The Times recommends Watermill Cottages 23 May 2015

The Times recommends Watermill Cottages

The Times, to our delighted surprise, recommended us in its Travel Doctor column on Saturday May 23 2015.  

Watermill Cottages' 20 acres of rural coastal retreat near Slapton Sands beach in South Devon's AONB is perfect for families of all ages and sizes with plenty of dogs!


It was in the Weekend Section, which luckily Andy at Strete General Stores held for us on Sunday morning.

The Times quoted prices for May half-term 2016 for Rose, Quack and Barleycorn Cottages - the same price as 2015 - prices and availability for 2015 are on this link.  

For 2016 prices and availability please call us on 01803 770219 or email christine@watermillcottages.co.uk

Word has got out! 

Watermill Cottages on Tripadvisor

And we've joined Tripadvisor (as well as facebook and twitter) ...

We're  listed as Watermill Cottages, Slapton, Devon if you'd like to have a look or write anything, and so far we have 11 reviews. 

Here's a couple of them...

Quack, quack, quack!”

Reviewed 2 September 2013

'Me, my Mum and dog stayed stayed in Quack cottage for 5 days and had the most wonderful time. The cottages are in such a rural setting but not too far away (driving distance) from lots of beautiful towns and beaches (some dog friendly all year).
We were welcomed by lovely Jade, gorgeous cake and dog treats and flowers from the garden too. We felt so welcome and what a great start to our holiday.
The cottage is equipped with everything we needed and more. The garden is massive with the lovely ducks saying hello everyday!
It was a welcome break from the internet, tele and mobile phones and we thoroughly enjoyed cooking, knitting and chatting the nights away! '

“Down the rabbit hole”

Reviewed 12 May 2013

'Remember how Alice goes down a rabbit hole in Wonderland and finds a magical place unlike any other? Well, when we go to Watermill Cottages (twice so far in one year and another in the planning), we feel it is a bit like that. No wifi, no TV, no traffic noise. Just the rush of the stream and the birdsong, the animals and silence. This is the kind of place that inspired WH Davies to write his poem, Leisure... "What is this world if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare..." Here, we slough off the dry skin of the 'real world' and bask in the bliss of how things used to be and should be. From the great fish and chips in Slapton, to the farm shop with real, hung, beef, the Pig's Nose pub where you can help yourself to knitting needles and wool after a bracing coastal walk. Beware. If you ever visit Watermill Cottages, you may get addicted....

“All cottages are great, but Crownwheel is closest to the water, Quack has the cutest name and garden, Rose has the highest terrace and Barleycorn is closest to the mill itself.” '

Thank you for your kind words everyone ...

Glow worms in the lane

They're back!  Glow worms spotted at dusk last week and this week outside Rose Cottage in the four wheel drive track.  Last year, they appeared in the sage bush outside the old mill house.

Like everything else in nature this year, they're a bit later than usual  and we're so glad to see them 

Rose Cottage & Crownwheel Cottage on Owners Direct

We've chosen to advertise Rose Cottage and Crownwheel Cottage on Owners Direct website so that more people can find their way to the restful peace and quiet in our lovely Gara Valley.

Come and wind down in the land that time forgot at dog-friendly Watermill Cottages!

It's spring time!

Snowdrops, aconites, primroses  are out everywhere in the Gara valley.  Violets are peeping out of Rose Cottage's lawn and tiny cyclamen too, crocuses and hellebores in Quack's garden, and the daffodils by the stream are just about to open. Camelias next...

Wild heliotrope is everywhere and in the wetlands and along the leat the tell-tale smell of wild garlic rises from the first leaves.  Wild garlic pesto here we come!

When I looked at the weekend, the orchard pond was bubbling with frogspawn and in the kithen garden the rhubarb is already showing short pink stems.

With so much sap rising, Jade and Ollie rushed to prune the apple trees!

We're expecting lambs to be born here in four to six weeks' time - they'll be pretty ones, Jacobs crossed with Lleyn so hopefully polka dot lambs!

Powdery Duck, an experienced Muscovy Duck mum, is already on a nest so we hope to have a few ducklings at Easter, and Mallard PuddleDuck, our adopted stray has a handsome drake in tow.  He's even flying in for breakfast.

Specs, our dear old dark green Muscovy drake is still going strong but we kept a white drake that we bred last year, just in case...

At feeding time, the ducks are regularly joined by a chaffinch pair, robins, and a squirrel.

The days lengthen - still light at 5:30!  It is springy!

Come and enjoy the early mild spring in coastal south Devon - email christine@watermillcottages.co.uk for availability or call on 01803 770219.  we look forward to welcoming you...