As I packed for a household week away in South Devon, the temperature the place I stay, close to to Tub, was simply tipping over the thirty levels mark. I’m not normally affected by sizzling climate an excessive amount of, not till it will get to “Egypt in August” stage of insufferable, however on this explicit day my total physique revolted. Maybe as a result of I had a lot work to do earlier than we may depart, perhaps it was as a result of we’d dedicated to driving all the way down to Devon straight after the varsity pickup and it was an unrealistic plan that left no time to do vital duties reminiscent of decanting canine biscuits, discovering strolling boots, loading the cool-box with ice packs solely in order that we may 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 had been sweating, even the areas between my fingers had been sweating and areas don’t have sweat glands.
I realise that that is one thing of a non-standard introduction to a bit a few luxurious clifftop vacation residence – “underboob” and “mentally deranged” presumably wouldn’t be within the desired search engine optimisation key phrases – nevertheless it’s vital to offer a little bit of context and lead you steadily and seamlessly in the direction of the climatic pinnacle of this vacation assessment.
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 seaside 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 every single day for the week that we had been there and the way on two of the times out of seven the rain was so torrential you can 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 had been staying at Clifftop, an immense vacation home that you could e-book by 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 principle dwelling house, the secondary high flooring dwelling house 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. Ground to ceiling home windows framing the rolling waves, the formidable cliffs, the breathtaking sundown. It simply by no means received boring.
(Admittedly when you truly went to an IMAX theatre to look at 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 may simply bang on concerning the view for the whole time and I truly assume I’d be fully justified: I really like a great 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. Particularly a well-framed view. Ooph. Give me a wonderfully 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, respiration, transferring artwork.
Anyway, there was extra to Clifftop than the view. For a begin, it was large and fantastically completed. Seven bedrooms, six (and a half) bogs, two large dwelling areas and further bits and items like a ping pong desk room, a cosy, a separate kitchenette on the highest flooring (greatest views in the home) and a complete workplace in a cabinet. Fourteen folks didn’t really feel a squash and a squeeze, it felt solely snug and opulent. Two of the bedrooms had been on the very backside flooring and seemed out to sea and made it really feel very a lot as if you had been on a cruise ship, with none of the related disadvantages. (Specifically: being trapped on a cruise ship, being on a ship in any respect for longer than eight hours, being on any ship when you have got watched each Titanic and the extra modern boat “horror movie”, Triangle of Disappointment.)
Every flooring had a balcony and the design very cleverly put 4 folks on the highest flooring and eight on the underside flooring with the principle dwelling house sandwiched in between. (You’re appropriate when you’ve noticed two folks lacking: there’s an additional bed room on that important dwelling flooring.) The highest flooring had its personal lounge space, eating house and kitchenette of very beneficiant proportions, that means that you can stay as a household moderately individually for per week on the highest flooring when you fancied your personal house. And nonetheless match one other two or three households in downstairs!
What a jape.
As long as you’re keen on going away as massive teams, after all. And this was a home with massive teams completely catered for, with the entire practicalities and logistics thought by. House for 3 vehicles (electrical charging level, bonus), kitchen work surfaces for at the least 5 adults concurrently catering for his or her offspring, frantically chopping and arranging as if they’re cooks at The Ritz. One youngster 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 instances an hour and by no means received outdated – I do know I stated I wouldn’t bang on about it nevertheless it actually was exceptional 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 the moment trending: this utility was particular as a result of it had been so meticulously thought out, so comprehensively deliberate, that it was tough to fault it. In a means, it was the engine room to the home: the entire workings may go on there, behind the scenes, and the remainder of the home may amble alongside fantastically 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 outdoors and are available straight into it from the seaside, through an out of doors bathe (sizzling! unimaginable view!) and a collection of hooks and drying pegs and storage areas for the varied swimsuits and towels and seaside toys and physique boards. All mess: left on the door. Inside, one other bathe, an enormous sink for laundry canines (at the least I hope that was what it was for) and extra pegs and rails and cabinets. And have you learnt what? A home sleeping fourteen wants this stuff! 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 house for canines and sandy children and varied doorways and partitions you’ll be able to shut and the entire place fully rinsable…
The opposite utility door went out onto steps that lead all the way down to a small clifftop backyard containing massive sizzling 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 recreation (“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 going through out over Challaborough Bay. I virtually cooked my inside organs sitting in there a bit too lengthy as a result of I grew to become enraptured with the surfers paddling about, biding their time, and the folks on the seaside, operating out and in of the water. What a spot to really feel your personal nostril hairs self combust!
So let’s recap: large home. Superbly designed (I believe the renovation should 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 particular person. 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 may spend each day on the seaside.
Not one of many group of 13 may consider a nasty factor to say. I imply, one particular person can’t truly speak but in order that was him out, however the remainder of them? Compliments all spherical. There are plenty of stairs and steps (the home is over three ranges) in order that’s a consideration, however we liked that not the entire bedrooms had been on one stage. It might have been absolute mayhem.
Costs for Clifftop begin at £2950 for per week low season (and really, finish of September is £3350 for per week, which continues to be normally fairish climate) and once you divide it by fourteen and work out costs per head… Properly. For the extent of sheer luxurious, and that view (sorry!) I’m unsure you can high it.
You’ll find out extra on Clifftop (with higher, extra useful images) at Excellent Stays right here. I’ve a full home tour on video, click on right here or press play on the video display screen beneath.
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