Strattons - holiday cottage in Christow, Dartmoor, Devon

Strattons is a delightful cottage, about 250 years old, much loved and regularly used by our family. It is on the end of a small row of cottages and may have originally been two dwellings, and changes over its history probably explain the different floor levels and ceiling heights.

From the centrally placed stable door, a small, welcoming inner hall leads to a low door, through which is the cosy, double aspect sitting room. In an exposed stone wall, there is an fireplace with a wood burning stove for the colder evenings, and on warmer days, a glazed single French door leads out to a secluded terrace, with views across the countryside. Hidden behind some old pine doors in the corner of the room is a large widescreen LCD TV with Freeview together with a DVD player.

There is wireless broadband internet access available for those of you who cannot bear to be without their on-line fix, but you'll have to provide your own laptop.

On the other side of the house is a large dining room/kitchen. The dining room looks out to the front of the cottage and also has a wood-burner. The hand-built pine kitchen has an old slate floor and shutters at the window and is equipped to a high standard with ceramic hob cooker, large Bosch fridge/freezer and Bosch dishwasher and washing machine. A side door gives access onto the terrace, and beside this door is an old, rather steep wooden staircase to the first floor.

Before you reach the top of the stairs, a step off to the right leads to a twin bedroom. This is also a double aspect room and with its slightly sloping floor, you are reminded of the age of the cottage. A walk-in wardrobe has a surprise window looking down, over the staircase.

At the top of the stairs, through another old door, is the main double bedroom, with a comfortable king size bed, and views to the front of the house. From the landing at the top of the stairs there is a step down to the bathroom and another twin bedroom.

With its thick cob and stone walls, the cottage is a cool retreat during baking summer days, yet wonderfully warm and cosy in the cold winter weather.

The walled, enclosed terrace at the back of the cottage is the perfect place to sit when the weather is fine. There is also a small paved area at the side of the house, accessed from a shared path.

It can be very peaceful at Strattons, but don't be surprised to see a tractor going past or a horse walking by.

Facilities

Ground floor:

Sitting room with wood burner and French door to terrace, TV, DVD player, CD player
Dining room with wood burner
Kitchen with electric cooker, fridge freezer, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave

First floor:

3 comfortable bedrooms: 1 double, 2 twin.
Bathroom with shower over bath, toilet and basin.

General:

Oil fired central heating - All oil, power, bed linen and towels included.
Enclosed terrace and garden furniture. Paved side garden fronting onto road.
Quality high-chair and large travel cot available, please provide own bedding
Wireless broadband internet access
Phone for incoming calls and outgoing local calls.
Non-smokers only. Parking on road
Well behaved dogs by arrangement