Holiday cottage in Bideford, Devon - Sleeps 4 (FCH90969)

The golden sands of Instow are just 200m from this charming coastal retreat. Perfect for a getaway with friends it has two pretty bedrooms, a sunny patio and private parking – simply unpack then start exploring the estuary where the Rivers Torridge and Taw meet. Ideally located at the heart of Instow, this high-end property welcomes guests into a handy hallway where there’s space to hang coats and store shoes.

To one side there’s a contemporary galley kitchen where you can prepare tasty home-cooked meals or unwrap purchases from a local deli. Across the hallway, the lounge/diner is light and airy, with an ornamental fireplace, Smart TV and French doors leading onto the patio. Completing the ground floor layout is a stylish shower room, while upstairs are two inviting bedrooms.

The master has a king-size bed and an ornamental fireplace, and the second has a king-size zip-and-link bed which, on request, can be arranged instead as a twin. Enjoy sunshine and fresh air from your private patio, where there’s a table and chairs for alfresco refreshments. Doors from the dining area open onto this outside space, so you can move effortlessly between the two.

Once a traditional fishing village, today Instow has a cosmopolitan feel with a waterfront that’s lined with cafes and pubs; boats sit on the sand at low tide and beyond the harbour wall is a large, sandy beach that’s a favourite for windsurfers and sandcastle-creators. Take the ferry across the water to Appledore, or head 4 miles upriver to Bideford where there’s a high street filled with independent shops and boutiques.

Barnstaple is a 7-mile drive, while chocolate-box Clovelly is 15 miles away – the main cobbled street here is car-free and winds downhill to a pretty, pebbly beach. For a gentler stroll or cycle ride, follow Tarka Trail; it’s 13 miles from Instow to Barnstaple, or 6 miles from Instow to Bideford and back.