Snaptrip says
Shangri-La is a well-equipped cottage in Bideford, Devon, praised for its great location and spectacular views. Guests enjoyed the hot tub and found the property ideal for family holidays. While some issues were noted with temperature control and maintenance, the house's spaciousness and setting provided a comfortable stay.
Guests that stayed at this property said
The property was generally found to be clean and tidy upon arrival. However, there were isolated complaints about mould in the washing machine drawer and a frozen freezer, which suggest room for improvement in housekeeping.
The location is highly praised for its lovely views and proximity to local attractions and amenities, making it an ideal base for exploring Devon and Cornwall.
The property is considered comfortable, with a well-equipped kitchen and ample seating. However, guests reported issues with chilly downstairs bedrooms and noise levels, which affected the overall comfort.
The facilities, including a hot tub and well-stocked kitchen, were appreciated, but guests noted maintenance issues such as problematic radiators and the need for bathroom door lock repairs. The suggestion of a pool table indicates room for improvement.
While guests did not specifically mention gifts, there were comments on the lack of personal touches and basic provisions. As such, it is not possible to accurately score thoughtfulness in terms of gifts, and guests should not expect them as guaranteed.
About this property
Shangri-La is a beautiful, reverse-level property located in Bideford, Devon. Located close to amenities and fabulous attractions, along with the 180-mile Tarka Trail, this family-friendly holiday home welcomes a group of eight and two well-behaved dogs for a coastal getaway. Park up and unload your belongings in the off-road parking, whilst you admire the stunning exterior of Shangri-La; rustic wooden features compliment the large windows that bring plenty of light into the living areas. Step inside your home-from-home and head straight upstairs to the open-plan living space, complete with a kitchen area to prepare beach picnics or rustle up home-cooked meals with a large range cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer and a dishwasher for a fuss-free clean-up; you'll also find a convenient cloakroom on the first floor to quickly freshen up before dinner. Set the dining table for a hearty breakfast with views across Bideford, the old bridge and the river from the patio doors leading out to a spacious balcony; surely the perfect spot to end the day watching the sunset with a glass of wine in hand! The sitting area awaits after the day's adventures to sink into the sofas and watch a film together, whilst the adjoining snug/sunroom is a quieter spot to unwind with a book and a hot chocolate. Younger guests will relish the ground-floor games room, a converted garage space for some evening entertainment and friendly competition with pool and table tennis. After a fun-filled beach day, the ground floor hosts a handy utility to leave your wetsuits and throw sandy towels into the washing machine, alongside a bathroom to enjoy a long soak in the tub or a quick rinse whilst your towel toasts on the heated towel rail. Four well-appointed bedrooms offer all guests a lovely setting to rest up ready for the next day; the ground-floor hosts a super-king-size and two twin rooms, one of which is ideal for little ones with two singles adjoined by a clear, sliding door, along with the master king-size on the first floor hosting an en-suite bathroom for added privacy. Be sure to make the most out of the picturesque garden space at Shangri-La; accessed via the first floor, follow the decked pathway to the far end of the garden where you'll find an idyllic spot to relax in the hot tub, soak in the sun at the outdoor seating. A pond scattered with lily pads and plenty of vegetation creates a little sanctuary to escape the hustle and bustle and spend quality time with loved ones. When you're ready to venture out, plenty of attractions and amenities are right on your doorstep; head into Bideford to stock up the cupboards with self-catering essentials or take a break from the kitchen and dine at one of the local eateries. Bideford Railway Heritage Centre, The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum and Kenwith Valley Nature Reserve are ideal for a family-friendly days out, whilst The BIG Sheep is a popular, animal-themed amusement park with plenty of activities to please all ages. Why not board the ferry of MS Oldenburg to the quaint island of Lundy, where you can spot puffins and partake in warden-led activities during peak season, such as embarking on Snorkel Safaris and enjoying guided walks? Pack your towels, buckets and spades and head to Westward Ho! for a bustling, expansive sandy beach, Carousel Amusements, and plenty of eateries to grab fish and chips, ice creams or pasties. Appledore and Instow are two more excellent coastal locations with plenty to do and see; take a ferry trip along the river, savour locally sourced seafood and settle along Instow Beach to play games, paddle in the sea, and watch the boats go by. Travelling south west from Shangri-La will bring you to Hartland Devon Heritage Coast dotted with coastal paths, headlands for spectacular sea views and scenic bays for surfing, swimming, and sunbathing; discover the dramatic Blackchurch Rock, spot Hartland Point Lighthouse and admire traditional fisherman's cottages. Take a break at Clovelly on your coastal adventure to dine at one of the eateries, cool off your feet at Clovelly Beach and visit the fairy-tale falls at The Clovelly Waterfall. Shangri-La is a fantastic base to host your family holiday to Devon.
Bideford is a historic seaside town in North Devon, situated on the River Torridge. This vibrant town has a diverse range of businesses, cafés and restaurants, a park, and the Atlantic Village Outlet Shopping Centre on the outskirts. Ideally situated for exploring the surrounding area, Bideford is only a few minutes from Westward Ho!, which boasts two miles of breathtaking shoreline and proudly displays the famous Blue Flag distinction year after year.
Accommodation
Reverse-level.
Four bedrooms: 1 x king-size with en-suite bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC, 1 x ground-floor super-king-size (zip/link, can be twin on request, 2 x ground-floor twin.
Ground-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail and WC.
First-floor cloakroom with basin and WC.
First-floor open-plan living space with kitchen, dining area and sitting area.
Utility.
First-floor snug/sun room.
Gas central heating.
Range with gas oven and hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher.
TV, Sky TV box, WiFi.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Highchair and travel cot available on request.
Off-road parking for 4 cars.
Rear, multi-level garden with lawn, decking, pond, furniture and hot tub.
Two well-behaved dogs welcome.
Sorry, no smoking.
Shop 0.4 miles, pub 0.3 miles.
Note: The rear garden has a non-enclosed pond, children and dogs must be supervised.
Note: One ground-floor twin is two single beds separated by a clear, sliding door.
Note: Stag/hen parties are not allowed.
Please note: This property can only accept a minimum short stay of 3 nights.
Nearby points of interest
- Saunton Sands
- Putsborough Beach
- Woolacombe Beach
- Clovelly Village
Reviews (15)
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Nikki
The house itself is beautiful, noisy floor boards but a lovely house, spacious and clean and the kids loved the hot tub! We paid £2.5k for the 4 days, and for this amount of money unfortunately there was quite a few let downs. There was a serious lack of any personal touches for the stay. Iâve stayed at many home rentals and always been greeted with fresh milk, enough bin bags, cleaning equipment, salt and pepper, toilet rolls, travel toiletries etc. there was none of this, so when we arrived we had to go shopping for basic things. When we booked for a Christmas stay we asked that because we have 3 children coming could they confirm there would be a Christmas tree which we was told absolutely yesâ¦well Iâve honestly never seen such a sad £10 Tesco tree ever, zero effort with that, really disappointing ! The kitchen window didnât open, so cooking meals for a family of 8 was not a nice experience. Downstairs smelt damp and felt damp especially in the two single rooms joined by sliding doors, my son has asthma so we had to move rooms around after the first night because he was coughing all night. Upstairs stayed lovely and warm but downstairs was so cold, with all the bedrooms downstairs it wasnât ideal. No extra linen for the beds. The fire alarm went off 4 times for no reason. Check out is 9am! Be warned of the sharp bend leading up to the property. We had a lovely Christmas, but unfortunately any effort from the owner was no where to be seen. Youâre literally just staying in an empty house, so youâd need to pack and shop for all the basics before you arrive.
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Roger
( Six guests used downstairs bathroom, two used on suite facilities ) When you read the list of facilities it is a little clearer but 3 bathrooms means rooms with baths. Whoever looks after the rental needs to check/replace several chipped cups and plates. Garden maintenance needs a lot of attention, the pond is completely enclosed with lilies/weed, and nothing like the advertised photo
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Ruth
Loved the hot tub! Large lounge area with lots of comfy seating for everyone. The kitchen was well equipped and the extra fridge and extra freezer was a bonus especially for longer stays. The pool table was well used by all the family. Thanks for a great stay.