Explore Every Room: Step Inside Our Charming Devon Holiday Cottage
Phillishayes Cottage is a Grade II listed hideaway brimming with rustic charm, characterful quirks, and peaceful seclusion. Take a wander through each room and discover the unique details – from ancient inglenook fireplaces and cobb walls to sunlit corners, cosy nooks, and storybook garden views.
Living Room
A snug and sunny sitting room (in what was the ‘top house’) that contains an ancient inglenook fireplace equipped with a wood-burning stove. Cosy and colourful soft furnishings provide the perfect place for relaxing or browsing among the books, games, and local maps provided. A smart TV is available if you want a quiet night in
Kitchen
An open-plan kitchen /diner, fully equipped with an induction hob, built-in oven, microwave, large fridge/freezer and a dishwasher, leading into a warm and welcoming dining room.
Dining Room
The dining room has another ancient inglenook fireplace with a second wood-burning stove and the remains of an old bread oven as well as a delightful window seat.
Bedroom 1
The main bedroom — accessed via an ancient, dog-leg staircase from the dining room — features exposed roof trusses, a pine-panelled wall, and built-in shelving cut into the deep chimney breast. It has a sumptuous king-size bed and an en-suite bathroom.
En-Suite Bathroom
The bathroom is a unique blend of old and new, with a roll-top bath, heated towel rail, colourful Moroccan tiles and pottery, and a quaint picture window.
Bedroom 2
The second bedroom has twin beds (which can be converted to a super-king on request), more exposed beams and yet another deep chimney breast with built-in shelving. It is accessed via a separate steep, open-tread staircase from the sitting room (see photo, as this narrow staircase is not suitable for guests with limited mobilty ).
Shower-Room, Cloakroom and Utility Room
The ground floor also contains a modern shower room, a cloakroom and, accessed from outside, a utility room, with washer, dryer, and additional sink.
Garden & Exterior
The generously proportioned, south-facing garden wraps around the front of Phillishayes Cottage to form a secluded sun trap, bordered by a traditional Devon bank. It’s dotted with benches, a hammock swing, a dining table and chairs, and cool, shady spots under a magnificent willow tree—perfect for reading, relaxing, or dining alfresco.
A tiny stream trickles through the garden, adding to its natural charm. In spring and summer, the garden bursts into colour with wisteria, irises, lilies, rambling roses, and lush foliage like gunnera. Guests are welcome to help themselves to the seasonal bounty: strawberries, blackcurrants, apples, greengages, plums, and grapes.
The surrounding fields and skies are alive with wildlife—bats flutter at dusk, owls call through the night, and birds of prey like red kites and kestrels soar overhead. Herons, foxes, and deer are also regular visitors in the nearby countryside, while the River Otter just beyond the fields is home to wild beavers and otters, reintroduced in recent years.
At the top of the garden is a wooden garage and shed that are not included in the holiday let. The owner uses the shed as an office one day a week- usually on changeover days. Access is via a separate path and gate, and there is private parking attached to the garage. The owner’s work is quiet and should not cause any disturbance to guests.
There is ample guest parking for two cars at the lower end of the garden.
