Entire apartment

Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog

Photo gallery for Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog

On the beach
Outdoor dining
Fridge, microwave, oven, stovetop
On the beach
Exterior detail

Reviews

8.6 out of 10
Excellent

Entire apartment

3 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 51 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Washer
  • Pet friendly
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor Space
  • Ocean view

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire apartment to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog

Upper Instow Beach Cottage is a quirky 3-bedroom dog-friendly apartment that accommodates up to 5. The first floor apartment is perfectly located right on the waterfront overlooking the beach at the very popular North Devon village of Instow, which has everything you need within a 5 minute walk, including places to eat such as the Instow Arms and The Boat House, which are just 200m away and offer some of the finest food and local ales.

The pretty estuary beach is right opposite Upper Instow Beach Cottage and most of it is dog-friendly all year round, it is also a great beach for building sand castles. The bustling village is home to art galleries and an excellent deli plus many more great pubs, which can be found along the Marine Parade, which leads to the sailing club and the Tarka Trail, a largely traffic-free cycleway and footpath.

Upper Instow Beach Cottage is located off Marine Parade and has private parking. You access the apartment from the ground floor, where there is a large entrance lobby with cupboards and storage facilities and loads of room for coats and boots. There is a small lift that takes you to the first floor or there are stairs, however, they are a little steep and narrow, so may be difficult to navigate if not able-bodied.

Once you are on the first floor the apartment has a landing area that leads to a bright and spacious living room with large windows along the sea-facing wall offering wonderful views of the beach, across to Appledore and the open sea beyond. The living room has sofas and chairs and a coffee table plus a flat-screen TV. There is a door, which leads to a lovely terrace with table and chairs and amazing views across the beach and Appledore. Beyond the terrace, down a few steps is a small private garden.

The kitchen can be found to the rear of the apartment and has a lovely contemporary feel plus everything you need for family cooking, including a fridge freezer, an electric cooker and a microwave. Next to the kitchen is a useful pantry and opposite is the dining room with gothic style table and chairs and views over the garden.

There are 3 bedrooms at the apartment, these include a double, a twin and a single. All the bedrooms have wardrobes and handy wash-basins. The family bathroom is found at the centre of the apartment and has a bath with overhead shower with massive "waterfall" shower-head, a wash-basin and a loo.

Outside Upper Instow Beach Cottage has a lovely terrace with table and chairs perfect for alfresco dining with stunning views over the beach, Appledore and the sea beyond. There are some steps down to a small, pretty garden. At the front of the house, there is a garage with a fresh water tap ideal for washing off surfboards or muddy boots.

Property manager

Amanda

Languages

English

Property amenities

Beach

  • On the beach

Internet

  • Internet access

Parking and transportation

  • Onsite parking
  • Car recommended

Kitchen

  • Refrigerator
  • Stovetop
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Toaster
  • Cookware/dishes/utensils

Bedrooms

  • 3 bedrooms
  • Bed sheets provided

Bathrooms

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Towels provided
  • Hair dryer

Living spaces

  • Living room
  • Dining room

Entertainment

  • TV
  • Stereo

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Elevator
  • Smoke-free property

Services and conveniences

  • Limited housekeeping

Location highlights

  • Near the ocean
  • Near the sea
  • On the waterfront
  • In a village

Things to do

  • Boat on site
  • Golfing on site
  • Fishing nearby
  • Surfing/body boarding nearby
  • Cycling nearby
  • Power boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Sailing nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Windsurfing nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Unit size: 11 sq ft (1 sq m)

Similar properties

Policies

Check-in

Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Contactless check-in available
Minimum check-in age: 21

Check-out

Check-out before 9:00 AM

Special check-in instructions

You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions

Pets

Pets allowed
Service animals are welcome, and are exempt from fees

Children and extra beds

Children are welcome

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation

We should mention

A car is recommended for transportation to and from this property

Property is also known as

Apartment
544693

About the neighborhood

Map
Instow, Devon

What's nearby

  • Instow Beach - 1 min walk
  • Clovelly Village - 9 min drive
  • Saunton Sands - 36 min drive
  • Croyde Bay Beach - 39 min drive
  • Woolacombe Beach - 47 min drive

Getting around

  • Barnstaple Station - 17 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Kingsley Inn - ‬6 min drive
  • ‪Royal North Devon Golf Club - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪The Boathouse - ‬1 min walk
  • ‪The Rose Salterne - ‬7 min drive
  • ‪Waterfront Inn - ‬9 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog?

Check-out is at 9:00 AM.

Where is Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog located?

Nestled on the beach, this Bideford apartment building is within a 15-minute walk of Instow Beach, South West Coast Path Section 7 Trailhead, and South West Coast Path Section 6 Trailhead. West Appledore and Northam Burrows Country Park are also within 2 mi (3 km).

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Character 3 bed apartment overlooking the beach sleeps 5 and takes 1 dog Reviews

Reviews

8.6

Excellent

Rating 10 - Excellent. 8 out of 17 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 5 out of 17 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 4 out of 17 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 17 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 17 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

Reviews

This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Debbie C.

Christmas heaven
Upper Instow Beach Cottage is the perfect place to stay. Fantastic view across the beach, very comfortable and well equipped apartment, they even set up a Christmas tree to make it feel very festive for us.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Jean Olingschlaeger

A lovely week in Instow!
We had a great week in Instow and enjoyed the fabulous views from the apartment! We loved the roof garden when the sun was shining and access to the beach was right on our doorstep. It's certainly a great location!
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

A week in sunny Devon water and beach side.
Lovely old property sitting a very short walk to the beach and water. Within a 100 metres of 2 pubs and a restaurant. Supermarket and a beach bar with food close as well.lovely upstairs terrace in the sun all day at the cottage. We had sun all week and when not visiting the close pubs and restaurants for food ate there including breakfast. Property comfortable especially as there was only 2 of us. It worked really well for us and clear instructions for arrivals and departures. Only issue whole holiday was access to the property initially and/or during the week if you have a larger vehicle (SUV or similar). The entrance is very tight and due to parked cars from about 9am to 10pm getting enough swing in is a very difficult manoeuvre. All in all very good, not cheap but Devon is not in any case and would recommend this property.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

barbara h., Marlborough

Needs improvement or price adjustment
Staycation pricing has now pushed this property into the poor value for money category which is very sad indeed Although it needs a lot of work, it used to be clean, this time we had to clean the property and wash all the dishes etc. ‘garden’ patch and garage roof area overgrown and not safely usable. The property is owned by lovely people but the holiday market is out of control and beyond the reach of hard working folk. In poor weather, it is an uncomfortable place to be; for two people it would be ok but it doesn’t lend itself comfortably to a group. You get what you pay for and so now, with the prices increasing, so will visitor expectations. I have some further points that I will send in an email as recommendations
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Good location but apartment needs improvement
Super views and a great location but access off the road is very tight. Some rooms fine but well below the standards of most holiday lets these days. Faded pictures, messy cupboards and even broken furniture. It needs a good clear out and sprucing up. We were lucky we had very good weather and we could sit out on the terrace which has a fabulous view of the estuary - this rescued our stay. The double bed sagged in the middle and could only be used by one person. One of the single mattress was unusable as it was it so noisy every time you moved. The reception hall is a good size which was handy for storing our bicycles but the random, unnecessary old furniture, broken and dangerous settee and musty smell was very off-putting. Some pruning is required to the plants around the front door and over the terrace. We enjoyed our morning walks to John's to buy a newspaper and our evening walks along the beach to watch the sunset and there are lots of lovely places to visit nearby plus the Tarka Trail right on your doorstep. If you are looking for somewhere right on Instow beach and are not too concerned about the condition of the accommodation then you may be ok.
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Nice location but needs updating
This holiday cottage is located in a lovely position on the shore of the estuary, with great views across to Appledore. It’s well equipped but in need of a substantial upgrade, as the furniture and decor are very old fashioned. The biggest problem with the cottage was with the several low doorways in the property, which caused a problem to myself and my son, who are both over 6ft tall. We both had several nasty bumps to our heads as we walked around the cottage through our stay there. Whilst I realise that this is a listed property and there may be nothing that can be done, there was no mention about the low doorways that make the property unsuitable for taller people. Entrance to the property driveway is very difficult and very dangerous on exit. You need to have someone guide you out and stop the traffic to exit the drive safely. The arrival times and departure times are not customer friendly. Arrival time is very late at 4pm and I could not even access the property at that time when I arrived, because the cleaning company believe that the arrival time was 5pm, so they had removed the key! Departure time is a very early 9am, which means an early start to pack up on your departure morning. I've stayed a many different cottages in all parts of the country and these were the worst arrival and departure times I've encountered. Overall, although the cottage is nicely situated and could be lovely, it's very over-priced for what is being provided. We made the most of our stay, but I was very disappointed.

10/10 Excellent

Shirley C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous Instow
I have been coming to Instow for the last 68 years, we have stayed in various places and you cannot fault this property for its view, fabulous and one which I shall remember. Your property was warm and welcoming. The lift was very useful especially for taking the luggage upstairs. There was nothing which we didn’t like about the property, although a working shower would have been useful and maybe a comments book. We look forward to year 69. Thank you.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2024
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Summer holiday in instow
Good accommodation great location House was opposite beach and Instow being a small village was close to everything in Instow Great view from balcony were you can sit out and admire beautiful views also great at night time with the lights from Appledore town Would stay again and off road parking a big help just a little tight to get on to drive from road but achievable over all a good stay
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

fiona chapman

Upper Beach Cottage, Instow, Devon
Comfortable apartment in waterfront location. Views from living room perfect, and fitted with comfy chairs & sofas: great for a rainy day. Kitchen is very small, but all the essentials are there; plenty of crockery, glasses, utensils, pans etc., and full-size fridge/freezer. Welcome pack (milk, biscuits, tea, coffee & dog treats) very thoughtful. Shower is great, with plenty of hot water. Parking is OK, but turning out of drive onto road does require care. Several great pubs in walking distance. Instow beach is perfect for dog walking, but there is a notice that swimming is not advisable, so not sure if it would be so good for families with children. We had a super time, despite the weather, largely due to the location of the apartment and views from lounge. A very nice place to spend a week. Thank you

10/10 Excellent

John S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Upper Instow
Excellent altogether.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2022
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

6/10 Okay

Rebecca S.

Good location, difficult to park.
Good location. Accommodate two to four people not six. Cleanliness was not good outside chairs needed cleaning dusting of cabinets had not been done. Inside window frames had never been cleaned. TV hums. Washing machine difficult to work and no instructions to be found!! Expensive for what was available. However location and local facilities good. Outside of the home attractive would be tight to accommodate a large group.

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely stay as usual
We regularly stay at North Yeo (Instow Beach Cottage) and always have a lovely time. It isn’t the most modern of properties but for a grade II listed building you wouldn’t expect it to be. We love the quaintness. It is certainly a warm and cosy place to be and the views are the best. All in all it suits us down to the ground.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021

8/10 Good

Matthew P.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect location
Pros: Perfect location for the beach and pubs/restaurants in Instow. Wonderful views across the river and estuary. Good communications with housekeeper. She left mince pies with clotted cream, which was lovely. Thanks! Well equipped kitchen. Slight niggles: Very small kitchen. No dishwasher. Furniture could certainly do with updating. Very little drawer space in the double and twin rooms. Lots of owners personal items around that hadn’t been cleared for many years. Parking was tricky for an estate car. Summary: location, location, location :)
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely location.
Really enjoyed the property.
Stayed 7 nights in Oct 2019

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just Perfect
We are regular visitors to Instow and were delighted to book North Yeo for our last stay. It was just perfect for us. The views from the living room are priceless, the location certainly couldn’t get any better. Inside the property it was well appointed, it wasn’t modern but totally in-keeping with the style and age of the building - we wouldn’t want it any other way. Everything was clean and fresh and there was a little treat waiting for us to have with a cup of tea on our arrival. All in all a lovely place.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2019
This review comes from a trusted partner site and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Karen C.

Great location & views
We had a lovely restful holiday, which is what we both really needed after after my husband spent two months in hospital earlier in the year. The apartment was nice, with great views. Bathroom & kitchen refurbed which were great, new carpets throughout, great patio & furniture and small garden for the dogs. We would stay again, but we have some recommendations to make it more enjoyable. The lounge and bedrooms “really” need updating, new modern furniture in all of them. Two couches would be great. New window coverings. New beds with better quality mattresses. Option for a summer duvet. The kitchen had a smoke alarm, which should be a heat alarm, so when we used the grill the alarm went off. The windows all need attention, not easy to open. A compendium with info on the bins, recycling etc. Parking not great, if you have a big car. The central grass ornament area could be with being made smaller or taken out.

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveler

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Couldn’t ask for a better British seaside location
Most fantastic location for a beach holiday - with sandy beach at the foot of the driveway, and great views from the living room and veranda. 3 good pubs on the doorstep too, with nice walks, cafes and villages nearby. A large Morrison’s a 10 minute drive away, and lots of activities for families nearby for wet weather. The beach was stunning, clean and perfect for dogs (if you down like dogs you’ll probably want to avoid the beach as there are constantly numerous ones running off leads - but never saw any left poo!!). Cottage had a large entrance hall (easily big enough for our double buggy, coats, shoes etc. Slightly dated decor, but really comfortable beds, sofas, etc. and how important is the decor when you have the most amazing setting / location. They have put in a new shower, which is really nice, and good size dining table for everyone. Spotlessly clean, great handover and information in advance. Great price!! Will definitely be going back.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019