The Terrace - Bright, characterful, near beaches

Epitomising pure relaxation, there’s a laid-back and fun holiday vibe at the Terrace. This light-filled, spacious Victorian home with free, off-road parking nestles on a quiet street but is just a stone’s throw from the hustle and bustle of Teignmouth’s golden-sandy beaches, independent shops and wonderful pubs and eateries. Coastal blues and sea-pinks characterise the bang-up-to-date interiors, while cosy seating areas, a bright, airy kitchen and a sun-trap terrace simply beg to entertain.
This is the perfect space for a large family or group of friends to get together, comfortably sleeping seven guests in three beautiful bedrooms. The Terrace by the sea can be enjoyed in all weathers: think winter nights curled by the fire and lazy summer mornings breakfasting on the patio – whenever you stay here, you’ll feel far-removed from the everyday.

High ceilings, spacious rooms and a south-facing aspect: the Terrace is the last word in bright and airy. Natural colours, fabrics and textures inspire the stylish interiors in this light-filled abode, and the open-plan living-dining space shows no compromise on comfort or indulgence. Designed with entertaining in mind, plush sofas, a 50-inch smart TV, large dining table, cosy electric fireplace, a piano and shelves stocked with games, books and guides to the local area make for an uplifting space that embraces its seaside setting. Cook up a storm in the contemporary, fully equipped kitchen (cooks will love the AEG ovens!) or simply treat yourself to a morning coffee from the Aeropress. Let the kids relax in the family area inside while you head outside to catch the evening sun. Kick off your sandals, rinse off the sand and settle down for a glass of something chilled as you allow the outside world to simply float away. There also a cloakroom toilet with wc and wash basin at the end of the house that adjoins the kitchen area.

Upstairs, three bedrooms and a family wetroom are as soothing as they are stylish. Long lie-ins sipping coffee beneath the weight of the duvet are the most tempting way to spend each and every morning, while the large bathroom is the perfect place to soak away coastal adventures in the rainfall shower and freestanding tub. Fluffy white towels are provided to complete the comfort.

Big, bright and cool, bedroom one overlooks the garden. Blue walls and a huge super-king bed, which can be made up as two singles on request, create a cocoon of comfort. There are bedside tables with lamps, a wardrobe, drawers, chair and a dresser with a mirror and a hairdryer. A travel cot can be provided on request.

Bedroom two is blessed with beautiful morning light and has zip-and-link twin single beds which can also be configured to be a super-king bed (upon request when booking). It also boasts bedside tables with lamps, wardrobe, drawers, chair and a desk, which doubles up as a dresser with a mirror and a hairdryer. Both the larger bedrooms have Sealy orthopaedic mattresses for a delightful night’s sleep.

Pretty in pink, the third bedroom offers a double bed with a single bunk, drawers, hooks to hang clothes, mirror and hairdryer.
Fresh Escapes will provide check-in details around 4pm, two days before your arrival date. Guests will have full private access to the entire garden and rear patio garden.
Step outside The Terrace and discover Teignmouth’s unique treasures. The lovely quaint old seaside town boasts a beautiful long promenade and pier. The seafront also has a children's play area, a skate park, a miniature golf course and a heated lido. The trendy art quarter is well worth a visit for a trove of independent shops, galleries, cafes, restaurants and pubs.

Teignmouth has two beaches for the price of one – a seaside-prom one, and an alehouse-fishermen’s-wharf one round the rear, cupping an estuary that darts with boats 24/7. The Town Beach offers the largest expanse of sand by the pier and promenade, and the ‘back beach’, as the locals refer to the River Beach, is where you’ll find the pubs with sunset views and the trawlermen mending their nets. Early-evening barbecues on Back Beach with Dartmoor glistening in the distance can't be beaten. For a fine free house with great beer, try Wild Goose Inn on the south side of the estuary. Stunning sea views, beach barbecues and live music can be found at the Ship Inn, while the New Quay Inn offers views up the estuary, plenty of seating out on the beach and a younger crowd. The Blue Anchor boasts a great selection of ales and ciders, a nice big beer garden and a vibrant atmosphere – plus, they often have live music! Check opening times though, the Anchor is not open on Mondays. Ye Olde Jolly Sailor is an old-fashioned hole-in-the-wall-type pub – there is a courtyard on each side, so you can chase the sun all day!

Foodies mustn’t miss the locally sourced and sustainably caught catch of the day at the Crab Shack on the Beach while the Lobster Lounge offers a wine and cocktail lounge with tapas. The Owl and the Pussycat provides informal fine dining focusing on sustainable, locally sourced food, the Colosseum does great pasta dishes while L'invidia Ristorante does excellent pizza – collect or have your meal delivered for a lazy evening at home. Trade Winds is Teignmouth's Greek restaurant, run by Nick, who makes the evening. Expect excellent grilled meat as well as other delicious Greek classics. Don't forget the plentiful supply of chippies: our favourites are Harbour Fish Bar or Finn McCools (both a few minutes’ walk into town). There is also a great

range of cafes, bakeries and delis in Teignmouth for a spot of lunch, afternoon tea or a crab sandwich. Head to Pearl’s Parlour, Shaldon Bakery, Mini Heaven, The View, Strand Cafe and Finley Browns.

Indie food stores abound in Teignmouth. Lloyd Maunder and G Redfern & Son are good butchers while the Refill and Deli encourages sustainable shopping with good local produce. The Rockpool deli has a good range of condiments, cakes, sandwiches, cheese and pastries and is just a five-minute walk from the Terrace.

Catch the charming little passenger ferry across the estuary to the picturesque village of Shaldon with its landmark headland, The Ness, where you can walk through the old smugglers tunnel in the cliff to reach Shaldon Zoo. Ness Cove, a secluded and picturesque beach, is completely enclosed by the shelter of the cliffs above. Mainly shingle, the beach graduates gently towards the sea, and provides a great swimming area. Fish for shrimps in the rock pools, or try fishing from the beach. There are pubs of all stripes: try the excellent London Inn on the village green, and the cosy Ferry Boat Inn, which comes into its own with an excellent beer garden with views over the estuary and a delicious summer barbecue. The Shipwrights Arms overlooks the river, and has a good range of local ales and ciders and great homemade pub grub.

Further afield, try the Smugglers Inn, Holcombe – they do a very popular carvery and it’s a nice walk – 45 minutes along the South West Coast Path, or a 10-minute drive. Down in the beautiful setting of Maidencombe (do head to the beach if you visit the pub), the Thatched Tavern does excellent food in a gorgeous old 17th-century building.

Teignmouth is a great base for walking, nestled as it is on the South West Coast Path. The seawall offers a flat, five-mile hike all the way to Dawlish Warren, a local wetland nature reserve where you can watch waterfowl and other birds, including the famous black swans. From there, it’s possible to come back on a local train – there’s at least one an hour. There are plenty of places to grab a coffee or pasty along the way. There are also shorter walks around the edge of town, with views across the wide estuary, as it glints in the setting sun. Teignmouth is situated also at the end of the Templer Way – an 18-mile walking trail, following the historic line of granite being taken from the quarries at Haytor to the docks at Teignmouth. The walk follows parts of the Stover Canal and is one of many scenic footpaths covering South Devon.

If you want to do a bit of sailing, SeaSports South West runs a range of canoeing, sailing, windsurfing and SUP classes and courses, and rents kayaks for paddling around the estuary and/or tideline. A lot of the activity picks up from April, when winds drop and temperatures rise. See the coast on a guided boat tour with Devon Sea Safari or try some diving with Teignmouth Dive Centre.

Annual events include an autumn jazz festival in Teignmouth, and a Water Carnival in Shaldon. Nearby are Shaldon Wildlife Trust Breeding Centre, Exeter racecourse and Ashcombe Adventure Centre; Dartmoor National Park is 12 miles north-west. Head there for the granite tors, rugged landscape, Dartmoor ponies and lovely villages: Ashburton has some incredible delis, cafes and shopping while picturesque Widecombe-in-the-Moor is a lovely place to wander around. Kids will love Babbacombe Model Village, a 15-minute drive away, and Canonteign Falls, England’s highest waterfall, which cascades 220 feet into the Teign.

There are lots of nearby places to visit using Teignmouth as a base, especially considering how close the house is to the railway station: Torquay and Paignton (the English Riviera), Totnes (Devonshire town with an alternative vibe), the riverboat from Totnes down to historic naval town Dartmouth and steam train from Dartmouth back up to Paignton. Exeter is also easily accessible by train, as is Dawlish Warren.
If you are arriving by train we are situated just a 2 minute walk from Teignmouth train station, with direct trains from London. There are good local rail and bus links to Plymouth, Exeter and across the English Riviera (Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, etc...)

If you are arriving by car from the north or east: once you get to Exeter, take the M5 until it turns into the A380 Devon Expressway (in the direction of Plymouth). Stay on this road and where it splits, take the left-hand fork to stay on the A380, which is signposted to Teignmouth. You can then either take the smaller B3192 road into Teignmouth, or stay on the A380 until you reach the Teignmouth Road A381 and drive in along the estuary. Either way, head for the Lidl and turn up the road opposite the entrance to the carpark - Shute Hill. Salisbury Terrace will be your first left. We are at the end on the right-hand side.

By car, you have excellent access to Dartmoor National Park, just a 25 minute drive away. Please borrow our guide books to plan your exploration of this stunning area.

If you want to keep your walking more local, head either way along the South West Coast Path – a favourite of ours is heading over to Shaldon and beyond to Maidencombe, a lovely sheltered cove. The path is dotted with a number of great spots for a swim and some lovely pubs to stop for refreshments.
There is only one allocated parking space to the side of the property.