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The Retreat

Blackawton, near Totnes, Devon
Sleeps 4
Bedrooms 2
Bathrooms 1
Change Sat
No Dogs
4 star
Apartment
Parking on site / nearby
Towels included
Tennis Court
Swimming pool
Family friendly
Internet access
Shop nearby
Pub nearby
Complex
Indoor swimming pool
11 more

At a glance

  • Second-floor apartment located within a historic country house Sheplegh Court  in 22 acres of stunning countryside
  • Original features including an archway and gothic-shaped windows add to the traditional charm
  • Access to a shared outdoor swimming pool (June - September), indoor plunge pool, a sauna, tennis court and a snooker room ensure a relaxing holiday
Property code: OC-BC96

This peaceful bolthole deep in rural South Devon offers a taste of country living with touches of luxury. The lovely second-floor apartment is set within Sheplegh Court, an early 19th-century mansion and is surrounded by 22 acres of beautiful, mature gardens. Located in the pretty village of Blackawton, it sleeps four guests and offers a host of leisure extras. These include shared indoor plunge pool and outdoor swimming pool (June - September only), tennis courts, a sauna and snooker room. With sandy beaches and colourful Dartmouth within easy reach, this holiday home is perfect for couples or friends to enjoy a wonderfully relaxing stay.

Gothic windows with lovely views enhance the charm of this distinctive apartment, with its exposed beams and sloping ceilings. The stylish contemporary interior is tastefully furnished in different nautical shades, contrasting with white walls and woodwork. Comfortable seating in the impressive open-plan living/dining area overlooks the outdoor pool and there is a double sofa bed for extra guests and a Smart TV. A Gothic arch leads to the streamlined kitchen and a bistro-style table and chairs. There are two sumptuous bedrooms: a twin, and a raised double, plus a family bathroom.

The lovely harbour town of Dartmouth (6 miles), has it all: pastel-painted houses spilling down the hillside to the beautiful River Dart, shops, cafes, a fine museum and a 600-year-old castle, with wonderful views out to sea. Enjoy exhilarating walks along the glorious South West Coast Path and feel the sand between your toes on two lovely nearby beaches' Sugary Cove (1 mile) and Compass Cove (3 miles). There is a wealth of boat trips along the river, and you can take the ferry across to Kingswear for a visit to the National Trust’s beautiful Coleton Fishacre, an Art and Crafts country house with a wonderful garden.

  • 2 bedrooms – 1 double, 1 twin zip-and-link (can be arranged as a king-size on request), plus double sofa bed in lounge
  • 1 bathroom with bath, shower and WC
  • Electric cooker and hob, fridge with ice compartment, dishwasher, microwave
  • Smart TV, DVD, CD stereo system
  • Access to 22 acres of shared grounds, with gardens, woodland, parkland, an outdoor heated swimming pool(June - September), indoor plunge pool, sauna, all-weather tennis court, snooker room and laundry room
  • Private parking for 1 car
  • Shop 1 mile
  • Pub 1.5 miles
  • Sleeps 4+2
  • Low, sloping ceilings, exposed beams and reduced head height throughout
  • Arrival: 16:00 onwards
  • Departure: before 10:00
  • Sorry, no dogs allowed

Nicola Hindmarsh

This property is personally managed by Nicola.

Reviews

From guests that have stayed at the property.

Based on 6 guest ratings

Overall cleanliness
Overall cleanliness 3.3 starsOverall cleanliness 3.3 starsOverall cleanliness 3.3 starsOverall cleanliness 3.3 starsOverall cleanliness 3.3 stars3.3
Overall equipment
Overall equipment 3.7 starsOverall equipment 3.7 starsOverall equipment 3.7 starsOverall equipment 3.7 starsOverall equipment 3.7 stars3.7
Overall comfort
Overall comfort 3.5 starsOverall comfort 3.5 starsOverall comfort 3.5 starsOverall comfort 3.5 starsOverall comfort 3.5 stars3.5
Overall location
Overall location 4.7 starsOverall location 4.7 starsOverall location 4.7 starsOverall location 4.7 starsOverall location 4.7 stars4.7

Reviewed by Georgina 5th July 2026

Guest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 stars

THERE WAS A FLEA INFESTATION. Even ignoring this absolutely disgusting and unacceptable lack of hygiene there are other problems. This property promises much but fails to deliver. The main living area and main bedroom are very tired, the carpet needs replacing and it needs to be repainted throughout. It does not feel clean or taken care of. The kitRead morechen and bathroom have been updated and are in good condition. We saw and filmed live FLEAS in the living room and bathroom and we quit the property early obviously. Videos of live fleas jumping around and photos of bites on our legs have been sent to the managing team. The owner, in spite of the video evidence did not consider a flea infestation to be a good enough reason to quit the property. I am now going through the complaints procedure. The setting of the property is very quiet and tranquil,a selling point. However the roads for the last 2 or 3 miles are very narrow with very limited visibility of oncoming traffic. This is typical for this part of Devon, but anyone who is not familiar with the area and is not used to such restrictive roads should bear this in mind. Hide

Reviewed by Alice 23rd September 2025

Guest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 starsGuest rating 2 stars

DO NOT STAY IN THIS PROPERTY. There was no water at all in the accommodation from 9pm on the first night of my stay. On the second night the was no water at all so I could not bathe, wash up or flush the toilet more than once. I could only have ANYTHING TO DRINK as I had filled the kettle in the morning. Even in the morning the water pressure wRead moreas so poor I could not shower.. This was a miserable holiday and I ended up going home after the second night; I only stayed the second night as I was assured the problem would be solved. Hide

Reviewed by Guy 21st September 2025

Guest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 starsGuest rating 5 stars

Sheplegh Court is a splendid place to stay: beautiful house, beautiful park and woods, nice swimming pools, very comfortable. One of the best!

Reviewed by Alia 26th August 2025

Guest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 starsGuest rating 4 stars

This was a last minute booking and was a pleasant surprise. Great beaches within 15mins drive of the apartment. 2 pools to choose from to swim in. Beautiful grounds to look out on. Overall, was a lovely short stay and will definitely book again.

Reviewed by Bridget 27th July 2025

Guest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 starsGuest rating 4.8 stars

Apartment was very presentable, comfortable and in a great setting

Reviewed by Kat 28th August 2024

Guest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 starsGuest rating 4.4 stars

We had a really lively 2 week break staying at the Retreat (couple with 2 teenager daughters staying in August). An amazing location, flat had excellent view, absolutely loved the outside pool and grounds. Peaceful but also warm encounters with the residents and a beautiful part of the country. A real treat, thank you!

4 more
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Location

Map
Note: As the postcode is used to identify the general area of the property, it may not always reflect its precise location, therefore please only use this map as a guide.
Marsdens Devon Cottages is a trading name of The Travel Chapter Limited | The Travel Chapter Limited is registered in England and Wales. | Registered office Travel Chapter House, Gammaton Road, Bideford, EX39 4DF. Company No. 02431506 | VAT reg: 143053210.