More about Sparkwell (the location)

Sitting just outside the Dartmoor National Park is Sparkwell, a pretty countryside village with wonderful views of the South Hams and home to the Michelin-star pub and restaurant The Treby Arm, which is run by Masterchef winner Anton Piotrowski.

This character village has plenty of attractions for guests to enjoy when staying at Coachmans Cottage. On your doorstep is Dartmoor Zoo, which has a wonderful array of animals for guests to get up close to, including tigers, cheetahs, wolves and bears. Set in 33 acres, the zoo is ideal for families with animal encounters, quiz trails and face painting. Complete your visit with a meal in the Jaguar Restaurant where homemade cakes are served.

Dartmoor Zoo also has a strong connection to Coachmans Cottage. The wildlife park, also known as Goodamore House, was once a large country estate and farm sold in the late 1930’s to Catherine’s (the owner of Coachmans Cottage) husband’s great grandfather. John’s great grandfather ran the estate until the 1950’s and founded the Dartmoor Wildlife Park, dedicating his life to big cats and their conservation. Due to ill health the park was sold in the late 1990’s when the Mees, the inspiration behind Matt Damon’s film We Bought a Zoo, purchased the park.

Further family friendly attractions within easy reach of Coachmans Cottage are Kents Cavern, Woodlands Theme Park and the National Marine Aquarium.

For a relaxed day out there are three excellent National Trust managed properties, including Saltram, Buckland Abbey and Cotehele nearby. These beautiful buildings have gorgeous gardens, as well as plenty of activities to keep all the family entertained.

For those looking for outdoor adventures, Coachmans Cottage could not be in a better position. Within easy reach of the cottage is the Fitzworthy Equestrian Centre where horse riders of all ages and abilities can enjoy a memorable day out. Alternatively, there is the Sparkwell Golf Course, which is situated within the grounds of Welbeck Manor.

With Dartmoor on your doorstep there are also excellent opportunities for keen walkers and cyclists, with many footpaths and lanes ideal for all the family to explore the area.

Sparkwell is located just a short drive from the south Devon coast where there are several beautiful beaches. Bantham, near Kingsbridge, is one of the best with golden sands and lifeguards on patrol from May to September. The beach, which is part an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has won several awards over the years including the Blue Flag. Whilst visiting the beach enjoy a ride on the ‘sea tractor’ as you head to Burgh Island, or have fun in the shallow pools that are ideal for hunting for crabs.

A slightly smaller beach is Wembury, which has shallow waters and enough sand for sunbathing. There is also a lovely walk along the cliffs to Bovisand and Newton Ferrers. Another quiet beach is Mothecombe, which is privately owned but open to the public on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Thanks to its private ownership, Mothecombe has remained unchanged for centuries and has won awards from the Marine Conservation Society for keeping the sea and golden sands clean.

To enjoy a quiet day on the beach head to Thurlestone near Kingsbridge. Made up of two beaches there are few facilities at Thurlestone; however South Milton, which is just around the corner, offers a range of water sports, including kayaking, canoeing and wind-surfing. Thurlestone is dog friendly all year round and is the perfect place for guests looking for a gorgeous beach that welcomes your four-legged friends. An alternative dog friendly beach is Wonwell, which is accessed via a woodland walk and at low tide has a large sandy beach.

Sparkwell is perfectly located for a number of excellent pubs and restaurants. Not only is the Michelin-star Treby Arms within walking distance but there are also many others that are only a short drive away, including The Miners Arms at Plymton, The Royal Oak in Meavy and The Cornwood Inn, Cornwood.

The local shops are situated in Chaddlewood, which is only a 10 minute drive from Coachmans Cottage. Here you will find a Co-Op, a Tesco Express, several take-away restaurants and a Post Office. A larger Tesco Extra is located in Ivybridge.

Coachmans Cottage (the cottage)

Coachmans Cottage is located in the pretty countryside village of Sparkwell, which sits on the edge of Dartmoor and just a short drive from the South Devon coast.

The beautiful three bedroom dog friendly cottage comfortably accommodates up to seven and is ideal for both families or couples.

To the rear of the cottage is a fully enclosed garden and a wonderful decked terrace with private hot tub. Views from the garden are of the South Hams, which are best enjoyed from the comfort of the hot tub or whilst enjoying an alfresco dinner or summer evening BBQ.

Inside the former coach-house has been tastefully decorated throughout with a wonderful mix of old and new beautifully complimenting each other to provide plenty of charm and character.

The large and spacious lounge is perfect for all season with a wood-burning stove, comfy sofas and a TV complete with DVD player. WiFi is also available at the cottage.

Double doors lead through from the sitting room to the dining area where a good sized table comfortably seats up to seven for all occasions. Patio doors also open out onto the terrace and garden beyond.

A well-equipped kitchen has gorgeous views of the countryside and in the winter an AGA is available to add a little extra warmth to this lovely cosy cottage. The kitchen is fitted with a wide range of appliances, including a Rangmaster cooker, a dishwasher, a fridge/freezer and a coffee machine. A separate utility room house the washing machine and is ideal for storing muddy boots and wet coats.

There are three good sized bedrooms at Coachmans Cottage, the first is a double and located at the rear of the property on the ground floor. This beautiful bedroom has a super king bed and private access to the terrace where the hot tub is situated. Next door to this bedroom is a snug sitting room where a z-bed for a seventh guest can be positioned. The snug also has a toy box, a rocking horse and a TV with built in DVD player. Also, located downstairs is the family shower room.

The final two bedrooms are situated on the first floor and include a bright twin and pretty double with views of the garden. These two bedrooms share the upstairs family bathroom, which is fitted with a jacuzzi bath with overhead shower.

Coachmans Cottage is ideally located for exploring this beautiful area of Devon. The beaches on the South Coast are only a short drive away and include the wonderful Bantham, Wembury and Mothecombe. Plymouth and the Barbican are also within easy reach and provide an excellent day out no matter what the weather.

Opposite the cottage is Dartmoor Zoo, which was the inspiration for Matt Damon's film 'We bought a zoo', it also has strong connections to the owners of Coachmans. Other nearby attractions include National Trust managed properties such as Saltram, Buckland and Cotehele, Woodlands, Diggerland and Splashdown Waterpark.

Many outdoor activities can be enjoyed locally including wonderful walks, cycling and horse riding. There is also a golf course located in Sparkwell.

For a special occasion, The Treby Arms a Michelin Star restaurant is within walking distance of the cottage and is run by a former Masterchef winner. Many other pubs and restaurants are also within easy reach.