Amber Cottage, appledore

LIVING ROOM

Accessed via a pedestrian lane off Marine Parade, the front door leads into a spacious living room with high-beamed ceiling, stripped pine wooden floor, and a log burning stove. It is thought that this 19 x 16 ft room was ‘borrowed’ from the neighbouring Georgian residence on Marine Parade. It is equipped with Wi-Fi, Smart TV, Smart Speaker, DVDs, books and board games

KITCHEN

The light and airy kitchen is accessed via a step from the living room. The kitchen is fully equipped with shaker style solid wood units, slate worktops, a double Belfast sink, fridge-freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, electric cooker, toaster, microwave and coffee maker. A pine farmhouse table can accommodate at least four with space for a high chair (provided). The stable door leads to the terraced walled garden and the curved staircase leads off the kitchen, with a fitted stair gate suitable for children and dogs

MAIN BEDROOM

This stunning bedroom is situated above the lounge and shares its proportions, with the benefit of two sash windows, a cast iron fireplace and a king size bed. There is plenty of space for a travel cot (provided) for a baby or toddler. The bedroom has an eclectic mix of furniture including a large wardrobe, chest of drawers with attached mirror, two occasional chairs and bedside tables. A television, hairdryer, iron and ironing board are available

TWIN BEDROOM

This smaller bedroom overlooks the back rear garden. It is furnished with two french-style metal beds, a bedside table, a small chest of drawers and a hanging rail

BATHROOM

The bathroom has victorian-style fittings including a high level traditional toilet, pedestal basin and freestanding roll-top bath with shower mixer tap. There is currently no shower in the property

THE GARDEN

The walled, dog-friendly garden at the rear of Amber Cottage comprises two terraces joined by stone steps. It is surrounded by high walls and has a gate leading onto the path which leads into the village. This provides easy access for bicycles, surf boards and wet dogs!

The lower terrace is largely shaded and provides welcome relief from the sun. It is paved with raised flower beds, a bistro table and chairs, washing line (pegs provided) and a storage chest containing a selection of beach paraphernalia including crabbing lines, beach chairs, a beach shelter, body boards and some beach toys

Steps lead up to a larger top terrace which benefits from sunshine for most of the day. Perfect for al-fresco dining, there is a paved area surrounded by cottage-style flower borders, a wooden table with four chairs and a BBQ

Appledore is very special to us. My father was born and raised here and as a family we spent most of our summer holidays staying with our grandparents and extended family in this beautiful village. It was built on an ancient tradition of fishing and shipbuilding which continues today. Holidays here provide the perfect opportunity to indulge in simple seaside pleasures such as days at the beach, crabbing, cream teas and newspaper-wrapped fish and chips. It also has an array of independent shops, art galleries, cafes and restaurants not to mention five pubs

Stroll along the network of winding lanes, past tiny whitewashed terraced houses, the former homes of fishermen, and watch boats and trawlers sail in with today’s haul. The Quay is central to life in the village at it is here that you can hop on the ferry to Instow, take a boat trip up the river, enjoy a fishing trip, purchase fresh fish straight from the boat and sample the delights of the famous Hockings ice cream van. Crabbing contests are also popular if you fancy a go!

Other Appledore attractions include the North Devon Maritime Museum, open April-October and the Appledore Lifeboat Station. On the first Saturday of each month the Appledore Farmers Market has stalls selling fresh local produce and a selection of local crafts

Annual Events

The Appledore Regatta dates back to 1885 and is an annual institution comprising multiple maritime-themed events held throughout July and August, the highlight being Regatta Day in the middle of August

The Appledore Book Festival was held for the first time in 2006. Attracting world-class authors, speakers and performers it runs over a two-week period in September and has grown to become one of the biggest cultural events in Devon

Tours operating from Appledore

Appledore Sails offers private boat trips around the Torridge Taw estuary and to Lundy, Clovelly and further afield

Lundy Charters offers diving, fishing and charter trips around Lundy and the North Devon coast

Rib Rides North Devon offer exhilarating RIB boat rides from Appledore Quay

Appledore Fishing Company runs sea fishing and pleasure trips in the Torridge Taw estuary

BEACHES

Instow beach across the river is deservedly popular but never too busy, even in the height of summer. The sandy beach is dog-friendly and the water is popular with paddle-boarders and kayakers, though swimming isn’t recommended

Westward Ho! beach is a less than two mile walk or drive away. With lifeguards operating during the summer months this two-mile beach is equally loved by swimmers, surfers, bodyboarders and kite-surfers. The sand is perfect for building sandcastles and the northern half is dog friendly throughout the year

PLACES OF INTEREST

Northam Burrows Country Park lies between Appledore and Westward Ho! Designated a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, this large area of sand dunes, unimproved grassland and salt plains provides one of the access points to Westward Ho! beach. There is a visitors centre offering guided walks and events throughout the year and an excellent cafe

Instow is an attractive village accessed by ferry from Appledore or via a short drive. In addition to its sandy beach it has several pubs, cafes and restaurants offering views of Appledore and of the estuary. The perfect place to enjoy sunset over Lundy!

Bideford is a picturesque town just a three mile drive from Appledore, less so if accessed via the coast path. Of particular note is Victoria Park, home to three children’s playgrounds, a paddling pool, and the excellent Burton Art Gallery and Museum. The pannier market is also well worth a visit

Clovelly is a beautiful village approx 15 miles from Appledore. Privately owned it is accessed via a visitor centre at the top of the village, with a steep walk down over cobbles to the harbour. Dogs on leads welcome

Lundy Island makes an excellent destination for a day trip. The MS Oldenberg travels daily from either Bideford or Ilfracombe. Unfortunately dogs are not allowed on the Island

Great Torrington is a classic market town set above the River Torridge. As well as being well worth a visit in its own right, it is also home to RHS Rosemoor Gardens and the Dartington Crystal factory where it is possible to see the glass-blowers in action

Hartland Abbey and Gardens has been justifiable voted the best house/garden in North Devon and is a less than 30 minute drive from Appledore

OTHER ACTIVITIES AND ATTRACTIONS

The Tarka Trail is a disused railway line running from Braunton, north of Barnstaple to Meath, 32 miles inland. Fully tarmacked it provides over 30 miles of car-free cycling. Nearest access points are Bideford and Instow, with bicycles, tandems and buggies available to hire

The South West Coast Path passes through Appledore, with multiple circular walks that can be accessed locally

Birdwatching is a popular activity in the Taw and Torridge Estuary , which holds the third highest concentration of birds in Devon after the Exe and Tamar estuaries. At the southern end of the estuary and easily accessed by foot is The Skern, a bay of mudflats, wetland and beach located between Appledore and Westward Ho! and forming part of Northam Burrows Country Park. A short drive away between Instow and Barnstaple are several other sites where the estuary can be accessed by birdwatchers

The Royal North Devon Golf Club at Westward Ho! is the oldest golf course in the country and has recently been placed in Golf World’s ‘Top 100 Courses in the World’ that a golfer ‘must play’! Non-members are welcome

Skern Lodge located just outside Appledore and the Ultimate Adventure Centre located a ten minute drive away are affiliated outdoor activities centres offering a wide variety of activities for all ages

The Big Sheep, next to Ultimate Adventure, is a theme park probably best suited to younger children

The Milky Way Adventure Park is a higher octane theme park located a little further away (near Clovelly) and offers ‘award winning all weather fun for all ages’!

The North Devon Wake Park is located next to the Milky Way. Here you can access wakeboarding, an aquapark, ringo rides and open water swimming

Affinity Devon is a shopping outlet centre located approx 10 minute drive away from Appledore. Containing over 30 famous name stores , there are also several places to eat and a tourist information centre. On the same site is World of Wonder, an indoor soft play area and Really Wild Planet, a facility where children can meet, handle and feed a host of reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates. A good rainy day option

For weekend breaks starting on a Friday there is a minimum of a 2 night stay. For main school holidays we normally accept a minimum of 5 night bookings, however at short notice we may be able to accept bookings for shorter periods.

For availability, pricing and to make a booking please use the link to our Airbnb listing:

https://airbnb.com/h/amber-cottage

If you have any queries you can contact us by email:

mikeandbev@amber-cottage.co.uk