This sparkling glass-fronted townhouse has been fully refurbished to offer the best of open-plan, indoor/outdoor living. Two Guns enjoys sweeping river views and all the way out to sea, whatever the weather. Soak up the panoramic views from the two spacious decks, or the plush sofas and chairs. Full of colour, verdant green plants, and slick mid-century and contemporary art and furniture, Two Guns is a refreshing break from the norm. We cannot accept hen or stag parties. Pets are welcome.
This 19th-century villa may have been modernised but it has lost none of its character.
Contemporary art combines with bold fabrics and colourful lamps to create a warm and charming space. Comfortably sleeping 10 people, it is the perfect bolthole for a large family or group of friends seeking a place to get away from it all in relaxed luxury. Spacious yet intimate, a stay here will allow you to come together over long, lazy meals and also find your own space to just be.
Set over three floors, the heart of this home beats within the light and airy open-plan dining, lounge and kitchen area, complemented by a canary yellow-tiled washroom. Beautiful chevron wooden flooring flows throughout the space, from the fully equipped kitchen/diner – complete with breakfast bar for that first morning coffee – into the dining area. A generous table easily seats 10, and looks out on to the wall-to-wall glass viewing deck. Just imagine sipping an ice-cold beer in the trendy cane seats while taking in those panoramic river views!
Retreat to the two super-cool sitting room areas, where you will find seating for six on a huge emerald-green sofa, studded with mexican-style cushions, for some sumptuous lounging and simply gaze out to sea. On cooler nights, fire up the wood burner to max out the cosy factor and settle down in front of the smart TV, which is connected to all the essential on-demand services. Younger people in your crowd might prefer to head to the gaming room, which seats five and boasts a wall-mounted TV, XBox and surround sound for the ultimate in video gaming chic.
The symphony of uplifting colours and textures continues in Two Guns’ four bedrooms. The master bedroom has a super king-size bed and boasts its own deck plus a double-ended tub – the views from the bath are spectacular! Decorated in chic muted tones, and accessorised with soft throws and pom-poms aplenty, this spacious, light-filled room also has an ensuite shower room with a hand basin and WC.
In contrast to the demure master bedroom, uplifting oranges and blues characterise the second bedroom, which offers a king-size bed and access to an ensuite bathroom with shower, hand basin and WC, which is also accessible from the landing.
A third bedroom, accessorised with yellow throws and bright geometric cushions, provides two three-foot single beds that can be made into a super king bed upon request.
Bedroom number four is the perfect hideaway for four children or young adults, offering two sets of three-foot single bunk beds.
There is also a family bathroom with a double-ended bath, shower, hand basin and WC.
Access to the house from the road is up a series of steps located just below the clearly identifiable flagstaff.
Two Guns is professionally managed by Fresh Escapes. A Devon based privately owned Vacation Rental and Management company who are here to ensure your stay runs as smoothly as possible.
Within a three-minute walk, you’re in pretty, boaty Kingswear. Some of the best coffee anywhere on the Dart is available at the Kingswear Coffee Company at the lower ferry slipway, where you’ll find passage to Dartmouth and the village post office. Kingswear Village Stores is packed with everything you need for supplies back at the house.
Cross via a funny little car ferry – an eight-vehicle float that's pulled across the water by a tug – to Dartmouth, on the opposite bank, where you will discover a plethora of chichi shops and galleries, an Elizabethan butterwalk, Mitch Tonks' Rockfish seafood chippy and countless fantastic restaurants and pubs. It’s well worth popping over to Dartmouth just to see the beauty of Kingswear from another angle. Back on the ferry, dive into Kingswear's old-fashioned Ship Inn or head to the Steam Packet Inn for stone-baked pizza and south-west sourced gins
before strolling back to Two Guns – just in time to watch the sunset over the river from your California deck.
As well as its scenic estuary setting, Kingswear gives access to some superb coastal and country landscapes nearby, sitting as it does on the South West Coast Path. On a headland to the east is the National Trust’s Coleton Fishacre, an Arts and Crafts-style house with an art deco interior, built in the 1920s for Rupert D'Oyly Carte, son of impresario Richard. The grounds are a gardener's delight, incorporating woodland and sub-tropical species and paths leading out to the cliff edge.
The Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company operates a wonderfully nostalgic service, which runs from Kingswear to Paignton, taking in some spectacular riverside, coastal and rural scenery. You can also stop off at Greenway Halt and enjoy a short walk down to Greenway Estate to explore another National Trust treasure: the former home of Dame Agatha Christie.
Although it departs from Dartmouth rather than Kingswear, don’t miss the Kingswear Castle Paddle Steamer. A sight to behold along the Dart, this historic vessel, built in 1924, is the UK’s only coal-fired paddle steamer in operation. Join a cruise up the Dart to Totnes and explore this beautiful stretch of river in style.
There is unrestricted but very limited on-street parking for small cars outside the house. Larger cars should park in the private parking bay on the left-hand-side of Beacon Road, before the road narrows.
Parking charges are £8/day in the Marina car park (postcode TQ6 0AA) and parking is very limited.
Kingswear is served by buses from Paignton and Brixham and by ferries from Dartmouth. More exotic transport access is provided by the Paignton and Kingswear Steam Railway.
Parking on street and the private allocated parking bay is only for normal to small size cars and is free. In the event you have an SUV it is unlikely that you will be able to park on street and will therefore have to park in one of the local parking areas at around £8 per day.