“We’re going to Devon” doesn’t actually say very much. Devon is one of the largest counties in England, and its north coast, south coast, and the wild ground in between barely resemble each other. A surf beach in the north has nothing in common with a sheltered estuary in the south, and neither has much in common with a treehouse looking out over Dartmoor.
That size is part of the appeal, but it also means the usual advice, just book somewhere in Devon, isn’t especially useful. The right hideaway depends on what kind of few days you actually want: a walk on wide moorland, a paddle off a surf beach, a slow morning looking over an estuary, or an evening wandering a working harbour town.
Here’s a route through five very different corners of the county, each with a real place to stay.
Why Devon Rewards Picking One Corner
Some scale helps explain why. Devon covers roughly 2,590 square miles and touches two separate coastlines, the Bristol Channel to the north and the English Channel to the south, with two National Parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, filling in the middle. Cornwall, by contrast, is essentially one long peninsula: wherever you stay, you’re never far from the sea. Devon doesn’t work that way. A base on the north coast can be well over an hour from the south coast, and the moors sit apart from both again. That’s not a downside, it just means the county rewards picking a corner rather than trying to cover all of it in one trip.
It also means Devon holidays tend to have a stronger sense of place than a generic “seaside cottage” search suggests. A stay built around Croyde’s surf beaches feels almost nothing like a stay built around the Salcombe Estuary’s sailing culture, even though both are on the Devon coast. Knowing that upfront saves the disappointment of booking a beach cottage and getting a quiet estuary village instead, or the other way round.
Coast, Moor and Harbour Town
North Devon has the surf beaches, the dramatic cliffs and the coast path at its most rugged. South Devon trades that drama for sheltered estuaries, sailing towns and a gentler pace. Dartmoor National Park sits inland, all open moorland, granite tors and wild swimming spots. Exmoor’s fringe brings woodland, streams and quieter countryside. Add in the county’s harbour towns, working fishing villages with cobbled streets and a maritime history that’s still very much alive, and Devon starts to look less like one destination and more like five.
Here’s a route through five very different corners of the county, each with a real place to stay, so the choice comes down to the kind of trip you want rather than a postcode on a map.
Getting Between Devon’s Corners
These five areas aren’t evenly spaced either. The South West Coast Path threads along both coastlines for over 95 miles within Devon alone, so even neighbouring stretches of coast can feel like a full day’s drive apart if you’re trying to link them. Dartmoor and Exmoor, meanwhile, sit inland and apart from each other, each with its own character: Dartmoor’s granite tors and wild ponies feel more exposed and dramatic, while Exmoor’s wooded combes and river valleys are softer and more sheltered.
None of these corners are hard to reach from each other by Devon standards, a moor-based stay is genuinely workable as a base for a coastal day trip, but a full loop of the county in a single week means a lot of time in the car. It’s worth choosing the corner that matches the trip you actually want and treating the rest as an optional day out, rather than trying to see all of Devon at once. None of this is a reason to overthink the booking. It’s a reason to pick the right one first.
Choosing the Right Corner of Devon for You
If the trip is about walking and open landscapes, Exmoor or Dartmoor’s edge makes more sense than the coast. If it’s a family holiday built around beach days, the North Devon coast is hard to beat. If it’s a slower, sociable stay with a ferry ride and good seafood, South Devon’s estuaries and harbour towns deliver that instead. None of these are wrong choices, they’re just different holidays wearing the same county’s name.
Set on a 17-acre estate on the edge of Exmoor, Coulscott House brings together a collection of flexible holiday cottages with plenty of space to relax, play and spend time outdoors. It’s a good fit for a group wanting proper countryside without giving up flexibility, since the cottages can be booked separately or combined for a larger stay. Exmoor’s heather-covered moorland and wooded valleys are on the doorstep, and North Devon’s coastline is close enough for a day trip when the group fancies the sea instead.
A Treehouse Deep in Dartmoor Country
For something that leans further into the landscape, Nymetwood Treehouses sits within a 20-acre plot of woodland, streams and orchards in Mid Devon, looking out over Dartmoor National Park. The two treehouses, Blackcap and Starling, are entirely private from one another, with Starling adding a spa deck with its own hot tub and sauna. Both were built by a family business using locally sourced timber, and both come with an outdoor copper bath for two. It’s roughly half an hour to either the north or south Devon coast, and closer still to Dartmoor’s walking trails and wild swimming spots.
On the other side of the county, Godolphin Cottage looks out over the Salcombe Estuary from the peaceful village of East Portlemouth. Once the local post office, it now sleeps up to ten guests across five bedrooms, with local beaches Mill Bay and Sunny a short walk away and the passenger ferry to Salcombe just 200 metres from the door. It suits a multi-generational group well, with a basement den for older children and teens and a ground-floor bedroom and wet room for full disabled access.
A Surf Beach Cabin on the North Coast
For a beach-first stay, Croyde Beach Breaks is a collection of four contemporary cabins tucked behind the dunes at Croyde, one of North Devon’s best-known surf beaches. Each cabin, Saltwater, Amana, Cabin 32 and The Watershed, has its own character and outdoor space, with hot tubs, secure gardens and dedicated storage for surfboards, bikes and beach gear throughout. The beach itself is a three to five-minute walk from any of the four, with Baggy Point, Saunton Sands and Ilfracombe all within easy reach for exploring further afield.
For a slower, more historic base, Cornwallis Cottage is a restored Victorian mariner’s cottage in the heart of Appledore, a North Devon harbour village of cobbled streets, independent galleries and working fishing boats. It sleeps up to six across three floors, with estuary views towards Instow, a sunny walled garden and free parking directly outside, a rare thing in the village centre. One well behaved dog is welcome, and Appledore’s quayside, cafés and pubs are all a short stroll from the door.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is North Devon or South Devon better for a first visit?
Neither is objectively better, they suit different trips. North Devon leans towards surf beaches and dramatic coastal walking, while South Devon offers sheltered estuaries, sailing towns and a gentler pace.
How far is Dartmoor from the Devon coast?
Around half an hour from much of Mid Devon to either coastline, which makes a moor-based stay a realistic base for a coastal day trip as well as inland walking.
Are there dog-friendly places to stay across Devon?
Yes, several of the properties above welcome dogs, and the wider dog-friendly collection covers many more across the county.
What’s the best time of year to visit Devon?
Yes. The same qualities that suit a family reunion, generous shared space, privacy, room to spread out, work just as well for a team offsite or corporate away day.
Explore Devon’s Hideaways
Wherever it ends up, coast, moor or harbour town, the properties above are just a starting point. Explore the full Devon collection to find the right corner of the county for your next stay.
