It's not often you find yourself soaking up a vista of uninterrupted pastoral bliss in the UK, without even a distant electric daisy chain of pylons in sight. Yet there we were, set back nearly a mile from a winding country lane connecting Totnes to Dartmouth, the only sound being water tumbling down the valley side. This collection of restored, Georgian farm buildings is owned by father and son team Rodney and Peter, and it feels rather like stepping back in time (save for the slick modern elements subtly integrated into each cottage).
The magic of Gitcombe lies not only in its setting. There's a cottage for everyone here: the original farmhouse with its grand dining room, traditional aga and flagstone floors; a row of stone barns converted into cosy cottages with mezzanines and quirky cabin beds for the little ones; and the new jewel in Gitcombe's crown - a stylish contemporary outpost perched near the brow of the valley, sleeping eight. Add to this two heated swimming pools, a sauna, a tennis court, an adventure playground and a hot tub for all to enjoy. If that's not enough, families and couples can hop in the car to find golden sand beaches or explore the wilds of Dartmoor silhouetted in the distance.
Highs
- The view and the silence: rolling pastureland framed by woodland, with no passing road
- Well-equipped cottages with top-notch kitchen appliances and thoughtful features for babies and toddlers
- Kids will absolutely love it here, come rain or shine, with indoor and outdoor pools and play areas set in 14 acres
- Dartmoor, the waterside towns of Salcombe and Dartmouth, and some of Devon's best beaches are all within a 30-min drive
- Cottages to suit all: families, multi-generation breaks and couples; Gitcombe House and the Retreat are ideal for 2-3 families or a special occasion
Lows
- Bedrooms and bathrooms in the smaller cottages are being updated as part of ongoing renovations
- The wonderful deep stone window settings in the barn cottages can make some bedrooms feel a tad dark on a grey day
- On our visit we didn't spot a mirror in every bedroom near a plug socket for styling hair
- The topsy turvy setup (living areas upstairs, bedrooms beneath) in all cottages except Gitcombe House may not suit everyone
- No dogs permitted, although the owners have a friendly retriever
- Boutique Cottages
- 9 cottages for 4-13
- Self-catering
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pools
- Sauna
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
- Laundry Service
- Electric car charger
Rooms
The nine cottages vary in size with 2-6 bedrooms, all decorated in neutral tones with white crisp linen, soft duvets and quirky L-shaped cabin beds for little ones in many of the smaller cottages. All the houses have double and twin rooms, as well as cot options.
The row of five stone barn cottages (sleeping 4-6) and the detached Garden Cottage (sleeps 8) emerge out of the valley sides, rather like organic rocks. This means you enter the cottages at living room level and then descend down wooden staircases to compact bedrooms and bathrooms beneath. You'll find Jane Churchill fabrics in stripes and checks, muted Farrow & Ball colour palettes and Villeroy & Boch bathware. Each has a private deck for sunny days and a cosy log burner for winter evenings.
The original Georgian farmhouse, Gitcombe House (sleeps 13) has a more traditional feel and layout. Rooms are much larger, with higher ceilings, wide sash windows and carefully sourced antique furnishings. With 6 bedrooms, an elegant dining room, large kitchen, comfortable drawing room, snug, and private garden, it's ideal for extended family groups with grandparents, or for a group of friends with children.
Our favourite is the new Gitcombe Retreat (sleeps 8), an ultramodern vision of farmhouse-chic, with four luxurious bedrooms and bathrooms. We loved the huge oak-framed open plan living area with floor to ceiling windows, wrap-around terrace and private hot tub, all with spectacular views of the rolling Devon countryside.
The Retreat has a double disabled access room on the first floor, with an ensuite that cleverly re-imagines helpful rails and handles in sleek chrome design and soothing automatic lighting. There's also a twin room and shower room on the ground floor of Gitcombe House for those not able to tackle stairs.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
Each cottage has a fully-fitted designer kitchen, with Fisher Paykel ovens and hobs, Miele appliances, Dualit toasters and everything you need to prepare meals for the whole family (there's even kids' plastic cutlery and crockery).
Outside, you'll find barbecues and wooden outdoor dining furniture. Gitcombe Retreat and Gitcombe House also have fantastic larders. Stock up on all food and drink for your stay before you arrive. Helpfully, you can also order food to be delivered to your cottage. Local businesses include Annie's of Totnes, which can deliver fruit and veg boxes; Riverford Organic Farmers, Waitrose and Sainsbury's.
There's a Morrison's in Totnes, which is a handy place to stop en route down to Gitcombe. Those staying in Garden House, Gitcombe Retreat and Gitcombe House can also hire a chef from a local restaurant to cook for you one evening.
Follow the road back towards Totnes and there are a couple of pubs alongside the River Dart: you can walk to the family-friendly Maltsters Arms in Tuckenhay or a bit further to the The Waterman's Arms where you can sit next to the cascading water while tucking into traditional pub grub. Cross the stepping stones and up the hill to the sensational Durrant Arms for traditional ales and great food. For fresh seafood, head to the Anchorstone Cafe in nearby Dittisham, where local fisherman drop off sizeable crabs and lobsters to the adjacent pontoon each morning.
Features include:
- Barbecue
- Chef on request
- Dishwasher
- Food blender
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Microwave
- Oven
- Shopping service
- Toaster
- Self-catering
Activities
- Gitcombe Estate is weatherproof: if skies are grey, head inside to the heated pool, sauna, steam room and kids' soft play area, or stick to the hot tub
- In sunshine, enjoy the outdoor pool and tennis court - a personal trainer and a tennis coach can be arranged at an additional cost
- The team can organise a cheese and wine tasting session for you in the comfort of your own cottage
- A local beautician in Totnes provides exclusive treatment packages for Gitcombe guests in the salon (including facials and manicures)
- Explore the wild, ethereal moorlands of Dartmoor on foot
- Go crabbing in pretty Dittisham - the pontoon is opposite the Ferry Boat Inn pub (though make sure you follow the crabbing code)
- Hop on the ferry from Dittisham to Greenway, Agatha Christie's family holiday home, now owned by the National Trust
- Blackpool Sands is the closest beach - a sheltered bay with shingle. Other beaches nearby include Salcombe and Hope Cove for golden sands, Bantham Beach for watersports and surfing, and Bigbury on Sea
- For shopping, head to the waterside towns of Dartmouth (there's also a castle) and Salcombe
- There are a number of golf clubs in the area
- Go canoeing along the River Dart estuary, starting from Tuckenhay or Stoke Gabriel. Stops along the way include shipwrecks, pubs, wildlife, storytelling, campfires, barbecues and wine tasting
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Kayaking
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Well being
- Wine tasting
Best Time to go
Gitcombe Estate is a weatherproof utopia, best enjoyed year-round. Log burners, an indoor pool, steam room, sauna, soft play area and cosy reading dens are tempered with barbecues, an outdoor pool and tennis court for warmer, dry days. Dartmouth has an annual music festival in May and a food festival in October, for those looking to tie in an event with their stay.
Our Top Tips
Find a quiet moment to unwind in the hot tub, with a glass of something equally delightful and effervescent in hand. There are two on the estate (one shared), but both enjoy that same unspoilt view. In fact, the only interruption to our auburn October sunset in Gitcombe Retreat's hot tub was the emergence of three curious sheep peering down to our terrace from their neighbouring pasture.
Location
Gitcombe Estate is located in a secluded valley between Totnes and Dartmouth, with views as far afield as Dartmoor.
By Air
The nearest airports are Exeter (60km), Newquay (114km), and Bristol (157km). If you're flying to or across the UK, you can hire a car.
By Car
A car is essential to get the most out of your stay. It is a four-hour drive from London, two hours from Bristol and 45 minutes from Exeter. There's free parking around the estate by the various cottages, as well as EV charging (bring your own cable). The Retreat has a private charging point.
By Train
Totnes station (30km away) is on the main line from Paddington to Penzance via Exeter.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Exeter 60.0 km
- Newquay 114.0 km
Other:
- Beach 0.0 km
- Shops 2.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km
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