As I packed for a household week away in South Devon, the temperature the place I dwell, close to to Bathtub, was simply tipping over the thirty levels mark. I’m not normally affected by scorching climate an excessive amount of, not till it will get to “Egypt in August” degree of insufferable, however on this explicit day my complete physique revolted. Maybe as a result of I had a lot work to do earlier than we might go away, perhaps it was as a result of we’d dedicated to driving all the way down to Devon straight after the college pickup and it was an unrealistic plan that left no time to do essential duties akin to decanting canine biscuits, discovering strolling boots, loading the cool-box with ice packs solely in order that we might take the ball of Mozzarella di Bufala that was about to run out and 1 / 4 of a pint of milk. I don’t know. However I used to be mentally deranged by 1pm and by 3pm I used to be bodily melting. My again was sweating, my underboobs have been sweating, even the areas between my fingers have been sweating and areas don’t have sweat glands.
I realise that that is one thing of a non-standard introduction to a chunk a few luxurious clifftop vacation dwelling – “underboob” and “mentally deranged” probably wouldn’t be within the desired search engine optimisation key phrases – nevertheless it’s essential to offer a little bit of context and lead you step by step and seamlessly in the direction of the climatic pinnacle of this vacation evaluate.
As a result of I’m going to speak about how I packed my baggage when it was thirty levels, and due to this fact ended up taking a suitcase of seashore clothes and sandals – not a single jumper – after which I’m going to do a humorous little bit about how the climate didn’t play ball. Oh, the irony! The way it was greyish or it rained virtually each day for the week that we have been there and the way on two of the times out of seven the rain was so torrential you may barely even stand out in it.
However hark at what I’m going to do subsequent (the climatic pinnacle, as promised): I’m going to let you know that not one of the gray climate mattered. The torrential rain didn’t hassle us one jot. As a result of we have been staying at Clifftop, an immense vacation home you can e book via Excellent Stays, AND THE VIEWS FROM THIS HOUSE MEANT THAT BEING INSIDE WAS EVEN BETTER THAN BEING OUT!
I’m not even exaggerating. Sitting in any of the sea-facing rooms at Clifftop (and this included two of the seven bedrooms, the primary residing area, the secondary high ground residing area and three expansive balconies) was akin to being in an IMAX cinema watching impeccably shot footage of the south west coast. Twenty 4 hours a day. Flooring to ceiling home windows framing the rolling waves, the formidable cliffs, the breathtaking sundown. It simply by no means received boring.
(Admittedly in the event you truly went to an IMAX theatre to observe that, it might in all probability get tiresome after roughly 4 minutes, however when it’s actual life? And you actually are perched up there on a cliff high, sitting in your rocking chair and listening to the waves crash beneath you? It was priceless. Soul-soothing.)
I might simply bang on concerning the view for your complete time and I truly suppose I’d be utterly justified: I really like view, I purchased my home due to the views (partly – the oil baron’s ski lodge vibe and seventies split-level lounge had a play in it, too) and I’m a giant appreciator of views on the whole. Specifically a well-framed view. Ooph. Give me a superbly cropped-in view of one thing – a forest, a cliff, even only a good tree or a piece of sky – and it doesn’t even matter how small the window is. I’ll nod in satisfaction that the little slice of world has been completely captured. Dwelling, respiratory, transferring artwork.
Anyway, there was extra to Clifftop than the view. For a begin, it was big and superbly completed. Seven bedrooms, six (and a half) bogs, two big residing areas and further bits and items like a ping pong desk room, a cosy, a separate kitchenette on the highest ground (greatest views in the home) and an entire workplace in a cabinet. Fourteen individuals didn’t really feel a squash and a squeeze, it felt solely comfy and opulent. Two of the bedrooms have been on the very backside ground and regarded out to sea and made it really feel very a lot as if you have been on a cruise ship, with none of the related disadvantages. (Particularly: being trapped on a cruise ship, being on a ship in any respect for longer than eight hours, being on any ship when you will have watched each Titanic and the extra up to date boat “horror movie”, Triangle of Disappointment.)
Every ground had a balcony and the design very cleverly put 4 individuals on the highest ground and eight on the underside ground with the primary residing area sandwiched in between. (You’re appropriate in the event you’ve noticed two individuals lacking: there’s an additional bed room on that essential residing ground.) The highest ground had its personal lounge space, eating area and kitchenette of very beneficiant proportions, which means that you may dwell as a household fairly individually for every week on the highest ground in the event you fancied your personal area. And nonetheless match one other two or three households in downstairs!
What a jape.
As long as you like going away as massive teams, after all. And this was a home with massive teams totally catered for, with the entire practicalities and logistics thought via. House for 3 vehicles (electrical charging level, bonus), kitchen work surfaces for no less than 5 adults concurrently catering for his or her offspring, frantically chopping and arranging as if they’re cooks at The Ritz. One baby having cream cheese on triangular items of bagel with a sprinkling of chives, one other requesting sausages minimize lengthways, “like alien fingers”, a toddler needing cheese for a baked potato however solely grated on the best setting…
Ding ding! Service please!
However oh, that view. Ever-present and simply there, like this massive wall of crashing blues and greys and greens. It was arduous to really feel something however grateful, to be unfashionably frank. It stopped you in your tracks a number of occasions an hour and by no means received previous – I do know I mentioned I wouldn’t bang on about it nevertheless it actually was outstanding and particular.
As was the utility room. Outstanding and particular. Now look: this utility wasn’t particular as a result of it had DeVol items or a pantry with herb racks or a spot to rearrange flowers or no matter issues are at present trending: this utility was particular as a result of it had been so meticulously thought out, so comprehensively deliberate, that it was troublesome to fault it. In a manner, it was the engine room to the home: the entire workings might go on there, behind the scenes, and the remainder of the home might amble alongside superbly with none of the sand and mess and odor that usually finally ends up sabotaging a giant group vacation.
You could possibly entry the utility room from exterior and are available straight into it from the seashore, by way of an outside bathe (scorching! unimaginable view!) and a collection of hooks and drying pegs and storage areas for the assorted swimsuits and towels and seashore toys and physique boards. All mess: left on the door. Inside, one other bathe, an enormous sink for laundry canines (no less than I hope that was what it was for) and extra pegs and rails and cabinets. And are you aware what? A home sleeping fourteen wants these items! All of them! However so many locations don’t have them. They’re essential, these unsexy, sensible areas. In any other case the home will get soiled and the home – in time – will get wrecked. Not an issue right here; a lot area for canines and sandy youngsters and numerous doorways and partitions you’ll be able to shut and the entire place utterly rinsable…
The opposite utility door went out onto steps that lead all the way down to a small clifftop backyard containing giant scorching tub (with aforementioned view, have I already talked about the view, I can’t fairly keep in mind?) and – shock, area of interest deal with – a sauna.
On the danger of turning this piece right into a consuming sport (“have a shot each time she says view!”) the sauna was tucked away proper on the fringe of the plot and had little home windows dealing with out over Challaborough Bay. I virtually cooked my inner organs sitting in there a bit too lengthy as a result of I turned enraptured with the surfers paddling about, biding their time, and the individuals on the seashore, operating out and in of the water. What a spot to really feel your personal nostril hairs self combust!
So let’s recap: big home. Superbly designed (I feel the renovation have to be comparatively new and the eye to element and high quality of end didn’t go unnoticed) and generously kitted out, with greater than sufficient towels and about eighteen pillows and cushions per individual. Extremely located, with a simple amble all the way down to Burgh Island (what a magical little set-up that’s) or to Challaborough and shortish drives to Kingsbridge and Salcombe; you actually might spend each day on the seashore.
Not one of many group of 13 might consider a foul factor to say. I imply, one individual can’t truly speak but in order that was him out, however the remainder of them? Compliments all spherical. There are a variety of stairs and steps (the home is over three ranges) in order that’s a consideration, however we liked that not the entire bedrooms have been on one degree. It will have been absolute mayhem.
Costs for Clifftop begin at £2950 for every week low season (and really, finish of September is £3350 for every week, which remains to be normally fairish climate) and whenever you divide it by fourteen and work out costs per head… Effectively. For the extent of sheer luxurious, and that view (sorry!) I’m undecided you may high it.
You’ll find out extra on Clifftop (with higher, extra useful images) at Excellent Stays here. I’ve a full home tour on video, click on here or press play on the video display screen beneath.
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