Summary:
A truly unique holiday home surrounded by beautifully landscaped gardens.
True to its name, The Round House is a grand holiday home offering distinctive features, beautiful furnishings, and wonderful views over the town and out towards the sea. Ideal for an enjoyable break with family or friends.
It dates from 1910 when a local builder was challenged to construct a circular property. His son took over the project, and their legacy is one of North Devon's most striking and unusual homes.
The Space:
This unique building is an 'Italianate' style circular property located right next to the Cairn Nature Reserve - a historic woodland area - there are dozens of walking trails on the doorstep - if you can drag yourself away, that is. It's also within a healthy walking distance of the beach, The South West Coast Path and Ilfracombe town centre.
Constructed from stone and Marland brick, the five-bedroom property is approached by a sweeping drive, surrounded by colourful, landscaped gardens, which have been a frequent winner of ‘Ilfracombe in Bloom’.
Inside, the house is dripping with architectural features, including twin turrets which flank the main entrance, ornate plaster ceilings, original artisan fireplaces and gothic-style arched doors and wood-panelled walls.
The front door opens into a turreted entrance with an ornate gilded patterned plastered ceiling and herringbone parquet flooring leading towards the drawing room. This features a bowed picture window with a window seat below, so you can gaze out at the hypnotic sea views.
The dining room, too, boasts a large bow window along with an open fireplace and enough marble to rival the Vatican. The ground floor also contains a breakfast room, kitchen, laundry room, and shower room with toilet.
Upstairs, the five bedrooms command enviable views with two further bathrooms. Please note that the existing pictures of the bathrooms do not reflect the true representation as these have been upgraded to new bathrooms. One has a roll-top bath and shower with basin and toilet and the other is a shower room with basin and toilet.
The real jewel in the crown is the spectacular rotunda room, featuring a circular wall of double-glazed windows, four painted wooden pillar supports and a door opening onto a roof terrace and sun deck. Perfect for admiring the panoramic views across the Bristol Channel and out towards Wales in the distance.
Guest Access:
Fresh Escapes will provide access details to the property exactly 48 hours before your check-in time. The Round House is for your exclusive use. However, please note that the building to the side of the house is not currently available.
The Neighborhood:
North Devon is probably best known for its award-winning coastline, much of which is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The golden sandy beaches are perfect for rock-pooling, swimming, and surfing, in fact, much of the coast is the UK’s top surfing spot. Combine this with dramatic coastlines, rugged moors, and verdant valleys that all demand to be explored, and you’ll never be short of things to do.
When asked what they love about North Devon & Exmoor, everyone's answer is different. One thing is constant, though: it's the perfect playground for doing what you love. Be it spending time with the family, walking the dog, eating out or celebrating with friends, to the people that live here and visit here, North Devon are Exmoor really are the perfect places.
There’s a diverse range of attractions. If you love being outdoors, this is the perfect part of the country to visit. Take part in a whole host of thrill-seeking activities from surfing, kayaking, paddleboarding and more in the coastal areas or get on your bike or pull on your hiking boots and explore the scenery.
Exmoor is full of beautiful walking trails and wildlife, including the renowned Exmoor ponies, which wander wild around the moor – there is something very special about settling down for a picnic following a bracing walk and watching the ponies against the backdrop of the moor.
Plus, there is the famous Tarka Trail, named after Henry Williamson’s delightful novel, ‘Tarka the Otter’. It isn’t just an otter that is a literary star around these parts – the romantic novel ‘Lorna Doone’ is set in Exmoor and the village of Westward Ho! got its unusual name from a 19th-century novel
North Devon and Exmoor aren’t just for the outdoorsy types. There’s a whole host of amazing attractions, great local food and drink. Ilfracombe, in particular, is gaining a reputation as a foodie hotspot with plenty for couples, families, and friends to enjoy a broad range of cuisine.
You can also discover charming market towns and quaint villages that attract visitors in their thousands. Take a trip to Clovelly and see the cobbled streets and traditional cottages, or head to Barnstaple, the oldest and largest town in the area. For seaside resorts, take a look at the towns of Woolacombe, Westward Ho!, Bideford and Ilfracombe, or for the ultimate surfer’s paradise, Croyde and Saunton are the places to be!
A wealth of cultural experiences await you in North Devon and Exmoor.
Getting Around:
We would recommend the use of a car. However, you can take a stroll down into Ilfracome which is about a 10-minute walk or you can catch the bus at the bottom of the lane.
Other Things to Note:
Please take care of the dining room table and always ensure the protective cover is used.
Please also:
Ensure any wetsuits or beach clothing are only washed outside using external taps.
Do not enter the house with any sandy clothing or shoes.
Remove shoes when entering the house.
Do not leave any pets in the house alone at any time.
Remove all cigarette butts and pet waste around the outside of the premises (if applicable).
Clean the barbecue after use or charges may apply.
Turn off all lights and make sure all windows are shut when leaving the house each time.
Keep noise down to a minimum after 11pm.
Follow all recycling instructions detailed in the guest manual.
Interaction with Guests:
Fresh Escapes is a professional holiday letting and management company with years of experience marketing, managing and even owning holiday homes in and around Devon. We’re proud of our family roots and aim to provide this same family feel to all our guests. We know that many of our guests come on holiday to escape the world, and so we won't disturb you too much during your stay. We'll check in with you after you've arrived, and we'll be on hand if you need anything during your visit, but the house is yours to enjoy and we hope you'll love it as much as we do.
