King of the Sandcastle

King of the Sandcastle: Devon

How annoying is it when you pack everything for an afternoon on the beach and make the journey over, before realising you've forgotten something crucial? At this home, Paignton Beach sits less than a hundred metres from the front door, so you can pop back in no time at all.

That may be the apartment's biggest perk, but there's more to the address than its proximity to Tor Bay. We've got a lot of praise for the contemporary design entirely absent of nautical kitsch – just lots of natural light, sleek tiling, and soothing white walls. Perhaps some might see the open living space as a little too limited in size, but there's just enough space in here for small groups to relax and cook modest meals.

Aside from the nearby stretch of sand, there are seafront pubs and the town's Victorian Pier with which to get acquainted, while the famous South West Coast Path runs close by the house and continues in both directions for dramatically beautiful walking routes.

Home truths:
*There's a parking space available for one car
*The single-level apartment is on the first floor of a building with no elevator
*Though there isn't a dedicated desk here, the dining table doubles up as a laptop-friendly workspace