#10945 Premium
2 bed flat near the sea in the English Riviera
Apartment • Torbay United Kingdom
Exchange types accepted
Statistics
Listed August 2021
Views 2610
General overview
Please note that the flat is generally rented out during UK school.holidays but do ask as it's sometimes available especially for a globe. We have not listed our 4 bedroom house (above the flat) but may do so for the right exchange.
We are open to exchanges to most parts of Europe in 2025 especially Greece, Croatia and Italy. Also of interest is London, Bristol or southwest UK. We would also be open to Northern Ireland.
We are also happy to offer sim or non-sim exchanges to Malaga / Sol y Neive Sierra Nevada for about a week in February or Easter 2025.
On offer is a 2 bedroom garden flat which sleeps 5 which is at the bottom of our house. The flat is usually let out on Airbnb and has all the facilities you usually associate with a property let on that site. We live above the property and if around, will be on hand to point you in the direction of local sights and sounds. The apartment has it own personal entrance, and an enclosed courtyard with outside seating. You can also access the large hilly garden at the back with a further seating area, pond and bbq.
Opposite the flat is gorgeous Anstey Cove where you can go for a quick dip, rent kayaks and SUPs and have a great coffee and breakfast whilst watching the waves (in season).
Bedroom 1 has a king size bed with wardrobe and drawers and tv (with netflix). Bedroom 2 has compact twin beds (that can be joined if needed) and wardrobe and drawers. There is also a spacious bathroom with bath and overhead shower. The kitchen has everything you need with a fridge/freezer, cooker and oven, microwave and even a slow cooker. The is also a washing machine and heated clothes airer.
The living room is bright and airy and has patio doors leading to the large front garden. This has a tv (with netflix), sofa, cuddle chair in a cosy reading nook and an armchair. The sofa is a sofa bed offering sleeping arrangements for a fifth person (well 6 if they are small children). Just off the living room is a dining nook with a small selection of games and books.
The house is surrounded by gardens galore (there are about 5 sections), there are 2 front gardens, courtyard, middle garden and the top garden which our children call the secret garden as it is hidden away. You are welcome to use all the gardens and share with us but one of the front gardens and the courtyard will be for your exclusive use.
At the end of the garden is parking for 5 cars (we usually use 2 spaces). Alternatively, there is plentiful street parking at the front of the house. There is a bus stop right outside the house if you prefer public transport.
The space
The 2 bedroom garden flat is situated below our main house. We live above the property and if around, will be on hand to point you in the direction of local sights and sounds.
Bedroom 1 has a king size bed with wardrobe and drawers. Bedroom 2 has compact twin beds (that can be joined if needed) and wardrobe and drawers. There is also a spacious bathroom with bath and overhead shower. The kitchen has everything you need with a fridge/freezer, cooker and oven, microwave and even a slow cooker. The is also a washing machine and heated clothes airer. If needed (and we are around) you are welcome to use our dryer upstairs.
The living room is bright and airy and has patio doors leading to the large front garden. This has a tv, sofa, cuddle chair in a cosy reading nook and an armchair. The sofa is a sofa bed offering sleeping arrangements for a fifth person (well 6 if they are small children). Just off the living room is a dining nook with a small selection of games and books.
The house is surrounded by gardens galore (there are about 5 sections), there are 2 front gardens, courtyard, middle garden and the top garden which our children call the secret garden as it is hidden away. You are welcome to use all the gardens and share with us but one of the front gardens and the courtyard will be for your exclusive use.
At the end of garden is parking for 5 cars. Alternatively, there is plentiful street parking at the front of the house.
Guest access
The house is situated up a hill and presents a challenge for those with mobility issues. There are stairs and steps from the parking area to the flat and also from street level up to the flat itself. This does have the upside of some good views across the horizon but comes with the downside of steps.
Children of any age are welcome. However, please note there are a few steps either down from the car park to the flat (but in the main accessible for buggies) or from street level up to the flat (about a dozen or so steps). The flat itself is on one level so once inside, access for young children is fine.
I have 3 young children myself (with the youngest being 6) and they have no problem running up and down the stairs.
Notes
As the flat is rented out during the summer months, we'd ideally like to steer clear of weekend exchanges during the UK summer holidays and other school holidays. However, we are happy to do week or longer exchanges during this time with our 4 bedroom house.
We have 2 cats which if it's a simultaneous exchange, would ask that they be fed. Please note that if you have allergies to cats that this should not be an issue at the flat as the cats lives in our main house and do not enter the flat.
Happy for you to bring a well-behaved dog.
Features
Washer
Oven
Microwave
Fridge
Iron
Hair dryer
Heating
TV
WiFi
Bathtub
Smoke alarms
Fire extinguisher
Bed sheets
Towels
Workspace
Fireplace
BBQ
Hot tub
Garden / yard
Deck / patio / courtyard / terrace
Travel Styles
Long term
Weekend
Adventure
Budget
Family
Romantic
Sport and leisure
Foodie
Relaxing
Beach
Water
Hiking
Last minute
Good public transport
House rules
Suitable for infants under 2
Suitable for children ages 2-12
Pets welcome
No smoking
Dates of Availability
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Neighbourhood
The flat is situated in Wellswood, one of the more desirable neighbourhoods in Torquay with green leafy views from most directions. We have nice, friendly neighbours on either side of us.
The property is situated on a main road but is set back high above (we are 2 double decker buses above the road) and far back from the road (there is a large front garden and path in front) so whilst you are the thick of things, most people walking past would not even know the flat is above them.
Over the road is a path leading to Anstey Cove, which according to The Beach Guide is "a peaceful, shingle beach located on the coast path between Torquay and Babbacombe. Limestone cliffs, interesting rock formations and views across Lyme Bay to the Dorset coast.
There is a shop and cafe on the beach, which is set among wooded hills" The shop rents SUPs and kayaks if you are feeling adventurous. The south west coastal path also runs past the cove.
There are numerous other local beaches nearby with Babbacome, Oddicombe (with its famous furnicular railway leading to the beach) and Meadfoot being within 15 - 30 minute walking distance. Other beaches further afield include Maidencombe Beach and the umpteen beaches in the beautiful South Hams.
Local sights include Kents Caverns with its UNESCO geopark prehistoric caves, Torquay Harbour and the quaint thatched cottages at Cockington. Further afield, you have Paignton with its geopark, harbour and of course sandy beaches. There is also a zoo and water park. Brixham forms the third of the trio of three towns that forms Torbay wth Torquay and Paignton being the other two. Brixham offers chocolate box scenes of the seaside, Berry Head Nature Reserve and beaches too numerous to name as well as a lovely saltwater pool (and has a stupendous seafood eaterie attached)..
As a popular holiday destination, there are activities galore near and far including fishing and various boat trips, lots of walks in wooded and coastal paths, Alpine Ski Club, Woodlands Theme Park, River Dart Country Park, Pennywell and Occombe Farms, Becky and Canonteign Falls, Babbacombe Model Village with its quaint miniature models of houses, and various sceneries, Dartmoor with its 101 walks and the steam railway. You can also follow the Agatha Christie Mile retracing places associated with this famous author.
Getting to my home
The main train stations are just over a mile away at Torquay and Torre respectively and offer services to Exeter, London and beyond. They also take you down the other direction to Cornwall.
Most people travelling to Devon will use the M5 and then the A380 which has been greatly improved with the recent arrival of the bypass.
Nearest airport
The nearest airport is at Exeter which is about 40 minutes away or else there is Bristol, which depending on traffic, is about 1 1/2 hours away. You can of course come here from Heathrow and Gatwick which are about 3-4 hours away.
Getting around
There is a bus stop right outside the house which takes you into the town centre and Paignton. In the other direction, it takes you to Dawlish Warren.
Local shops in Babbacombe are a 10 minute walk away with a plethora of restaurants, a couple of convenience stores and a park with a playground. You can also walk to Wellswood in 10 minutes with another set of shops. The walk to Torquay town centre takes about 20 minutes. It may be best to take the bus back though as its an uphill walk back home.
Map of Approximate Location
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Desired Destinations
Open to any destination
Dates flexible
"Long weekends in the UK are welcome."
Dates flexible
Dates flexible
Dates flexible
Dates flexible
"We are planning a trip in the next year or two and happy to offer non sim exchanges now and have our return stay in the future."
Dates flexible
"We are planning a trip in the next year or two and happy to offer non sim exchanges now and have our return stay in the future."
Dates flexible
"We are planning a trip in the next year or two and happy to offer non sim exchanges now and have our return stay in the future."
Dates flexible
"We would like a 4/5 day break during UK school holidays at some point."
Jul 26, 2025 - Sep 1, 2025
"A week or two during the UK school holidays. Non sim stay at our place can be at other times."
Dates flexible
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