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 often affected by scorching climate an excessive amount of, not till it will get to “Egypt in August” stage 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 may depart, possibly it was as a result of we’d dedicated to driving right down to Devon straight after the college pickup and it was an unrealistic plan that left no time to do essential duties similar to 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 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 website positioning key phrases – nevertheless it’s essential to provide a little bit of context and lead you regularly and seamlessly in direction of the climatic pinnacle of this vacation overview.
As a result of I’m going to speak about how I packed my luggage when it was thirty levels, and subsequently 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 every single 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 could possibly 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 trouble us one jot. As a result of we have been staying at Clifftop, an immense vacation home that you would be able to guide by means of 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 flooring 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 obtained boring.
(Admittedly should you really 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 may simply bang on in regards to the view for the complete time and I really assume I’d be fully justified: I like a superb 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 generally. Particularly 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, respiration, shifting artwork.
Anyway, there was extra to Clifftop than the view. For a begin, it was large and superbly completed. Seven bedrooms, six (and a half) loos, two large residing areas and additional bits and items like a ping pong desk room, a comfortable, a separate kitchenette on the highest flooring (finest views in the home) and a complete 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 flooring 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. (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’ve got watched each Titanic and the extra up to date boat “horror movie”, Triangle of Unhappiness.)
Every flooring had a balcony and the design very cleverly put 4 individuals on the highest flooring and eight on the underside flooring with the primary residing area sandwiched in between. (You’re appropriate should you’ve noticed two individuals lacking: there’s an additional bed room on that most important residing flooring.) The highest flooring had its personal lounge space, eating area and kitchenette of very beneficiant proportions, which means that you could possibly stay as a household fairly individually for per week on the highest flooring should 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, in fact. And this was a home with massive teams totally catered for, with all the practicalities and logistics thought by means of. Area for 3 vehicles (electrical charging level, bonus), kitchen work surfaces for a minimum of 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 lower 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 onerous 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 obtained 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 models 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 means, it was the engine room to the home: all the workings may go on there, behind the scenes, and the remainder of the home may amble alongside superbly with none of the sand and mess and scent that usually finally ends up sabotaging a giant group vacation.
You would entry the utility room from outdoors and are available straight into it from the seashore, through an outside bathe (scorching! unimaginable view!) and a sequence 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 (a minimum of 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 area for canines and sandy children and varied doorways and partitions you may shut and the entire place fully rinsable…
The opposite utility door went out onto steps that lead right down to a small clifftop backyard containing massive scorching tub (with aforementioned view, have I already talked about the view, I can’t fairly bear in mind?) and – shock, area of interest deal with – a sauna.
On the threat 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: large home. Superbly designed (I feel 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 straightforward amble right 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 seashore.
Not one of many group of 13 may consider a nasty factor to say. I imply, one particular person can’t really discuss but in order that was him out, however the remainder of them? Compliments all spherical. There are lots of stairs and steps (the home is over three ranges) in order that’s a consideration, however we beloved that not all the bedrooms have been on one stage. It could have been absolute mayhem.
Costs for Clifftop begin at £2950 for per week low season (and truly, finish of September is £3350 for per week, which continues to be often fairish climate) and while you divide it by fourteen and work out costs per head… Properly. For the extent of sheer luxurious, and that view (sorry!) I’m undecided you could possibly high it.
Yow will discover 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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