There is no shortage of unique Airbnb options in Devon, including this quirky treehouse | Courtesy of Finest Retreats / Airbnb
Devon is a place for adventures, including those on the beach, on the moors and in gastronomy. With such great experiences come great places to stay, and this county in England does not lack in beautiful, quirky accommodation for a night of recovery. Here are Devon’s best, weirdest and most beautiful Airbnbs.
Seaside holidays don’t tend to get much better than this – a cottage sitting directly on the sand. It’s perfectly designed for spending as much time outdoors as indoors, and brave souls can plunge into the water for a brisk swim before brewing up a morning coffee. Sleeping up to six guests in two bedrooms and a lounge, the chalet is excellent for families or groups of friends and offers the perfect antidote to bustling city life. Spectacular Jurassic Coast cliff walks lie moments away, and the village of Branscombe – with its traditional pubs brewing local ales – are within easy reach.
This studio loft feels suspended between sea and sky, with views that make it appear to float above the ocean. It’s just 200m (656ft) from the beach, so you’ll wake up to endless blue vistas over the Cornish coast. It’s the ultimate romantic bolthole and sleeps just two, but the open-plan space has a fully equipped kitchen, which means you can dine in and make the most of the views. You’re unlikely to find a restaurant with a better outlook.
Get back to nature in the best way possible with a stay at this treehouse, hidden among the forest in Devon. Completely off-grid, it’s the ultimate retreat from modern life – there’s no electricity or gas cooking, and drinking water comes from a filtered tank. But don’t let that deter you because it’s blissfully cosy on the inside, with a log-burning fire and an enormous, snug bed. The summer house and lake at the front of the property are for guests’ private use, so couples can live out schmaltzy scenes from The Notebook (2004) with a romantic afternoon rowing through the woodland.
For stunning panoramic views, cute 1950s vintage decor and a hot tub in the back of a beat-up Land Rover, look no further than the tranquil Bluebird Penthouse. Here, you can truly get away from it all and sink into deep relaxation. There is no TV – just a radio – so a stay at the Bluebird is the best excuse to get back in touch with nature and yourself.
Close to Bantham, Bigbury-on-Sea and Burgh Island is this perfectly furnished converted barn loft. While the accommodation may be small, the colours used throughout are popping, and the beds are sublime. Access to the beach is this place’s best asset, with sand and surf being just a five-minute drive away. A fire pit and gorgeous outdoor seating area encourage breakfasts in the sun and nights spent outside.
Stepping into this wooden wagon at Yonder Meadow is like stepping into F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby (1925) – if they did glamping in the 1920s, that is. The oak-lined wagon features copper accents and plush leather seating, complete with a log burner and a sleigh bed. Here is where luxury meets the great outdoors. Surrounding the wagon is an orchard, chickens, ducks and the sound of the forest.
