Holiday cottages near Exeter that won’t disappoint, including dog-friendly homes, log cabins, and lettings with hot tubs.
Out of all the holiday locations in Devon and the south west, the historic city of Exeter has to be high on your list.
The cathedral city may be small in size, but it has been around since Roman times. As a result, it’s stuffed to the brim with historical sites such as the Gothic Exeter Cathedral, medieval underground passages, Exeter Castle and city walls, and it has museums such as the Royal Albert Memorial Museum.
While the lively and historic quayside and the characterful city centre are some excellent selling points, Exeter is also perfectly located for exploring the South Devon coast, the Teign Valley, and the Dartmoor National Park or spending family days out at the Crealy Adventure Park. Whether you’re plotting out hikes over the Jurassic Coast and the South West Coast Path, exploring the beautiful buildings around the city of Exeter or sailing down the River Exe, base yourself at one of the following holiday cottages in Devon for an adventurous, comfortable, and memorable Exeter break.
The Top 6 Holiday Cottages Near Exeter, Devon:
1. City Reach (Exeter, Devon)
2. Willow Lodge, South View Lodges (Shillingford St George, Devon)
3. Haldon Forest Lodge (Oxencombe, Devon)
4. 11 Red Rock Apartments (Dawlish Warren, Devon)
5. Swan Cottage (Dawlish, Devon)
6. York House (Sidmouth, Devon)
7. Shimoda (Sidmouth, Devon)
8. Cobblers Cottage (Sidmouth, Devon)
City Reach
Location: Exeter, Devon
Best for: A bungalow within walking distance of city centre attractions such as Exeter Cathedral and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum
Positioned within walking distance of Exeter city centre, City Reach certainly does what it says on the tin. From this traditional, bungalow-style two-bedroom cottage, the beautiful city is at your fingertips, including Exeter Cathedral and the River Exe. The cottage has walled gardens and a gravel patio with undercover seating for four, so guests will have plenty of opportunities to soak in the fresh air of the suburbs, while still being 35 minutes’ walk from South Devon’s big smoke. If you’d rather catch a bus into the city instead, there’s also a bus stop a few minutes’ walk away.
As it turns out, City Reach isn’t just within reach of the cathedral city. Dawlish Warren, Exmouth, and other spots on the South Devon coast are also easily accessed. Within half an hour’s drive, you could be windsurfing in Exmouth or surfing in Dawlish Warren. As for hiking in river valleys and vast moorlands, Dartmoor National Park is less than half an hour’s drive from City Reach too.
Facilities: There will be no unforeseen parking troubles at City Reach since there’s a parking space in front of the garage at the back of the property and a generous amount of street parking. The two double bedrooms have been provided with a wardrobe, a bedside table and a lamp to make guests stay cosy. So, make yourself at home in the open-plan living area, which includes a smart TV and WiFi, or head straight for the kitchen to sort out a picnic for the garden. With an electric oven and hob, fridge-freezer, washing machine and microwave, you’ll have everything you need to let your culinary creativity flow.
Willow Lodge, South View Lodges
Location: Shillingford St George, Devon
Best for: A chalet-style holiday with a hot tub
One look at the bubbling hot tub on the private wooden decking or the wooden cabin surrounded by green foliage and you might already be convinced that Willow Lodge, South View Lodges was designed for your holiday. The luxury hot tub spa is definitely a big selling point for this wooden cabin, as is its location in the middle of a six-acre woodland, where you’re welcome to walk, cycle, angle or play golf. Located next to a lake as well, the scenery is simply sublime. In fact, you may be tempted to unwind on the decking all morning, day and night.
However, the location of Willow Lodge would say otherwise. Based just outside of Shillingford St George, the holiday rental is 10 minutes’ drive south of Exeter city centre, 15 minutes from the Teign Valley, and under half an hour from Dartmoor National Park. If you get carried away with the day’s activities and wind up with sore muscles, there’s a wood burner inside to keep you warm and a hot tub-based massage waiting on deck.
Facilities: Pull out a chair for your family member or significant other and lay out the day’s dinner on the alfresco dining set overlooking the lake. With full control over a fully-equipped kitchen, you can get as creative as you like. Modern but homely décor strikes the ideal balance between comfort and style. For example, the master bedroom has a four-poster bed draped with traditional but stylish lace curtains. In case you’re not done with the soaks for the day, there’s also a bathtub in the bathroom.
Haldon Forest Lodge
Location: Oxencombe, Devon
Best for: A dog-friendly wooden cabin with a hot tub alongside Haldon Forest
Haldon Forest Lodge is another holiday cottage that doesn’t hold back on style and comfort. Situated alongside the 3500-acre Haldon Forest, the Exeter accommodation could be mistaken for a chalet in France or Switzerland rather than South Devon. There’s bicycle storage for those who’d like to weave between the trees on two wheels and a hot tub to welcome you back after a day’s cycling or hiking. Since the hot tub is situated under a sheltered part of the decking and in view of the large gravel driveway only, guests can enjoy their soaks in privacy.
From the property, there’s a forest trail leading the way to the Haldon Forest Centre and another heading towards a Go Ape activity centre, where there are treetop obstacles and zip wires. Situated near Oxencombe, the holiday letting is also a prime option for those looking for cottages in Exeter, as it’s only a 20-minute drive from the city centre. No matter how much energy you expend swinging through the trees or sightseeing in the big city, there’s a decking area with a pizza oven and seating for four to look forward to upon your return.
Facilities: With huge sliding doors and wide windows, Haldon Forest Lodge is bathed in plenty of natural South Devon light and there’s always the chance that you might spot a passing deer. If you’re ready to explore the interior after ogling over the views from the decking, the homely living space has minimalistic lighting and a fireplace with a log burner. There are two bedrooms, along with an ensuite and a family bathroom. Outside, there are three parking spaces and a type-2 electric car charging point. The kitchen is fully equipped with a chic breakfast bar, electric oven and hob, microwave, fridge-freezer, dishwasher and washer-dryer. The property also permits two small dogs.
11 Red Rock Apartments
Location: Dawlish Warren, Devon
Best for: A Dawlish Warren apartment with a sea-facing balcony
If you’re looking for a seaside getaway within reach of the city, 11 Red Rock Apartments should fit the bill nicely. Within walking distance of the Dawlish Warren seafront, this two-bedroom, first-floor apartment couldn’t be more conveniently located for those wanting to climb sand dunes, picnic on the beach or source simple amusements in the seaside fairground. Naturally, the apartment has plenty of fish and chip shops, bars and restaurants in the surrounding area but there’s also the option of sitting on the table and chairs on the balcony overlooking the glinting blue ocean.
It’s safe to say that 11 Red Rock Apartments gets its fair share of scenic beach sunsets. When you’re feeling like some city scenery too, visit Exeter with a short half an hour drive north. With a compact and cosy apartment as your base, you’ll be comfortably prepared for any day trips into the Dartmoor National Park, the River Teign or Crealy Theme Park.
Facilities: 11 Red Rock Apartments is typical of a characterful coastal apartment. It’s painted blue on the outside and fitted with a sea-facing balcony, which has a set of four chairs positioned for scenic coffees and sunset dinners. The interior has a compact but efficient kitchen space, ideal for preparing sandwiches, home-cooked meals and beach picnics using equipment such as an electric oven and grill, electric hob, microwave, fridge, freezer and washing machine. The master bedroom and twin bedroom share a family bathroom and an ensuite bathroom, both with convenient walk-in showers to rinse away any sand from the beach.
Swan Cottage
Location: Dawlish, Devon
Best for: A quiet cottage a stone’s throw from the Dawlish seafront
If you’re been searching for self-catering holiday cottages in darling Dawlish located a short walk from its sloping golden sands, Swan Cottage is a spectacular option. It’s perfectly situated in a quiet location a stone’s throw from the seafront and local pubs, restaurants, fish and chip shops and quirky independent stores. Pet-friendly and fully self-catering, Swan Cottage isn’t over the top in the slightest. There’s a small, decked courtyard with tasteful plants and a wooden furniture set and minimalistic, modern décor across two floors, two bedrooms and one bathroom.
When you’re not challenging yourself to the arcade games on Dawlish’s seafront, retreat to your very own games room, which has a games console and a wall-mounted TV. The holiday cottage is within driving distance of Dartmoor National Park, where there are walking and cycling paths galore, especially around Fingle Bridge and the Tamar Valley. From Dawlish Warren, cycle into the nature reserve, or pick your way across the Dawlish Town Trail, café-hopping as you go.
Facilities: Duck through the French doors and into the courtyard-style garden, which may very well become the setting for your family meals and morning lattes. There’s a cosy living space with a wall-mounted TV for those who’d rather stay inside. As an open-plan living space, socialising will be easy, whether you’re chopping veg in the fully-equipped kitchen or lounging on the sofa. A large walk-in shower is another handy feature, given the location of the holiday letting in one of South Devon’s leading family-friendly seaside resorts.
York House
Location: Sidmouth, Devon
Best for: A quirky duplex apartment in a seafront Georgian terrace house
Along Sidmouth’s seaside promenade, there’s a line of white Georgian terraces that look out over the waves. York House is one of them. Unlike cottages in Exeter city centre, there are no views over pedestrian streets and city traffic. Instead, the duplex apartment’s balcony looks over miles of blue ocean, and naturally, the beach is just a short walk from the doorstep as a result. The balcony isn’t the only outside space; there’s also a sun trap in the form of a rooftop terrace, lined with green astroturf and provided with a second set of outdoor furniture.
Quirky and characterful are words that could be used to describe York House. Purple-painted shutters cover the windows, and there are old-fashioned wooden deckchairs, a stylish sofa with tassels, chandeliers and tall, elegant lampshades. The kitchen is colourful too, with paintings of the seaside, integrated bookshelves, flowers and a skylight. That’s enough to distract you from Sidmouth itself, although you might not welcome the distraction, since the Regency town is part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast, offering striking red sandstone cliffs and a relaxing swimming beach.
Facilities: Roll out of bed, draw the sash curtains and head onto the balcony to see what the sea is saying today. You might want to call by the kitchen first, where there’s an oven, microwave, dishwasher, dishes and utensils, or freshen up in the modern, marble-effect bathroom. When it’s approaching sunset, head to the barbecue grill on the roof terrace. The living room is a cosy place to curl up with a good book, surrounded by period features such as a fireplace, ornamental mirror and chandeliers.
Shimoda
Location: Sidmouth, Devon
Best for: A clifftop cottage with sea views and easy access to the South West Coast Path
Who can argue against a terrace with sea views over Sidmouth Bay and an outdoor charcoal barbecue and firepit? Situated above Sidmouth, Shimoda is a coastal getaway under five minutes’ walk away from the town’s Victorian promenade and beach. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this is no cramped seafront chalet. The holiday cottage is spacious and sprinkled with modern mid-century art décor including abstract paintings, sleek leather sofas and a flame-effect fire.
There are plush, grey sofas set out in front of the sliding French doors for those who’d like to take in the views at all times of the day. However, outside, the terrace has two different dining sets, all with views of the sea, of course. When you’re ready to tear yourself away from the seaside abode, the property is within walking distance of the South West Coast Path, which passes by Branscombe, Beer, Seaton and Ladam Bay’s red rock formations. Exeter is 40 minutes’ drive to the northwest, and Crealy Theme Park is en route for families seeking simple thrills.
Facilities: If you’re a foodie, you might find yourself congregating in the Shaker kitchen, where the granite surfaces, rattan breakfast island, blender, Nespresso and Dulce Gusto coffee machine are enough to bring out your inner chef. The living room is equipped with a smart TV, while the bedrooms have features such as dressing tables or a balcony. With three different bathrooms, you should avoid any long queues in the mornings. There will be no battling over where to enjoy a morning coffee either, with an oak dining table indoors, two sets of dining areas outside, a breakfast bar and the sofas to choose from.
Cobblers Cottage
Location: Sidmouth, Devon
Best for: A small and characterful terrace cottage just off Sidmouth high street
Subtly tucked into a terraced Sidmouth street, Cobblers Cottage is well-situated for holidays by the sea. Within walking distance of the high street’s boutique shops, coffee shops and various eating holes, the pet-friendly cottage is in an excellent location. There’s access to the South West Coast Path from the nearby seafront, and kayaks or paddleboards are available for hire on the seafront if you’d like to take your explorations onto the sea water.
Based down a quiet road just away from the high street and with a grey-blue exterior, the cottage is small but cosy and packed with character. It’s ideal for a couple looking for a short break or a longer romantic getaway with easy access to the sea, the coastal path and Exeter, which is 40 minutes’ drive away. Handily, one pet is allowed to join you for an additional charge.
Facilities: Traditional, discreet and decorated with hanging baskets, Cobblers has a charming exterior. Through the green-painted front door, marked with the house name, there’s a compact, open-plan living space with a table and chairs, a comfortable sofa, a modern kitchen and a wall-mounted flat-screen TV. The staircase leads to a mezzanine level, complete with a double bed and an ensuite bathroom with a relaxing rainfall shower. What else could you need?
Book Your Dream Self-Catering Holiday with Breakfree Holidays Today
If you’re not quite swept away by the above properties, continue flicking through Breakfree Holiday’s excellent selection of cottages in Devon. There are holiday cottages for everyone, including apartments, log cabins, and lettings with dog-friendly and family-friendly features.