As I packed for a household week away in South Devon, the temperature the place I dwell, close to to Tub, was simply tipping over the thirty levels mark. I’m not often affected by sizzling 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 vital duties reminiscent of 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 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 chunk a few luxurious clifftop vacation house – “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 regularly 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 luggage when it was thirty levels, and subsequently ended up taking a suitcase of seashore attire 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 had 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 inform you 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 way 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 dwelling house, the secondary prime ground 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 for those who really went to an IMAX theatre to look at that, it could 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 prime, 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 the complete time and I really suppose I’d be fully justified: I really like an excellent 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 an enormous 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 bit 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. Residing, respiratory, transferring artwork.
Anyway, there was extra to Clifftop than the view. For a begin, it was big and fantastically completed. Seven bedrooms, six (and a half) loos, two big dwelling areas and additional bits and items like a ping pong desk room, a comfortable, a separate kitchenette on the highest ground (finest views in the home) and a complete workplace in a cabinet. Fourteen folks didn’t really feel a squash and a squeeze, it felt completely comfy and opulent. Two of the bedrooms had been on the very backside ground and regarded 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. (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 may 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 folks on the highest ground and eight on the underside ground with the primary dwelling house sandwiched in between. (You’re right for those who’ve noticed two folks lacking: there’s an additional bed room on that important dwelling ground.) The highest ground had its personal lounge space, eating house and kitchenette of very beneficiant proportions, which means that you could possibly dwell as a household moderately individually for per week on the highest ground for those who 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 huge teams, after all. And this was a home with huge teams completely catered for, with the entire practicalities and logistics thought by way of. House for 3 automobiles (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 little one 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 huge wall of crashing blues and greys and greens. It was laborious 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 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 means, 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 fantastically with none of the sand and mess and odor that usually finally ends up sabotaging an enormous group vacation.
You may entry the utility room from exterior and are available straight into it from the seashore, through an out of doors bathe (sizzling! unimaginable view!) and a sequence of hooks and drying pegs and storage areas for the varied swimsuits and towels and seashore toys and physique boards. All mess: left on the door. Inside, one other bathe, an enormous sink for laundry canine (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 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 house for canine and sandy youngsters and varied doorways and partitions you possibly can 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 bear in mind?) and – shock, area of interest deal with – a sauna.
On the threat of turning this piece right into a ingesting 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 dealing with 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 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. Fantastically 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 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 nasty factor to say. I imply, one individual can’t really speak but in order that was him out, however the remainder of them? Compliments all spherical. There are a number of stairs and steps (the home is over three ranges) in order that’s a consideration, however we cherished that not the entire bedrooms had been on one degree. It might 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… Nicely. For the extent of sheer luxurious, and that view (sorry!) I’m undecided you could possibly prime it.
Yow will discover out extra on Clifftop (with higher, extra useful photographs) at Excellent Stays right here. I’ve a full home tour on video, click on right here or press play on the video display beneath.