Driftwood - picturesque cottage on the Devon coast

Picturesque and Characterful Cottage within 50 metres of the beach path, which drops down to a wonderfully sheltered beach. The cottage has a large private and secluded garden which can be a real sun trap. Driftwood has been in the same family for three generations and is rented out by the owning brother & two sisters. The property has been tastefully modernised and comprises all the amenities to enjoy a relaxing long weekend or a longer holiday break. Driftwood is a charming family cottage located in Bucks Mills, a quiet hamlet nestling on the cliffs above a picturesque beach looking out over Bideford Bay to Lundy Island. The self-catering cottage has three bedrooms and can sleep six people. The cottage dates back over two centuries and has been sympathetically restored over the years so that it retains many of the original features, which are blended with modern amenities. The cottage boasts one of the finest gardens in the village: the apple tree provides welcome shade in the walled garden that can become a sun trap for much of the year. Driftwood’s accommodation comprises the following: • A modern kitchen with all appliances including a freezer and microwave • A cosy sitting room with log burning stove and a SMART television. • An open plan dining room with an expandable dining table • A double bedroom with super king size bed (zip & lock mattress) and a radiator • A further twin bedded room at the front of the cottage with radiator • A centrally heated bathroom with bath & shower, WC and basin • A back bed room with twin cabin beds and a radiator • There is a further outside toilet • The garden shed, as well as housing garden furniture, has a washing machine and tumble dryer • Storage heaters throughout the cottage • Broadband/WiFi is freely available. • Bed Linen is provided (bath towels are available at a nominal fee of £5 per person to cover washing). Your hosts are only ever a phone call away and locally the cottage is managed by our caretaker who will ensure everything is ready for your arrival. Bucks Mills dates back as a small fishing village to the Spanish Armada when folklore has it that the village became populated by the survivors from one of the Spanish galleons shipwrecked off Bucks Mills. Over the centuries the village has changed little and remains completely un-commercialised. There are about 25 cottages, most of which are holiday properties but there remains a core population of permanent residents who ensure there is a community spirit thriving throughout the winter months. The village is approached by driving down a steep road that winds its way down the wooded valley from Bucks Cross, situated 9 miles from Bideford and 2 miles from Clovelly. A car park, as the visitor approaches Bucks Mills, ensures that the village itself remains relatively quiet from traffic even during the busiest weeks of the summer. Bucks Mills lies on the North Devon Coastal Path. It sits on top of a high cliff and access to the beach is by a steep, tarmac path. There are spectacular views out across Bideford Bay and on a clear day South Wales can be seen. The beach itself is a mixture of rocky outcrops, pebbles, rock pools and sand at low tide offering plenty of opportunities for prawning. It is a popular spot for local fishermen who can be seen fishing long into the night in their quest for bass. The beach is good for swimming (as anywhere the sea demands respect) and there can also be some sensational surfing (only for the most experienced of surfers) off The Gore, a natural rocky spit that curls out into the sea causing the surf to well up. Directions to the cottage are supplied separately once the holiday booking has been paid. There is a welcoming wood burning stove and further heating is provided by storage heaters and radiators in the bedrooms creating a cosy atmosphere in spring, autumn & winter. The cottage has been owned by the same family for the last 65 years and is maintained very much as a family cottage.