Beach Retreat

Customer rating

4.5★

4 Guests
2 Bedrooms
1 Bathroom
Pets Yes
Show on map

Features

Open fire
Highchair available
Pub/shop < 1 mile
Washing machine
Dishwasher
Broadband / WiFi

Reviews & Ratings

Accuracy of the listing

Cleanliness

Comfort

Facilities and Maintenance

* Based on a combined average customer score

40 Customer Review(s)

Kayleigh
October 2025

“Beautiful cosy cottage, fully equipped with everything we needed for a weeks stay.”

Even our doggy was right at home with handy towels, blankets and treats. We loved our stay and will definitely be returning in the future! Thank you

Even our doggy was right at home with handy towels, blankets and treats. We loved our stay and will definitely be returning in the future! Thank you

- Kayleigh, October 2025

Thank-you so much for your lovely review and we hope to see you again soon! You’ll be delighted to know that we have now secured a car parking space for you and our other guests too. Property Owner
Zoe September 2025

“Had a lovely time.”

Beautiful cottage.

- Zoe, September 2025

Thank-you for your review. We are delighted you had a lovely time at our Cottage and in beautiful Instow. We very hope you’ll be back to stay with us in the future. Property Owner
Jennifer July 2025

“The cottage was super clean, super cute; very comfortable and in a fab location just seconds away from the sea and beach.”

It was a perfect little break away from it all! Thank you !

- Jennifer, July 2025

Thank-you for your lovely feedback. You really can’t beat the location so close to the beach and fabulous amenities. We hope to see you again in the future. Property Owner
Wendy July 2025

“The cottage was comfortable and in a good location.”

However, I was very disappointed to find that when we arrived, after a long and hot journey, that the cottage had not been prepared. The beds and towels had not been changed, luckily clean sheets and towels were there and I was able to change them myself. Not what I was looking to do on a holiday.

- Wendy, July 2025

Hello, We are so sorry for the mistake. Our housekeeper completely mis read the arrival date and thought it was the following day. She did come over as soon as you called and cleaned the house for you straight away so that it was looking lovely in no time at all, as well as apologising for the error. We hope you had an enjoyable stay. Property Owner
Nicola June 2025

“Cottage was very close to the beach in Instow with plenty of lovely cafes.”

Lack of parking is an issue (at least if you don't want to move the car by 9am every day). Cottage was a good base to explore North Devon. Owners had made an effort to make the cottage welcoming on arrival.

- Nicola, June 2025

Thank-you for your feedback and we are pleased you enjoyed the Cottage and its fabulous location and amenities. Our wonderful location so close to the sandy beach makes parking difficult but we have now secured a parking space in our local hotel just a few moments walk from the Cottage which is provided entirely free for the use of our guests during their stay with us. We hope this will make a considerable difference should you decide to visit again. Property Owner
Ann June 2025

“No criticisms about the property at all.”

Parking, as I'm sure the owners know, needs more emphasis. The lane outside the cottage refers to residents parking and there was space for one car which we used, but we felt we needed to show we were resident but had no permit. Our 2nd car had to park in the cricket club carpark which, at £12 for 24 hours, made 3 days quite expensive.

- Ann, June 2025

Thank-you for your feedback. We have since secured an exclusive and secure parking space for our guests at the Commodore Hotel a few moments from the Cottage. This will be free for the exclusive use of our guests during their stay with us, which we hope will make any future visits much easier. Property Owner
Margaret May 2025

“Great cozy cottage ,everything you need ,great location for beach and places to eat , sorry about the wine glass ,did leave some money to replace it ,we will definitely be back .”

- Margaret, May 2025
Lisa October 2024

“Great property, in a great location, everything we needed was provided and we had a fabulous week.”

- Lisa, October 2024
Andrew August 2024

“A well presented and quaint cottage.”

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Instow. Right on the doorstop of lovely pubs, restaurants and the beach! The cottage had lovely furnishings and bed was so comfortable. Our furry friend had a lovely time exploring the beach! A gem of a place!

- Andrew, August 2024
Jasmina July 2024

“Lovely cottage and location, clean inside (except for grill that was left in oven that needed washing with old foil left on it, not a problem for us as we ate out) parking was a problem as time restrictions on beach front and daily charge for carpark but no information where it was, we tried calling and we unable to contact anyone at Skyes CS, we were also woke up the morning the day before our departure by the cleaner entering the cottage, as she had the wrong departure date.”

Apart from things listed above the holiday was enjoyable and comfortable.

- Jasmina, July 2024
Anthony July 2024

“Nice little cottage and well laid out .”

Great position for the beach and local pubs. Strong doggie smell on entering and rug/carpet needs a clean. Not good if you have allergies as all the bedding seemed to be feather stuffed. The spiral staircase meant we could not get our cases upstairs so be warned - also no tumble dryer or outdoor space so if you used the washer you couldn't get anything dry. Car parking also an issue unless you are happy to spend £12 a day for unsecured parking by the beach.

- Anthony, July 2024

Hello, Our little cottage accepts dogs as it is close to a dog friendly beach and our lovely Border Terrier comes to stay when we visit. We have never had any comments about, or experienced a 'doggie' smell ourselves, but of course apologise if your felt there was one. We hope your dog had a great time on the beach! The bedding is feather and down, as we like to give our guests a superior experience, and as you can see from previous comments this is appreciated by everyone that stays. We are sorry this caused you allergic discomfort which is wholly unintentional. If you had contacted us prior to booking we would have confirmed this for you, which would have allowed you to decide whether our cottage was the right one for you. Our lovely spiral staircase is featured in our photographs on the website and is mentioned too. Non of our guests have had any problems with taking their luggage up the stairs. We do have a handyman which we could have contacted to help carry your cases up the stairs for you if you had let us know that this was causing difficulties. We do leave our contact numbers if there is any aspect of your stay that you would like help with, so we are always very surprised to hear comments after a visit when no one has contacted us during their stay to ask for help. Most cottages do not have spiral stairs, so choosing one without this feature may be a consideration in the future. We have a parking voucher that allows our guests to park free in the cricket club car park. If this was not there we apologise. If you had contacted us we would have been only too delighted to help you with this too. All our facilities are clearly listed on the website. We would love to welcome you back, but feel a cottage with different features might be a better choice for you. Property Owner
Patricia June 2024

“Cottage needed a good clean.”

Eg The shower and sink were clean but the bathroom shelves were all marked from previous guests toiletries. Fridge was really dirty but as we were just using cottage as a base we didn’t use it. Beds were very clean but bedroom wasn’t. We gave the place a quick clean but Overall felt like it needed a good deep clean. (Including stairs shelves not just the rugs and sink) Great location. It’s up for sale so perhaps they’ve fallen out of love with it

- Patricia, June 2024

Hello, we are sorry you felt this way about our Cottage. The guests before you left an outstanding review regarding the cleanliness and we have been awarded The best holiday cottage in the South West by Sykes, which reflects how well we maintain our very loved little home from home. Our cottage has been for sale but we have decided to keep it as we love it and the location so much we can't image not being there. Our children have grown up playing in the dunes, and we were there for a holiday ourselves just three weeks ago. The Cottage looked as good as it always has done then. Property Owner
Steve May 2024

“The cottage is fab, really cozy and fully equipped.”

The location is amazing, best place we’ve ever stayed - super dog-friendly beach 100 yards away, 3 pubs serving food within same distance, great deli 500 yards down the street for everything else. Unbeatable

- Steve, May 2024

A very sincere thank-you for your lovely comments. We very much hope you'll be back to stay soon. Property Owner
Nicola March 2024

“Gorgeous cottage, great location, instow fabulous.”

The owners had thought of everything and we wanted to stay forever!

- Nicola, March 2024

Wow, that is really very kind. We can't say how much we love our Cottage and its location in gorgeous Instow. It really means a lot when our guests get as much joy as we do from this very special little hideaway. Property Owner
Tracey February 2024

“What a beautiful cottage!”

Lovely welcome pack which was much appreciated! Everything you need was there and more. Such a prime position in the village with less than 2 minutes walk to a fabulous doggy beach, pubs and restaurants. Cottage was clean and very comfortable including the bed and the wonderfully squishy pillows! We had a fantastic time. I’ve taken one star off because the parking is a big problem, but that’s the only negative in an otherwise perfect holiday cottage!

- Tracey, February 2024

Thank-you so much for your lovely feedback. We are delighted you had a great time. Instow is beautiful, and we hope you visit us again soon. Property Owner
David November 2023

“Beautiful cottage.”

Front door lock needs looking at, quite difficult to open, which does worry you initially. Other than that perfect.

- David, November 2023
Carole September 2023

“We had a lovely stay at Beach Retreat and everything was great.”

We were impressed with how well equipped it is. It is very cosy and extremely comfortable especially the bed. The welcome pack and local information provided was really thoughtful. Thank you. We are booking to come again. The location is fantastic and having the parking permit really helped. The only slightly negative which is really about housekeeping is the towels smelt funny when wet!

- Carole, September 2023

Thank-you so much for your lovely feedback. Our gorgeous home from home means a lot to us, so we love it when our guests have a wonderful time there. Thank-you too for your note regarding the towels - we’ll look into that. We look forward to welcoming you back! Property Owner
Cathi September 2023

“In a great location however the parking issue needs to be a bit clearer I feel.”

When you are staying there are you not considered a resident? I also think that maybe the cottage should supply a parking permit as there was times when finding any parking this week was nearly impossible. It states on the website that you will have to pay in the other car Park which adds up if you did it every day, and the other Park along the beach is only for an hour. Apart from that and there being nowhere to actually dry your clothes (we are travelling) so can’t take them home and do it, the cottage had everything needed, and it’s location is great plus we had the best beach weather.

- Cathi, September 2023

Hello, we are so pleased you had a lovely holiday and enjoyed the fantastic location and amazing weather. Because of our location so close to the beach ( we often walk down with our cups of tea in the mornings) parking for all the holiday properties is at a premium. We do offer a parking permit to allow our guests to park at the local cricket club which is a short distance away, but unfortunately out previous guests before you arrived took the permit home with them and we have only just received it back. We do provide a clothes airer at the cottage which all of our guests have found more than adequate. Apologies that this was an inconvenience and very much hope you'll stay again. Property Owner
Undine March 2023

“Very clean and well appointed, but spiral staircase might be difficult for some to manage.”

Front door needs to be pulled hard towards you for opening. Anyone under 5'2" would not be able to reach and read the key safe, which is high up and difficult to read the numbers without a torch even in daylight.

- Undine, March 2023
Shaun February 2023

“A beautiful cosy little haven right close to the beach.”

The cottage is very well equipped and finished to a high-quality level. With three pubs less than 60 seconds away it's an ideal retreat, plus you have the fantastic John's deli and cafe for a naughty treat. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there.

- Shaun, February 2023
David October 2022

“Good holiday.”

Shame about the new parking restrictions.

- David, October 2022

Thank-you for your feedback. We are delighted that you enjoyed your holiday, and even more so that you have chosen our lovely cottage for your holiday in previous years. Our cottage is very close to the beautiful beach in Instow and you are able to park freely outside the cottage from early evening until the morning every day of the week all year round. During the day there is parking available just 100 yards away on the sea front, and also in two car parks close by. We very much look forward to you welcoming you back again. Property Owner
Cheryl September 2022

“A lovely cottage, nicely furnished, comfortable and warm.”

Great location, minute to the beach & pubs. We really enjoyed our stay but parking was a bit of a problem. This isn’t the owners fault but a visitor pass would be useful. We parked at the Quay car park which is the cheapest & walked back up the beach. Great pub across the road, very friendly. Good to explore the surrounding area. The spiral staircase could be a problem for some people & so is something to be aware of.

- Cheryl, September 2022
Sandra July 2022

“Excellent place, perfectly situated for us to explore surrounding places.”

Lots of walking and relaxing. Lovely cottage

- Sandra, July 2022

Thank-you for your feedback. The scenery inland and the view at the bottom of the lane across to Appledore is beautiful, and we are so pleased you found the cottage they perfect place to return to after exploring the surroundings. Property Owner
Alison June 2022

“Just a bit of carefulness needed on the stairs but cottage had everything even coolness in the heat wonderful.”

............

- Alison, June 2022

Thank-you for your feedback. The beauty of the old cottages like ours is their lovely thick stone walls which does keep you cool in the heat. We are so pleased you loved the house and you enjoyed your time in Instow. Property Owner
Ian February 2022

“Lovely clean and comfortable cottage in an idyllic lication”

- Ian, February 2022

Thank-you for your lovely feedback. The location is truly stunning and we are delighted you enjoyed your stay. Property Owner
Annette January 2022

“Loved the cottage.”

It was warm and had most facilities. The only thing that was lacking (we arrived after 5 pm )was toilet rolls and bin bags! It was stipulated for all laundry at the end of our stay to be put in a black bag so we felt this needed to be provided. All in all , though , it was very convenient with a dog so close to a dog friendly beach . Thank you

- Annette, January 2022
Tanja December 2021

“We were extremely plleased with our choice fo get away.”

Well stocked and clean:

- Tanja, December 2021
Lynda September 2021

“Decor/paintwork tired & needed a freshen up.”

Bedroom smelt of damp. Notice left to put bedding & towels etc in 'these' but no bag provided. Less than a quarter of a toilet roll on arrival. Only 1 bath towel provided. Lid of bathroom bin thick with dust. Cobweb including a dead spider on side of wardrobe.

- Lynda, September 2021

Hello, we are so very sorry that your experience wasn't a good one at our lovely cottage. We never have any negative comments regarding the cleanliness, so are very surprised. The guests who stayed the week before you arrived mentioned how spotless the house was.Our cleaner takes photos of the clean in each room after she has cleaned it and we have looked at the images and the interior looked very clean. There was a miscommunication regarding the number of towels required, for which we very much apologise. We provide our contact details and we are available at any time to help if there is anything not entirely correct for you stay, so we are surprised you did not get in touch and we could have provided as many towels as you needed immediately. Property Owner
Sharon September 2021

“Fabulous cottage, very clean and comfortable and welcome pack was appreciated.”

Lovely location. Only very minor point whilst we had no problems with parking outside the cottage as we travelled outside peak season we expect it would be difficult to park during busy times.

- Sharon, September 2021
Garry August 2021

“Parking on a bank holiday weekend was disappointing other than that it was lovely”

- Garry, August 2021
Thomas August 2021

“A really lovely well kept cottage.”

The spiral stairs were a little quirky, but fine for us. Parking was fine although we had to make sure that we didn’t leave the car too long in the local parking bays during the day.

- Thomas, August 2021
Tamsin August 2021

“Beautiful cottage a stones throw from the beach.”

Instow and Appledore are wonderful and our family of 4 plus dog had a brilliant holiday in this lovely comfortable cottage. Thank you!

- Tamsin, August 2021
Wendy May 2021

“This is a lovely cottage just a stone’s throw from the beach.”

The cottage itself is beautifully done, with all the amenities you need. Instow is beautiful and was much quieter than we expected for half term, which was great! We had a wonderful holiday!

- Wendy, May 2021
Karen September 2019

“The only issue we had was parking we couldnt always park outside the cottage and had to park on the main road”

- Karen, September 2019
Stuart September 2019

“Really enjoyed the cottage and excellent location, description of facilities was accurate and we all had a great holiday - despite the weather being showery in the later part of the week.”

The welcome pack was a nice touch and cottage booklet really helped get the most out of the week

- Stuart, September 2019
Roger August 2019

“The cottage was well appointed, really lovely and a home from home.”

We absolutely loved the location, as the dog friendly beach is at the end of the road, much to the delight of our little dog Charlie, who loved it. The two pubs also at the end of the road are dog friendly, and a joy to finish a walk in, also do really nice meals. Instow is really nice as is Appledore opposite, where we had lunch in The Coffee Cabin, highly recommended! All in all a lovely holiday.

- Roger, August 2019
Simon June 2019

“Excellent accomodation very well appointed and comfortable.”

We look forward to returning for another holiday.

- Simon, June 2019
Susan May 2019

“We had a lovely holiday at Beach Retreat in Instow.”

Beautiful cottage, clean, comfortable and homely. The beach and good eateries just a few minutes walk. The welcome pack was greatly appreciated - especially the cookies! Thank you!

- Susan, May 2019
Terry May 2019

“Lovely cottage, great location, Great beach and great pubs and restaurants serving lovely food and drink.”

All this equals a great holiday. Wish we could have stayed longer.

- Terry, May 2019
Catherine March 2019

“Lovely well maintained cottage, beautiful furniture& well equiped.”

Great location & the recomendations were very helpful. parking was a small niggle but as on a small lane totally understandable. Would definitely stay again .

- Catherine, March 2019

Show less

Summary

Two bedrooms: 1 x double, 1 x twin
Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC
Kitchen
Living/dining room with woodburning stove.Electric oven, gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, Freeview TV, DVD, Radio/CD, WiFi, welcome pack
Nespresso coffee machine, with a selection off complimentary coffee pods
Pub and restaurant 2 mins walk, shop 5 mins walk Note: The beach is 100 yards away from property There is a car park 100 yards from the property, and parking at the bottom of the lane by the beach front
We provide a free parking space for one car in the hotel car park by the beach front for the exclusive use for our guests
This is only a very short walk away and your car can be left all week, or you can come and go as you please.

The property

Beach Retreat is the Gold winner of Best Cottage in South West England in Sykes Gems 2023 and it is located just a stone's throw away from the beautiful, dog-friendly sandy beach at Instow, with access to the colourful village of Appledore and cobbled streets of Clovelly.

Furnished to a wonderful standard of quality throughout, bursting with character, this semi-detached holiday let is perfect for that much needed break away-from-it-all.

There is a warm feel within the living room, elevated by the woodburning stove and beamed ceiling.

Relax and unwind in the plush armchairs after a day out exploring the famous Tarka Trail.

This room also plays host to a bright and sunny dining area, at which to enjoy your meals in the company of your loved ones.

The kitchen is well-appointed, with sleek wooden units and quality fittings getting you through your stay.

A spiral staircase leads you up to a double bedroom and a twin, both enjoying a crisp finish with tasteful colour schemes.

An all-white shower room serves the two.

Instow has a variety of award-winning shops and restaurants nearby, where you can taste the local seafood.

The area has a wide range of water sports, fishing and sailing, ideal for those seeking a more energetic holiday.

Walking and cycling can also be enjoyed, as well as horse riding, golf and cricket, available locally.

The Cottage is also within reach of a wide selection of family attractions, including Exmoor, the North Cornwall/Devon coastline and beautiful Lynton and Lynmouth with their breathtaking scenery.

Enjoy cosy fireside pubs, taste local food and explore a wealth of rare wildlife.

Exmoor National Park is home to some of the darkest skies, perfect for gazing up at the stars and rediscovering your sense of wonder.

The Cottage will have you coming back time and time again!

EPC Rating: Band D

View on map

About the location

INSTOW

Bideford 3.5 miles; Appledore 5.5 miles

Instow offers a tidal, sandy beach and extensive views with the sails of catamarans and windsurfers. An abundance of cafes and pub/restaurants all enjoy these glorious views, and just across the mouth of the River Torridge, at Appledore, you will find more gift shops, delis selling local produce and arts and crafts stores. Take the ferry across on foot or bicycle and enjoy pleasant walks along the south-facing quay. A 15-minute drive can also get you there for an afternoon of delights. Try fresh, locally caught seafood in one of the restaurants and sample a taste of Hocking's Ice Cream; a family-run business selling vanilla ice cream from their own vans found only in North Devon. The market town of Bideford is close by along with the cobbled streets of Clovelly. North Devon boasts some beautiful beaches, all within easy driving distance including Westward Ho!, Woolacombe, Croyde and Saunton. A wonderful base to choose for your next trip.

This property offers the following short breaks:

Winter
Off-season
Last minute
Christmas

Your selection:

Features

Reviews & Ratings

“Beautiful cosy cottage, fully equipped with everything we needed for a weeks stay.”

“Had a lovely time.”

“The cottage was super clean, super cute; very comfortable and in a fab location just seconds away from the sea and beach.”

“The cottage was comfortable and in a good location.”

“Cottage was very close to the beach in Instow with plenty of lovely cafes.”

“No criticisms about the property at all.”

“Great cozy cottage ,everything you need ,great location for beach and places to eat , sorry about the wine glass ,did leave some money to replace it ,we will definitely be back .”

“Great property, in a great location, everything we needed was provided and we had a fabulous week.”

“A well presented and quaint cottage.”

“Nice little cottage and well laid out .”

“Cottage needed a good clean.”

“The cottage is fab, really cozy and fully equipped.”

“Gorgeous cottage, great location, instow fabulous.”

“What a beautiful cottage!”

“Beautiful cottage.”

“We had a lovely stay at Beach Retreat and everything was great.”

“In a great location however the parking issue needs to be a bit clearer I feel.”

“Very clean and well appointed, but spiral staircase might be difficult for some to manage.”

“A beautiful cosy little haven right close to the beach.”

“Good holiday.”

“A lovely cottage, nicely furnished, comfortable and warm.”

“Excellent place, perfectly situated for us to explore surrounding places.”

“Just a bit of carefulness needed on the stairs but cottage had everything even coolness in the heat wonderful.”

“Lovely clean and comfortable cottage in an idyllic lication”

“Loved the cottage.”

“We were extremely plleased with our choice fo get away.”

“Decor/paintwork tired & needed a freshen up.”

“Fabulous cottage, very clean and comfortable and welcome pack was appreciated.”

“Parking on a bank holiday weekend was disappointing other than that it was lovely”

“A really lovely well kept cottage.”

“Beautiful cottage a stones throw from the beach.”

“This is a lovely cottage just a stone’s throw from the beach.”

“The only issue we had was parking we couldnt always park outside the cottage and had to park on the main road”

“Really enjoyed the cottage and excellent location, description of facilities was accurate and we all had a great holiday - despite the weather being showery in the later part of the week.”

“The cottage was well appointed, really lovely and a home from home.”

“Excellent accomodation very well appointed and comfortable.”

“We had a lovely holiday at Beach Retreat in Instow.”

“Lovely cottage, great location, Great beach and great pubs and restaurants serving lovely food and drink.”

“Lovely well maintained cottage, beautiful furniture& well equiped.”

Summary

The property

View on map

About the location

INSTOW