a good spread of things to do across the county:

• Animals: Paignton Zoo is an easy family day out if you're staying in Paignton.
• National Trust houses and gardens: Coleton Fishacre, Bradley Manor and Overbeck's Museum and Gardens.
• Castles: Dartmouth Castle is a natural choice if you're based in Dartmouth. Tiverton Castle and Hemyock Castle are further options.
• Stately homes and museums: Escot House, and the Coldharbour Woolen Museum, listed under Sidmouth.
• The outdoors: Dartmoor offers walking for when you want open country rather than town streets.

Opening times and seasons vary, so check before you set off, especially outside the summer months.

When to book

Families tied to school holidays face the most competition, particularly in summer and at half term. If that's you, book as early as you can. This matters most if you need a cottage sleeping six or more, accept dogs, or have sea views, because the listings above show how few of those there are. Woolacombe and Croyde has fewer cottages than the other main areas, so options there can run out sooner.

Couples and anyone free to travel outside the holidays usually have more room to wait. Before you commit, run through a quick checklist:

• Parking
• WiFi
• Pet policy
• Exact location on the map

Get the answers in writing from the owner.