St Giles Cottage

3003

2.7 miles N of Sidmouth | Sleeps 4 + cot*

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7 Nights from £482

The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.

Nearby pub

Situated in the heart of the village, this traditional pub offers home cooked food on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. There's a courtyard beer garden for warmer months and a warming log fire in the main bar.

Nearby beach

This is a wide sandy and shingle beach with good access and parking nearby. Jacobs Ladder leads down to the beach from Connaught Gardens, a lovely place to take in the view. A great family beach, you'll find lots of facilities and cafes nearby. Dogs are allowed year round at the easterly end of the beach.

Nearby walk

Start at Newton Poppleford Church, between Exeter and Sidmouth, for quiet countryside and good views across the Otter Valley. A circular route of 6.25 miles starts towards the west of the village before linking with the East Devon Way and crossing the River Otter.

Nearby town

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Sidmouth has all the classic appeal of a traditional English seaside resort, with wonderful Regency architecture and a genteel atmosphere. Tourism has been kind to the town, leaving its character intact. At the beginning of August the town rocks to the rhythm of the Sidmouth Folk Festival, a week of music, singing, dancing and storytelling.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

April 2009

Sidmouth Folk Festival

For most of the year Sidmouth is a sleepy little seaside town, with a pebbly beach, great coast walks and really good ice-cream. But for the first week of August it turns into a fantastic festival with traditional folk sounds from all over the world, dancers, singers, musicians, ceilidhs til the early hours. It's really family friendly, with lots of craft activities for kids.

-D Brazendale

Also nearby

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The focus here is on the animals, so there are no rides or play parks, just rescued donkeys to see and stroke. The Donkey Sanctuary is dog-friendly and admission is free.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

November 2024

Fun for all ages

Lovely day out, young and old thoroughly entertained and well worth a visit


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

October 2019

Liz Riley

Loved this place! So well-kept and loads of gorgeous donkeys to stroke. Good cafe too.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

July 2016

Dinky Donks

Lovely to visit, and as it's free you can spend as little or as long as you like. Not just donkeys, there are some walks / trails to follow and a good cafe.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

April 2012

A great family day out, free entry, free parking, all facilities on site are good - from eating to toilets, beautiful grounds. Only downside is reliant on reasonable weather as mostly outdoors.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

June 2009

A wonderful day out for all the family - go on a fine day as you can walk a long way. A great bonus is that it is FREE to visit and there is no pressure on visitors to pay anything - but you will want to help this super charity.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

February 2009

The donkey sanctuary is a brilliant day out for families. We have been here on numerous occasions and it is a joy to see the smiles on the childrens faces as they interact with the donkeys. We are always made to feel very welcome and the staff are very well informed.


Rated 4 out of 5 stars

January 2009

One of the largest in the world. Great for children and adults will enjoy it too.
- J M Wynne

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent food and great pub atmosphere with plenty of outside seating for balmy summer evenings and a roaring open fire for cooler weather. Dogs are welcome.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

October 2023

Excellent food

A great country pub with such friendly staff and excellent food


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

October 2016

You have to visit here !

The Masons Arms, from the outside it looks stunning, charming thatch, honey stone, you expect so much from this first impression, well we were not disappointed, inside the atmosphere is spot on, and the food, local beers and especially the service from the ever attentive staff was brilliant. Welcomes dogs too, a truly British pub experience.
Glad we are not locals, we'd be in here every day !


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2011

Great crab ploughman's!

Get there early at lunch time for a table outside in the summer. The famous crab ploughman's makes a wonderful lunch - washed down with the local Branscombe Bitter. For me the beer of the week!


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

March 2009

Chocclate box pub in a chocolate box village

The Mason Arms is a very popular pub in the heart of Branscombe village. It has lots of nooks and crannies and plenty of eating space, although it can get extremely busy in the summer months and at bank holidays - make sure you book ahead for a table. The food is fresh, great quality and very well cooked - a surefire winner!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

In a lovely setting overlooking Sidmouth and the bay, these gardens offer a fine range of plants which thrive in the temperate climate. A leafet with a guided walk is available from the attached Web site. The Clock Tower Cafe serves light refreshments throughout the day.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2023

Amazing views and restful

Lovely gardens with some unusual plants, we have visited several times and always go here when in the area. Gardens are very well designed and kept in great condition.❤️
The café has lovely range of food to suit everyone. Plenty of places to sit within the garden. Just love the place, so very restful. Recommend to friends and family


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

September 2016

Simply delightful throughout the year these gardens are divided into 'rooms' each planted to perfection. The vista could not be bettered with the sea appearing far below and between the creative planting out to the horizon providing the perfect backdrop. A superb little cafe sells everything delicious to encourage you to sit down and savour the delightful planting around you. Jacob's ladder tempts you down to the waters edge with it's pebbled and sandy beach but for those of us less agile the gardens can be accessed almost on the level from Manor car park. Most weekends throughout the summer a band will be playing and occasionally outdoor theatre performed. These lovely gardens are really worth a visit

This cluster of pretty, thatched buildings date back over 200 years. See the blacksmith at work in the forge, stroll along the mill stream at the restored water mill and round off the day with a cream tea at the Old Bakery.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

September 2019

Delicious cakes and lovely staff

A perfect spot to end/begin/break a walk when staying in or around Branscombe. A good destination too if walking to Branscombe from Beer or Sidmouth. Delicious home made cakes daily (my favourite was the apple and cider cake), fresh scones daily for generous cream teas, and lovely friendly staff. I didn't try the lunches, but they looked divine too.
The goodies sold in the shop are also fab - the lemon and apple curd, made with apples from the orchard next to the bakery, was lush!
Dog friendly inside and out, which is helpful on the cooler or wetter days.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

July 2010

The National Trust looks after this collection of thatched buildings in one of the most beautiful coastal villages in Devon. Most of the surrounding countryside is also owned by the Trust. Visit the working mill and forge and enjoy a traditional cream tea in the Old Bakery. There is also a lovely walk to the beach.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Classic old-fashioned seaside charm. Little wooden changing huts line up on the beach in front of the striking white chalk cliffs. The town has been a fishing port since the 15th Century and many of the buildings are listed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

May 2023

Beer coastal walk

Lovely coastal walk. You do walk in fields with livestock (sheep and cows) so something to remember if you go with a dogs.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

August 2012

Absolutely lovely small seaside town. Nice shops and facilities. Beach side cafe excellent and no one minded my elderly mother sitting there all day. Limited availability of deckchairs and no sun umbrellas at all. Good fishing trip for mackerel. Parking some distance from the town.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

January 2010

Devon Seaside village

Pretty beach, fresh fish - catch your own mackerel boats if you like - and Pecorama - delightful gardens, model railway and regular childrens activites/events. Super cliff walk to Branscombe.


Rated 5 out of 5 stars

February 2009

The beach is a lovely combination of children's paradise whilst retaining an element of a working seaside town with atmospheric fishing boats waiting to be taken out. Possibly one of the most enticing reasons for coming to Beer are the fresh fish stalls at the edge of the beach where you can pick up fresh crab, lobster and many other things in the catch of the day - a must for fish lovers! The Dolphin and the Anchor pubs deserve a mention for their food too.
- D Brazendale

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