Entire home

Instow period cottage, sleeps 6, close to beach, dog friendly

Photo gallery for Instow period cottage, sleeps 6, close to beach, dog friendly

Exterior
Miscellaneous
Living area
Living area
Living area

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area
3 bedrooms1+ bathroomSleeps 6

Popular amenities

  • Dog-friendly
  • Washing machine
  • Deck or patio
  • Internet access
  • Balcony or patio
  • Dryer

Explore the area

View map
Bideford, England
  • Place, Instow Beach
    ‪3 min walk‬
  • Place, West Appledore
    ‪14 min walk‬
  • Place, South West Coast Path Section 6 Trailhead
    ‪7 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

3 bedrooms (sleeps 6)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 King Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

1 bathroom, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet

Bathroom 2

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Garden

About this property

Instow period cottage, sleeps 6, close to beach, dog friendly


Nanny’s Cottage is a privately run spacious and beautifully decorated cottage in a private lane near to the beach. Accommodation comprises of two double bedrooms (kingsize beds), 1 twin room, 1 en-suite shower room, family bathroom, a spacious lounge with a gas woodburner style stove for cosy winter nights and dining area opening out onto patio and gorgeous south facing contained cottage garden. The garden offers furniture and BBQ. The cottage has free Wifi, books, DVDs and games. All linen and towels are provided with exception of beach towels. For our younger guests we have a high chair, cot, booster seats and stair gates. The beach is just two minutes walk away and a windbreak and other beach toys can be found in the summer house.

Free permit parking for one car is available, a 10 minute walk away.

We allow two medium sized dogs. A dog cage is available if required along with doggy hair dryer after a hose down outside. Instow is a favourite destination for dog walkers and most local hospitality is dog friendly.

Instow is a picturesque village situated on the estuary where the rivers Taw and Torridge meet. It commands panoramic views of the estuary and Appledore, the sea and the surrounding countryside. There are a number of excellent pubs and restaurants within walking distance - The Quay, Instow Arms, The Boathouse, The Commodore and the Wayfarer. The village has a very well stocked deli shop (Johns) and Post Office on Marine Parade just around the corner from the cottage. The Tarka Trail passes through Instow where you can explore the area on foot or by bike. This section of the Trail is also part of the South West Coastal Path offering longer walks along the coast.

The cottage is an ideal base for exploring North Devon with highlights such as the popular water sports beach at Croyde, Saunton Sands, Putsborough Beach, Woolacombe Beach, Westward Ho! Peppercombe Beach and the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly.

Upon receipt of booking information Pre-Arrival Notes are sent to you to help you plan your stay and make bookings at our local fabulous restaurants and leisure facilities.

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About the area

Bideford

Located in Bideford, this cottage is in a rural area. While the natural beauty of North Devon Coast and Woolacombe Beach can be enjoyed by anyone, those looking for an activity can explore Ilfracombe Harbour. Travelling with kids? Consider The Big Sheep and Clovelly Village.
Map
Bideford, England

What's nearby

  • Instow Beach - 3 min walk - 0.3 km
  • West Appledore - 14 min walk - 1.1 km
  • South West Coast Path Section 6 Trailhead - 7 min drive - 2.1 km
  • South West Coast Path Section 7 Trailhead - 7 min drive - 2.1 km
  • Northam Burrows Country Park - 18 min drive - 3.7 km

Getting around

  • Barnstaple Station - 16 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cafe du Parc - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪White Hart - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪The Glorious Oyster - ‬11 min walk
  • ‪Royal North Devon Golf Club - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Boathouse - ‬7 min walk

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 13 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 13 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 13 reviews

9.6/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

10/10 Excellent

John M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful house in a wonderful location. Really good hosts. Easy communication throughout booking and the stay. Will definitely stay again.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Laura M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family short break

We had a great time. Nanny’s Cottage is a real gem. So lovely and had absolutely everything we needed. We rly enjoyed our time there x
Stayed 5 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Brenda E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage

Excellent property. close to beach
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Diana B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday

It was perfect, cottage beautiful, beech and cottage dog friendly, everything we needed!
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Sarah C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Brilliant cottage, really well stocked with everything we needed for our holiday. Really homely and comfortable. Fantastic location, just perfect. Would definitely consider returning.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rebecca B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Really enjoyed our stay, thank you! The cottage was very clean, beds comfy and lovely white, fluffy towels. We were very impressed with how well equipped the cottage is. Managed to get parked on new road every day so this wasnt an issue for us.Would definitely stay again!
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Phillip J.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Instow

Ideal for our stay in Instow.
Stayed 5 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 31 October 2024
Thanks so much for your review. Very pleased the cottage worked out well for you. We hope to welcome you back to Nanny’s Cottage in the future.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Nanny cottage

The property was as described online. Had everthing we needed for a pleasant stay. The garden was a secure place for our dog. It was in a good location near beach and handy for the local pubs and cafes.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Rachel S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely spacious cottage, even nicer than the photos. It is really well equipped with a great patio garden. A sun trap to dine out in in good weather. Very helpful owner and good communication. A lot of love and care has gone into making this a really pleasant place to stay, and a fab location minutes from a dog friendly beach.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 15 July 2025
Thankyou so much for a great review Rachel. We are so pleased you enjoyed your stay and liked our cottage. We would be delighted to welcome you back to Nanny’s Cottage whenever you return to Instow. Karen and Mark.
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Angus G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great cottage, shame about the weather

Weather could have been kinder for half term. But really good cottage in great location. Lots to do. Our fourth visit since 2017!
Stayed 7 nights in May 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 1 June 2025
Thankyou so much for taking the time to review our cottage. So pleased you were happy with the cottage, but sorry about the weather! What a shame! We would be delighted to welcome you back to Nanny’s Cottage whenever you would like. Karen and Mark
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Grace M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful location, lovely property

We had a lovely stay in Instow. The property is a very short walk from the beach and the town was really lovely. All communication with hosts was clear and friendly. Property was exactly as described and perfect for our needs (3 generations and a small dog!). Would definitely recommend or return ourselves.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 9 August 2024
Thankyou so much for a great review. So pleased you enjoyed your stay in the cottage and loved Instow. We would be delighted to welcome you all back to Nanny’s Cottage whenever you would like. Karen and Mark
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Barbara H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Nice property with a good garden, perfect for my family and 2 dogs. A good size which was needed for 4 adults, 2 children and 2 dogs! Just one thing the loo in the en-suite makes a terrible noise when flushed, but everything else was perfect. The beach was dog friendly and the cottage was a good base for visiting Devon.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 8 September 2025
Thankyou so much for your review and feedback, Barbara. We’re really pleased you enjoyed your time in Instow end liked our cottage. The en-suite bathroom is served by a Saniflo macerator. The sound you can hear is the macerator and pump working to get rid of all the waste water etc. We would be delighted to welcome you back to Nanny’s Cottage in the future. Karen and Mark
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Geoff S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

One of our favourites

We had been to this cottage last year, we love the fact that it is so close to the beach, restaurants, and Johns deli. The garden is wonderful and was perfect for our two dogs, the cottage has a good flow, it has all the tools needed for cooking meals and has heating as required, Instow and this cottage is one of our favourite places. Not forgetting our new host Karen who responded to our requests with a friendly attitude and a can do approach.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 13 June 2024
Thanks so much for taking the time to review our cottage. We’re so pleased you enjoyed your stay and love the cottage and Instow as much as we do! We would be delighted to welcome you back to Nanny’s Cottage whenever you would like. Karen and Mark
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