Little Woodley - Self catering holiday cottage in Sydenham Damerel, Nr Tavistock, Devon, England - Sleeps 3

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Little Woodley is the very private 17th Century wing of an old farmhouse. With its beamed ceilings, slate floors and ingleook fireplace it is full of lovely original character. Vintage linens and antiques, a well-equipped kitchen and sunny garden give it the feel of a home – a bit like staying with your favourite aunt, but without the aunty being there!

The cottage is down a winding lane just on the edge of the beautiful Tamar Valley - a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that offers plenty of trails and walks amongst spectacular scenery.  Wildlife is abundant here and if you are lucky you will see Deer, badgers and foxes visiting the neighbouring fields.

Little Woodley not only provides the perfect retreat for relaxing but also a good base for exploring the many attractions and places of interest that both Devon and Cornwall have to offer.  It is located on the very edge of Devon, with the Cornish border being just a couple of miles away.  

Tavistock, the nearest town, is known as the gateway to Dartmoor. It has an award-winning farmers market, a daily covered market and many independent specialist shops.  There are good restaurants nearby, including Peter Gorton’s Horn of Plenty and the fabulous Hotel Endsleigh. Foodies will find plenty to eat and do.

Gardeners will enjoy the National Trust’s Cotehele House and Buckland Abbey. The Garden House at Yelverton is also worth a visit, according to Alan Titchmarsh.

There are a choice of golf courses within a few miles, and the vast expanse of Dartmoor is close at hand for walkers and riders alike.

The Tamar Valley Heritage Project offers a series of trails through the fascinating mining heritage sites of the area. This has created many walks and an excellent mountain biking facility within a five minute drive of the cottage. You can also hire a boat and take to the Tamar.  Alternatively, you might just want to sit by the fire with a good book.

The north and south coasts of Cornwall can be reached within forty five minutes by car. Bude, Padstow and Polzeath are some of the rugged North Coast’s favourite destinations, while the South Coast offers higgledy-piggledy villages like Polperro and Kingsand and wide sandy beaches.

Plymouth is a thirty minute drive away and you can visit the National Marine Aquarium, the Hoe and the historic cobbled streets of the Barbican. Plymouth Gin Distillery offers guided tours, which you can follow up with a lunch at the Tanner Brothers’ brasserie. The Theatre Royal often previews large-scale musicals before they hit the West End, while the Drum Theatre has become one of the country’s leading venues for new and experimental work.

The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan are close enough to visit in a day. Launceston Castle, Exeter Cathedral, Saltram House, Lanhydrock and many other historic properties are within easy reach. Or you might prefer just to enjoy walking from the cottage to the riverside pub (half a mile) for a leisurley lunch or simply sit in the garden and listen to the birds!