One of the best things about The Quarry is its direct access onto the South West Coastal Path. The other is having its own owl in the garden! Then, of course, there's the house itself, a beautiful, detached Victorian villa in half an acre of private terraced gardens, looking down over Ilfracombe to the sea below.
Don't be fooled by the conventional exterior. The house has been the subject of a four-year restoration programme and is now a bright and stylish retreat for a big group of up to 13. Inside you will find Mediterranean colours, colourful canvases, polished wooden floors, hi-tech gadgets and interesting retro touches.
The owners have exploited the sea views to the utmost, with sunbathing decks and terraces galore. The large sitting/dining room on the front of the house opens onto a wooden deck, ideal playing space for even tiny children as it's large, flat and completely enclosed by fences. There is even a handmade wooden Wendy house at one end. Another terrace, off the kitchen, has a barbecue and fish pond. With seven bedrooms, a log fire, an Aga, a detached conservatory, full Sky and WiFi and quick access to the beach, this is a wonderful place for a big group weekend or longer holiday.
The Quarry was built in 1890 as a holiday home for an Admiral and his family. It still has lots of original features, including original Victorian tiles in the hallway & kitchen, and wooden floors throughout, but has been sympathetically brought up to date. It’s an utterly relaxed and informal property, where you can lounge around log fires with the papers, cook hearty meals in the Aga, and come back from days on the beach and watch a film or read.
The sitting room is our favourite for its colour combinations - cappuccino-coloured walls, turquoise and pink fabrics on the sofas and armchairs, a working log fire and high French doors onto the deck. The dining room at the far end has a wall of books and games and a long wooden table for 13.
The kitchen-cum-second dining room (seating six) is a similarly large room, with distressed wooden cupboards and good culinary equipment. Besides the two-oven Aga there's a Miele extra size oven, an American fridge freezer which dispenses filtered water and ice, a full set of gleaming pans and an adjacent walk-in larder. The laundry room has a butler sink, a washing machine and dryer and loads of room for boots and shoes.
The seven bedrooms, arranged over the first and second floors, are all designed to hold your interest, with contemporary colours, bold artworks, big sash windows, soft blinds and either sea or countryside views. The four bathrooms have equally interesting features, whether a claw-foot bath, a shower with a 14” rose, a French-style sink, a wall of cornflower blue tiles, an antique mirror or a chandelier.
A large, detached Victorian conservatory room is a bonus, with grape vines and a nectarine tree (please help yourself!). This is a great place to chill out and opens onto a large terrace and dining table. In hot weather you can also hide away with a book in the “secret” garden, halfway up the drive, a pretty little area surrounded by shrubs and flowers.
A top floor "art" room was the original Victorian conservatory room with fantastic natural light and a huge old enamel sink. This has direct access to the back garden and roof terrace. It is equipped with a fridge, kettle, microwave etc, so can be used as a second kitchen. There are seven bedrooms in total: three kingsize doubles, two doubles and three singles. Two of the doubles have a single futon chair bed in them. Then there are four bathrooms, plus a downstairs loo.
If the Quarry isn't big enough, the owners have a fantastic, contemporary & luxurious B&B right next door to cope with any extras.
Smiths, a local shop and deli, can deliver meals for any size group, and are a great bonus if you’re holidaying here. In addition, there is a local caterer who can cater for large dinner parties (if available).
On a hillside overlooking Ilfracombe and out to sea. 15 minutes’ walk from Ilfracombe harbour, five minutes from the nearest beach.
Airport: Newquay (1.25 hrs)
Station: Barnstaple (30 mins)
This is Ilfracombe, a Victorian seaside town with a pretty harbour (boat trips leave from here to Lundy and other places along the coast) and stunning scenery. The property backs onto the coastal path, as mentioned, and from the house you can walk all along the cliff tops for as far as your legs will take you! Ilfracombe has wonderful restaurants including Damien Hirst’s No 11 on the Quay.
The back garden has a large sloping area laid to lawn with mature trees, and leads directly onto the coastal path and White Pebble beach. This is the nearest beach – if you are brave enough! The descent down is slightly perilous, with steep steps, but once there you’ll probably have it to yourself, which is heavenly.
A five minute walk to the end of the road brings you to Tunnels Beach – a privately-owned (but open to the public) strip of coast with a Victorian bathing pool carved out of the rocks, a seaview Tikki bar, sea kayaking, a café and children’s play area. The surfing beach at Woolacombe Bay, three miles of golden sands and highly regarded surf, is a ten minute drive away. Puttsborough, slightly quieter than Woolacombe, has a good beach, a café and rock pools. Then there’s Croyde, a quaint village with golden sand and good surf.
The shops are a short walk away, and there is a fantastic local butcher who also sells game and fish, a great veg shop and many delis. Various local shops will deliver food and ready meals to your door, and you can order from them before you arrive (full details on The Quarry website, see below).
The Pannier Market in Barnstaple is a farmers’ market with local produce every Tuesday & Friday. Activities to hand include horse riding five minutes away, walking in Exmoor (a short drive), and golf at Saunton Sands golf club or Ilfracombe golf club.
Local children’s attractions:
* Dinosaur Park
* The Big Sheep park near Bideford
* Cascades indoor pool
* Ilfracombe Aquarium
* Boat trips from Ilfracombe harbour
* A cinema on the high street, plus The Landmark, a great theatre and art house cinema complex.
£1,900 per week low season
£3,300 per week high season
3 day weekend from £1,330
Bookings from 3 days to 2 weeks.
Christmas 2011 week still available: Wed 21 - Wed 28 Dec 2011 (1 week stay only). The week costs £3,500.