South for the Summer

South for the Summer: Devon

Located in the coastal village of Marlborough, this home makes it easier than ever to relax. Out in the palm-filled garden, you can sit back in the hot tub before getting out and taking a perch next to the fire. Alternatively, the alfresco lounge on the terrace isn't a bad spot for a languorous evening over a bottle of wine.

Heading through the glass doors, you'll see the interior is just as geared towards laid-back living. Not only in the decor — heavy as it is with faux fur, house plants and neutral colours — but also in the numerous sumptuous spots where you can kick back. During the colder evenings, you can get cosy on the sofa with the log-burner crackling in the background or lie back in the freestanding bathtub. During brighter days, the dining table in the conservatory complete with an upright piano is sure to see some action.

As you can probably guess from the nautical view from many of the windows, the seaside isn't too far away. South Sands Beach is only seven minutes away in the car, for instance. That's just one of many beauty spots in the surrounding South Devon AONB and once you've worked up a hunger from seeing all the locale has to offer, simply drive over to Salcombe in six minutes and hit up one of the seafront gastropubs.

Home truths:
*The private driveway has room for up to three cars, although the home is approached by a narrow, metalled lane that might be unsuitable for low-riding vehicles
*Pets aren't allowed, but the host's dog lives here when they're at home
*While the home can sleep up to nine people, the maximum occupancy is eight guests – but the extra single bed can be made up for an additional child upon request
*As this is a lived-in home, wardrobe space is limited
*While useable, the hot tub is not fully functional and is awaiting maintenance
*With a full house, the hot water supply can be limited
*There's no door between the master bedroom and its ensuite, and the shower features a glass wall to the outside