There is also a fully equipped kitchen with microwave, oven, ceramic hob, dishwasher and integral fridge/freezer. All cutlery, crockery, utensils etc provided.
Private, enclosed south-facing patio area with garden furniture & barbecue for al fresco eating. Also perfect for stargazing from as there is no light pollution. Picnic ware is also provided.
There is parking for 2+ cars.
There are numerous National Trust properties nearby, including Greenway, Agatha Christie's holiday home; Cotehele near Saltash; Llanhydrock, near Bodmin; Coleton Fishacre [originally the home of the D'Oyly Carte opera family]; Castle Drogo [designed by Lutyens] the last castle to be built in England;
There are many beautiful beaches too and of course Dartmoor National Park with the Dartmoor ponies.
The surrounding area is well served by some excellent restaurants catering for all tastes.
Approximately 30 and 23 miles away lie the cities of historic Exeter and naval port of Plymouth respectively, with a large range of shops, both high street favourites and more interesting, independent shops. Exeter Cathedral is one of many places well worth a visit and the surrounding Cathdedral Green contains many historic buildings. You can also visit Exeter Underground Tunnels which date from the14th century. These medieval passages beneath Exeter High Street are a unique ancient monument: no similar system of passages can be explored by the public elsewhere in Britain and they are quite fascinating!
In Plymouth, one of many interesting places to see are the Mayflower Steps, from where the Pilgrim Fathers set sail to America. Much of Plymouth was rebuilt after World War II but the remains of Charles Church, on a busy roundabout, remain. It was destroyed by incendiary devices in March 1941 and now looks at odds with its more contemporary surroundings!
Dartington Hall Estate is well worth a visit. In 1925, Dorothy and Leonard Elmhirst purchased the neglected 14th century Dartington estate. The Elmhirsts were pioneers, inspired by many innovative thinkers of the time and Dorothy had inherited considerable wealth, which she devoted to founding the Dartington Hall Trust. Dartington rapidly became a magnet for artists, architects, writers, philosophers and musicians from around the world, creating an exceptional centre of creative activity.
It is also the base for the “Ways with Words” literary festival held in July each year. It is a festival of words and ideas and is a vibrant and joyful 10-day event, a chance for those who read books to meet those who write them. The setting is glorious, the atmosphere is invigorating. People come together in spectacular surroundings to share the pleasure and power of language and ideas. The warmth and energy of this lively gathering make it a memorable occasion.
There is a beautiful garden with wonderful herbaceous borders and a tilt yard where jousting took place. In spring, there are camellias, magnolias, azaleas and numerous colourful bulbs. Also, the witch hazel walk is a sight to behold, filling the air with perfume and being under-planted with pretty blue chinodoxas.
The Great Hall is a magnificent medieval building with huge fireplaces and vast beamed ceilings. There is a very good pub/restaurant there too, the White Hart, with a wonderful ambience and excellent food.
There is also a unique cinema there “The Barn” and the Roundhouse Cafe, serving home-made cakes.
One of the best and nearest beaches is the sheltered, gently sloping, Blue Flag status Blackpool Sands, approximately 9 miles away. There is a beach shop, loos and wonderful award-winning cafe, The Venus, which serves excellent organic, local food and has glorious views too. One could almost believe one was in the Mediterranean when observing the pine trees against the blue skies!
There are several more around the Torquay area and a little further away [approx. 13 miles] is Bantham Beach, a vast expanse of fine golden sand which overlooks Burgh Island with its famous Art Deco hotel. The island and hotel were used in the filming of Agatha Christie's Evil Under the Sun featuring Peter Ustinov who played Hercule Poirot, Maggie Smith and James Mason. Also on the island is the Pilchard Inn, a rustic and charming 14thC inn, perfect for refreshments. You can walk across to the island when the tide is out, or take the unique sea tractor!
For wildlife and history enthusiasts, the Slapton and Torcross areas are worth a visit too. In the early hours of 28th April 1944 8 Landing Ship Tanks full of American servicemen were just off the coast of Devon. Their purpose to take part in Operation Tiger, the rehearsals for the D-Day landings in Normandy. A 32-ton Sherman tank lost in the practice landings was later recovered from the sea bed and is now displayed at Slapton Sands in memory of the 946 American servicemen who tragically lost their lives.Ken Small, who had struggled to raise the tank, received a personally signed letter of appreciation from Ronald Regan!
Slapton Ley is the largest natural lake in south-west England. Although it is only separated from the sea by a narrow shingle bar, it is entirely freshwater.The lake is surrounded by reedbeds, marshes and woodland habitats.You can see many wildflowers on the shingle ridge during the summer including Yellow Horned Poppy and Vipers Bugloss. The nature reserve is the only place in Britain where you can find Strapwort on the lake shore.
You can hear and occasionally see Cetti's warbler all year round. Slapton Ley is an important staging post for wintering and passage birds including Swallows. If you are lucky, you might catch a glimpse of Badgers, Otters, Dormice and Bats.
In complete contrast to the seascapes is the rugged landscape and wild outdoors of the Dartmoor National Park, with miles of open moorland with wild ponies grazing. You can visit many places including Widecombe-in-the-Moor, upon which the tale of Uncle Tom Cobley is based.
The following places of interest are a further very small selection and are all within a short distance of East Leigh:
National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth;
Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre, Buckfastleigh;
Buckfast Abbey, Buckfast;
Kents Cavern, Torquay;
Totnes Castle, Totnes (English Heritage);
Woodlands Leisure Park near Dartmouth;
South Devon Railway;
Paignton Zoo, Paignton;
Dartmouth Castle, Dartmouth (English Heritage);
Ashburton, ancient Stannary town;
Totnes;
Dartmouth;
Dartmoor National Park;
Sharpham Vineyard & Cheese Dairy, Ashprington;
Canoe Adventures, guided canoe paddling aboard Voyager 12-seat canoes on South Devon’s glorious River Dart;
