Step into the hallway at Harcombes and let your holiday begin. Straight ahead there’s a utility room, to the left is Bedroom 1, and a spiral staircase to the first floor and lower ground floor (more later).
Right of the hall is the ‘second’ living room where doors open to a huge glass fronted balcony with outdoor furniture for all, and far-reaching country views. Next there’s a small kitchen, which saves you going down to the main kitchen on the lower ground floor, and beyond are Bedrooms 2-4, and a loo with an original prison door!
From the entrance hall, take the stairs up to Bedroom 5-7 on the first floor; Bedrooms 8 and 9 are accessed via another spiral staircase from the small kitchen.
The lower ground floor is where you’ll all gather for big happy times; the enormous open-plan space has a well-equipped kitchen, a long dining table and heaps of comfy seating. In the corner of the room there’s a bar, at the other end is the back kitchen with extra ovens and a commercial glasswasher. Full height doors open onto the terrace where there’s a bbq, outdoor dining furniture and the loveliest views over the valley.
Off the dining area is wheelchair friendly Bedroom 10, with double doors giving direct access from the garden (level with a small slope).
What’s great is that the garden and the enormous balcony are private and not overlooked, there’s underfloor heating throughout and all bedrooms have wardrobes. You’ll have exclusive use of the outdoor heated pool (March to October) for two 1.5 hour slots each day, shared use of the play field and games room, and freedom to roam the 52 acres grounds, with fields, woodlands, a stream, pond and County Wildlife Site.
Local Area
A day by the sea has to be on the agenda when you stay at Harcombes because The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site is only 15 minutes away! Stroll along the esplanade at Sidmouth, hire kayaks and canoes, spuddle in the rockpools; Exmouth has 2 miles of sandy beach and is fantastic for watersports, with windsurfing, kitesurfing and paddleboarding being regular activities. Pootle along the winding lane to Branscombe, a picturesque coastal village with pretty cottages and 2 good pubs; walk over the cliffs to Beer, a peaceful fishing village where in the summer, Ducky’s Beach Café serves fresh crab sandwiches down by the shore.
Hop over the Dorset border to Lyme Regis, visit the little Marine Aquarium and Dinosaurland Fossil Museum, take a mackerel fishing trip or an exhilarating rib ride around the bay.
For more fabulous family days out go to Crealy Theme Park where there are over 60 rides, to Wildwood Devon to spot the wolves and ride the zip wire, or to The Donkey Sanctuary, home to hundreds of happy donks.
Head down to Exeter for a day in the city, browse the shops, visit the Gothic Cathedral and the fascinating RAM Museum, explore the medieval Underground Passages.
Spend evenings gathered together back at Harcombes as the sun sinks gently over the Devon hills. Perfick, as they say in these parts.