Tor Church Road, Widewell Devon

This delightful Grade II-listed thatched cottage is located in the small hamlet of Widewell, near Kingsbridge, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. From its elevated position, the house has enchanting and far-reaching views over rolling farmland and picturesque Start Bay. Recently renovated, it retains many of its 16th-century features, including beams and exposed stone walls. It comprises a plan of over 2,000 sq ft, with a generous farmhouse-style kitchen, four bedrooms, an expansive garden with wonderful vistas, and numerous outbuildings. With bracing cliff-top walks nearby and the seaside village of Torcross within a 20-minute amble, the house is in a fantastic spot for exploring South Devon’s breathtaking coastline.

Setting the Scene

The house was originally built in the 16th century and remodelled during the 18th and 20th centuries. At least the centre of the original house was likely open to the roof and heated from an uncontained hearth fire, with the remains of a smoke-blackened truss over the present staircase. The house would have been reroofed as part of the 18th-century scheme of works, at which point the floors and chimneys were likely inserted.

A short walk down the hill brings you to Torcross, nestled at the end of Slapton Sands, where the popular Start Bay Inn and the inviting beach await. The allure of Slapton Sands extends beyond its golden shores, as the surrounding area is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a haven for biodiversity. Just beyond is the tranquil Slapton Ley Nature Reserve, comprising around 490 acres of natural woodland, marshes and reedbed habitat, providing a wildlife haven for birds and vegetation.

The Grand Tour

A thatched porch – handy for kicking off boots and hanging up coats – leads to a wide hallway. On one side is the kitchen, a lovely space with yellow-painted cabinetry, black slate worktops and an Aga. From here, a set of slate steps lead up to a door which opens onto a large terrace overlooking the garden.

On the other side of the entrance hall is a sitting room with white-painted beams, an open fire and deep-set windows framing views over the garden. The room has been painted in ‘Caddie’ by Paint and Paper Library, with woodwork picked out in ‘Hornblende‘. Beyond is a bright conservatory; with large expanses of glazing providing brilliant connections to the outdoors, the space can be enjoyed year-round, whatever the weather. There is also a bathroom with a shower room on this floor, decorated with Fired Earth limestone tiles.

Upstairs are four bedrooms, two of which share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom adorned with pretty lilac tiles. The principal bedroom has bucolic views of the sea – perhaps the best in the house.

The outbuildings serve a range of purposes. There is a separate utility room fitted with worktops and a butler sink, a study, as well as a charming small thatched building, possibly once used to house livestock, now an ideal playroom. A cobbled driveway – which has space to park multiple cars – leads to a garage.

The Great Outdoors

The house is surrounded by extensive gardens with terraces, lawns, a meadow and several secret pathways, one of which is lined with bluebells in spring. There are verdant blooms throughout most of the year, including rhododendrons, camellias, multicoloured fuchsias and hydrangeas, as well as palm trees. Views from here are breathtaking and look over the blue English Channel and the South Devon coastline. The current owners have found the perfect place for a bench, which is accessed via steps from the house; from here you can see all the way across the sea to the horizon.

Out and About

Widewell is in the parish of Stokenham which is situated just behind Slapton Ley with a noteworthy Norman church. It also has some great pubs including the Church House Inn and the popular Stokeley Farm Shop which is stocked with a wide range of local produce and is great for brunch or a cream tea. Widewell is within five minutes of the South Devon Coastal Path and therefore in proximity to plenty of incredible walks along this iconic route. A short walk from Torcross, along the beach at low tide or over the cliffs at high tide leads to neighbouring Beesands. Here there are traces of the area’s slate quarrying past. Beesands is also home to the fantastic seafood shack Britannia at the Beach, as well as the popular pub The Cricket Inn.

Further along this stretch of coastline are Hallsands and the historic Start Point Lighthouse. Beyond that is East Prawle and Prawle Point. There are many beautiful beaches nearby, from the popular shores of Mill Bay and Blackpool Sands to the more secluded Lannacombe, Mattiscombe and Gara Rock. 20 minutes away by car, the village of East Portlemouth, with its golden sandy beaches, offers lovely scenic views over Salcombe and is home to a pretty passenger ferry with daily services across to Salcombe. The towns of Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Totnes are also within easy reach.

Regular trains run from Paddington to Totnes Station (30 minutes from the house) in under three hours, while Exeter and its airport are an hour’s drive. Exeter marks the beginning of the M5 with direct access to Bristol, and the A303 to London and in the opposite direction, Cornwall.

Council Tax Band: G