There’s something for everyone at this beautiful bolthole. Inside, the creature comforts include two blissful bedrooms and an open-plan living space, while outside, the wrap-around balcony leads onto a field-facing garden with play equipment. It’s a wonderful location where four people and a pair of four-pawed pals can chill. Enjoy drives to the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Dartmoor National Park and East Devon Heritage Coast, or forget the car and follow riverside trails direct from your doorstep.
One of only two stunning lodges set amid lovely countryside, this idyllic retreat has a welcoming home-from-home feel from the outset. Step inside where the open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner sets the scene for companionable downtime. Reconnect as you cook up a storm, chat at the dining table long after the last plate has been loaded in the dishwasher, then draw the curtains and curl up on a sofa with a favourite movie on the Smart TV. Soft carpeting and a modern electric fire will ensure toes and paws are warm on even the chilliest of evenings, while windows on all sides allow fresh air to breeze in whenever you want. When it’s time to sleep, settle the dogs then choose from two peaceful bedrooms – one a light and airy double, and the other a pretty twin. Completing the comfort and convenience is a charming family bathroom. A large wrap-around balcony extends your living space; unwind here on a summer’s evening and you may even spot a deer or two. Steps lead down to an enclosed patio and gravelled garden where the dogs can stretch their legs while the children play.
Enjoy waggy-tailed walks through the surrounding fields and woods to the River Otter, or stroll to the local country inn – less than a mile from your doorstep – where the resident pup keeps a stash of gravy bones to share with four-legged visitors. Honiton is famous for its lace and pottery and is regarded as the antiques capital of the South West, just 3.5 miles away from this lodge. Honiton sits on the edge of the Blackdown Hills AONB, on the Devon and Somerset border, which offers excellent cycling and walking. Just 13.5 miles from your doorstep, Exeter is an attractive city with a magnificent cathedral, imposing Roman wall and beautiful quayside. Sniff out the Dartmoor National Park beyond (30 miles away), or for a change of terrain head south to the Jurassic Coast at Sidmouth (9 miles), where beautiful gardens and clean beaches nestle beneath majestic red cliffs.