Exeter holiday cottage rental, Higher Ashton with golf, walking, beach/lake nearby, log fire, jacuzzi/hot tub, sauna, balcony/terrace

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Duckpond Cottage Dartmoor (cottage)

Home description

Duckpond Cottage is a beautiful detached period farm cottage, on a traditional Devon farmstead, providing a fantastic base for Summer & Winter holidays. Views across a pretty pond, towards an ancient thatched 15th century farmhouse, an old stone cider barn & to surrounding fields. The Cottage is in an Area of Outstanding National Beauty, the village of Higher Ashton is a traditional thatched village with a pub and shop.

Recently refurbished, the Cottage allows top quality self catering & consists of a detached three-storey house & a two-storey converted barn linked on the ground floor. 5 bedrooms have beautiful iron bedsteads & comfy furnishings. A spacious, open plan living & dining room, overlooks the pool (open, heated 22 May-18 Sept 09), hot tub (till 9pm) & BBQ. An upstairs drawing room with a log burning stove for cosy nights in, original artwork (for purchase) throughout, hall with baby grand piano, an exceptionally well equipped kitchen, 3 bathrooms & sauna. Wi-Fi.

GREAT FOOD. There are 5 pubs within 5 miles, the nearest a mile away, all serve good food and can be reached whilst walking. One in particular has won numerous awards and has one of the biggest whiskey and wine lists in the country! In addition there are local shops, apple cider farms, farm shops, tea shops with fantastic Devon cream teas and even a local farm with an old fashioned ice-cream parlour made with milk from their herd of beautiful South Devon cows.

With such fabulous food producers surrounding the cottage, it is possible to spend plenty of time visiting farmer's markets, farms and specialist producers and eating very well! Michelin star restaurants in Devon include Gidleigh Park (2 star), The New Angel, The Masons Arms, The Elephant - all 1 star. Many of the best wineries in England are based in Devon where the warm and sunny climate give the grapes a better chance to ripen. There are nine vineyards within 40 minutes of the cottage (2 within 5 miles), some also producing cheese.

Duckpond Cottage Pool & Hot Tub area	Relax under the poolside cabana
Family room dining area overlooking pool with original artworks	Second Floor bedroom 1 overlooking fields and distant church

To see more photos please visit http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/97344

The West Country / Devon region

The West of England is renowned for it's beautiful coastline, two National Parks (Dartmoor & Exmoor) and fabulous unspoilt countryside. Historically it is a farming & fishing area and still today Devon produces fantastic meat, vegetables, dairy and fish, which you can buy from the numerous farm shops and farmer's markets.

For over a hundred years the West has been a holiday destination for the rest of the UK and as a result has a fantastic array of attractions, restaurants and pubs.

It is also an area well know for artists and you can spend many hours wandering around galleries or visiting artist workshops & studios.

There are a large number of National Gardens, Castles and National Trust properties that you can visit to see how people lived in days gone by. Most recently Agatha Christie's home Greenway has been opened to the public.

Devon also has more rivers than any other County and as a result water and water based activities are never far away.

CANOE - Exe Estuary - great to walk or cycle along, birdwatch, canoe (all can be hired at Exeter Quay). If you look on a map you will see Haldon Forest overlooks the estuary. From here access the Turf Locks Pub - check the web site to see when the pub is open.
http://www.exeter-rspb.org.uk/reserves.htm
http://www.saddlepaddle.co.uk/sadpad_6_013.htm
http://www.turfpub.net/index.php

KIDS attractions - loads in the area including;
http://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk
http://www.miniatureponycentre.com/
http://www.crealy.co.uk

VINEYARDS in Devon. Pebblebed, Manstree and Kenton are within 20 minutes - check which days they are open.
http://www.boyces-manstree.co.uk/vineyard.html
http://www.kentonvineyard.co.uk/
http://www.pebblebedwines.co.uk/
http://www.oldwallsvineyard.co.uk/

Exeter / Higher Ashton area

On the edge of Dartmoor National Park, less than 20 minutes from the sea and 8 miles from the centre of Exeter, the Cottage is in a beautiful thatched Devon village with many properties having medieval origins. The church has one of the oldest fonts in Devon, as well as a 12th century rood screen.

There are many attractions nearby, including Canonteign Falls (England's highest waterfall), Haldon Forest Park, Haldon Belvedere, Widecombe-in-the moor made famous by the "Uncle Tom Cobley" rhyme, Haytor, Exeter Cathedral, Powderham Castle, the Miniature Pony Centre, numerous vineyards & cider farms & farm shops all within our valley, Sheldon Open Air Theatre. Fabulous fishing on the Teign river or at the Kennick & Tottiford Reservoirs. Teign Valley Golf course is 1 mile away. Tennis courts in Christow (next village 2 miles away).

As short drive from the property and you can be by the coast at Dawlish Warren, walking through smuggler's caves to a secret beach at Shaldon or see open moorland in all directions on Dartmoor.

Devon has some of the most beautiful golf courses in the country both links courses overlooking the sea to country side courses with lots of water. For those who wish to improve their game or adults and children who would like to learn how to play, we can recommend local golf clubs and golf pros to suit your needs. Within close distance are the following clubs but there are quite a lot we have not even mentioned here;
1 mile to Teign Valley Golf course.
20 min drive to Stover Golf Club.
25 min drive to Bovey Castle Golf.
20 min drive to Teignmouth Golf Club.
25 min drive to Woodbury Park Golf
20 min drive to Exminster Golf Club.
25 min drive to Dawlish Warren Golf Club.
35 min drive to Sidmouth Golf Club.
It is always recommended to phone the club ahead of time to book. Please contact us to discuss your golfing requirements in further detail. Handicap certificates are required at all the above except Teign Valley and Exminster. A number of other courses are pay and play and no certificate is required.

How to get there

M5 Junction 30 15 minutes by car.
A38 Exeter Racecourse Junction 10 minutes by car.
Exeter international airport 20 minute drive. (Flybe UK & European destinations, charter flights from Toronto)
Bristol international airport 74 miles. (Easyjet, BA, UK & Europe plus flights from New York)
Plymouth airport 37 miles. (Air Southwest UK including Gatwick)
Plymouth Ferries (Roscoff and Santander) 38 miles.
Weymouth Ferries (St Malo & Cherbourg) 70 miles.
Exeter St Davids train station is 8 miles away with main line rail connections to London every half hour.

Activities near Exeter

Facilities

Further details indoors:
The price includes linen (excluding baby linen), hot water, heating, electricity and sole use of the property.

The Cottage has beds sleeping 10 plus a cot and a travel cot. All beds have quality mattresses with duvets and 2 pillows per person. Professionally laundered fresh bed linen plus extra blankets are also provided. Cot sheets are provided only - guests must bring their own baby linen.
All bedrooms have curtains and blinds.
Bedroom 1 & 2 are at the top of the 3-storey part of the cottage, with a bathroom (1) in between.
Bedroom 3 is off the first floor drawing room in the 3-storey part of the cottage, sharing bathroom (2) with Bed 4.
Bedroom 4 is on the ground floor of the 3-storey cottage, sharing bathroom (2) with Bed 3.
Bedroom 5 is on the first floor of the 2-storey part of the cottage, with a walk in wardrobe and the bathroom (3), sauna and laundry area at the bottom of the stairs.

Bathroom 1 has a bath/shower with a seat, body jets and foot spa.
Bathroom 2 has an Airbath with mood lighting under the water and an extra large separate shower cubicle.
Bathroom 3 has mood lighting in the bath panel, a 3-seater custom built sauna, laundry area with washer/dryer and freezer.
Note the washer/dryer and freezer are not located in the kitchen but at the end of Bathroom 3.

The kitchen is really well equipped including an integrated steam oven. There is an extra large fridge, an extensive number of glasses including champagne glasses, ice bucket, espresso cups, lots of coffee makers and tea pots, cake tins, mixers, juicers, breakfast china and dinner china. We have provided picnic cool bags & picnic ware for a day out at the beach, baby bottles, kids plastic cups and plates. We have tried to think of everything you could need to hold a fabulous dinner party or BBQ at the cottage.

There are 2 sitting areas; the family living room with two extra long sofas with a TV DVD and ipod dock by the pool and upstairs a drawing room with two large sofas and an arm chair, a log burning stove and TV. The TV is via satellite is Freeview. CDs can be played on the DVD player. There is a WiFi network. A land telephone line is operated on an honesty basis.

Further details outdoors:
Outside the wet weather porch there is a secluded, gravelled garden area with seating. The porch is a good place to leave wellies and push chairs after walks. The pool terrace has a combination of recliners & bench tables. One off cleaning fee for BBQ of £10.

The pool is open and heated between 22 May 2009 to 18 September 2009 (open 9am - 9PM) - outside of this period the pool is closed. The hot tub is available all year round until 9pm. The sauna is for a maximum of 3 people.

Use of the pool, hot tub and sauna is entirely at your own risk and we will explain safe use on arrival and what to do in an emergency. There is no life guard. Children and non-swimmers must be supervised by other party members. The pool and hot tub area are in a locked secure area and it is the guest's responsibility to ensure that this area is kept locked when not in use.

There is parking for up to 4 cars.

WALKING, CYCLING, RIDING Haldon Forest Park - 2 miles to the car park but you can enter the forest within a mile with beautiful walks overlooking the Exe estuary and Dartmoor, hire bikes
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/haldonforestpark
and for older children - a chance to zip wire through the tree tops (book in advance)
http://www.goape.co.uk/ContentArticle.aspx?Id=114&ate=119

BRING YOUR HORSE ON HOLIDAY and we can arrange livery with a very experienced horse woman in the next village. Excellent riding out on miles of bridle way. Very little road work. Improve your riding and jumping skills also an option. Riding for beginners who do not have a horse also possible.

I have details of local horse stables if you are interested in riding in Haldon woods (from complete beginner upwards), or bring your horse on holiday and stable it at an excellent livery yard in the next village.

CIDER Go tasting - Nearby cider farms - phone to check what days they are open
Gray's Farm, Tedburn St Mary, EX6 6AN (10 miles) 01647 61236
Brimblecombe's Devon Cider, Dunsford,EX6 7BA (5 miles) 01647 252783 (press the old fashioned way with straw bales. Also make vinegar.
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~gunning/scrumpy/scrpro01.html#grays

FALCONRY experiences can be arranged on Dartmoor. Just meet the birds, hold them, feed them or spend a day with the birds whilst they hunt their dinner on Dartmoor.

FISHING: Deep sea fishing can be organised from the nearby ports of Torquay, Exmouth, Dartmouth and Plymouth. Coarse and carp fishing are available at a large number of fisheries within a 20 minute drive. In season (15 March - 30 September), fly fishing and fly fishing tuition are available at the Kennick and Tottiford Reservoirs 4 miles from the Cottage. We can also provide details of a local guide and instructor, one of the best in the South West, who can take you to some fantastic river bank/still water fly fishing spots where you can fish for brown trout, salmon and sea trout.

RACING: 3 miles from the cottage is Exeter Racecourse, a fabulous place for a day out, steeplechase racing 17 times between October and May. Book a window seat in the Desert Orchid Restaurant for a special day. 9 miles from the cottage is Newton Abbot Racecourse, the leading Summer jump racecourse in the UK. Book a table in the Winning Post Restaurant for the best view whilst sipping champagne!

Further details

A £200 security deposit is required for all bookings which will be returned as a cheque within 3 days of departure.

Arrival from 4pm.
Departure by 10am

Please try to arrive and depart within the agreed times as the house is large and takes a long time to prepare for the next guests.

No smoking, no pets except guide dogs, candles only by pool area, no glitter. No fireworks due to the proximity of thatched neighbours. We will accept single sex and younger groups below 25 years old at our discretion. We require a list of names and ages of holidaymakers at the time of booking.

Only people named on the booking can stay at the Cottage. No visitors at the Cottage without requesting our permission before your stay. Further visitors are strictly with the prior consent of the owners, with names and numbers agreed in advance. We will have hen parties at our discression.

Guests are expected to recycle their rubbish into the appropriate bins (guidance provided).

The cottage is provided in a clean and tidy state and guests are expected to return it in a similar state. Any guests leaving the cottage excessively untidy will have a cleaning charge deducted from thie deposit.

Guests are expected to respect the neighbours and keep noise to a reasonable level late at night.

Conditions

Bookings are confirmed on receipt of the deposit and after receipt of the party details. Final payment in full is required 8 weeks prior to arrival.

Rental rates

Period	From	To	Weekly	Nightly rate		Minimum  stay
				Weekday	Weekend
Pool closed Late Summer	18 Sep 09	23 Oct 09	1400£ 1,400	335335	335335	3 Nights
Pool closed Half Term	23 Oct 09	30 Oct 09	1862£ 1,862	443443	443443	3 Nights
Pool Closed LOW	30 Oct 09	20 Dec 09	1302£ 1,302	310310	310310	2 Nights
Pool Cl. Xmas & New Year	20 Dec 09	4 Jan 10	2400£ 2,400	490490	490490	4 Nights
Pool Closed LOW	4 Jan 10	12 Feb 10	1302£ 1,302	310310	310310	2 Nights
Pool Cl. Spring Half Term	12 Feb 10	26 Feb 10	1600£ 1,600	380380	380380	3 Nights
Pool Closed LOW	26 Feb 10	2 Apr 10	1302£ 1,302	310310	310310	2 Nights
Pool Cl. Easter Break	2 Apr 10	16 Apr 10	1800£ 1,800	430430	430430	3 Nights
Pool Cl. Late Spring	16 Apr 10	28 May 10	1600£ 1,600	380380	380380	3 Nights
Pool Open May Half Term	28 May 10	4 Jun 10	2526£ 2,526	0-	0-	1 Week
Pool Open Early Summer	4 Jun 10	2 Jul 10	2080£ 2,080	495495	495495	3 Nights
Pool Open Mid Summer	2 Jul 10	30 Jul 10	2920£ 2,920	0-	0-	1 Week
Pool Open High Summer	30 Jul 10	3 Sep 10	3355£ 3,355	0-	0-	1 Week
Pool Open End Summer	3 Sep 10	24 Sep 10	2080£ 2,080	495495	495495	3 Nights
Pool closed Late Summer	24 Sep 10	22 Oct 10	1400£ 1,400	335335	335335	3 Nights
Pool closed Half term	22 Oct 10	29 Oct 10	1862£ 1,862	443443	443443	3 Nights

The property's weekend rates apply to: Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights

NB: Prices may be subject to change at the advertiser's discretion.

This price includes the following;

- accommodation for up to 10 people

- all water, heating, electricity costs included

- professionally laundered bed linen supplied (except cot linen)

- high quality beds, cosy duvets, 2 pillows per person

- sole use of pool (when open, between 9am and 9pm), hot tub (9am - 9pm) and sauna

- gas BBQ (one off £10 cleaning fee applies if used)

- 1 bath towel per person

- a couple of tea towels

- a basket of logs for the wood burner

- 3 towels for use in the sauna

Guestbook for Duckpond Cottage Dartmoor

"A really good location for families who want lots of activities on their doorstep, as well as a fantastic house and pool. We will come again!" Hughes Family, Norwich

"Our first time to Devon but we think we've picked the best place to stay! Duckpond Cottage is decorated beautifully, the kitchen has loads of equipment, all set in wonderful walking country. The kids loved the hot tub and we loved the local pub! Really recommended." Brewster Family, Aylesbury

Availability

See below for next 9 months' availability - to see the next 24 months click here

Send Enquiry

To contact this advertiser please visit: http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/97344

Contact details for the advertiser of home 97344
Name:	Fiona Robertson
Tel:	+44 (0) 1647252938
Be aware of time-zones Please mention Holiday Lettings when contacting this advertiser
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Advertiser joined: Aug 2009