Need to get away?
Looking for somewhere to relax with family or friends?
Searching for a place to meet up with your accountability group?
Come and stay at Pensato Retreats
on the North Devon coast
(sleeps 10)
Southmoor – a Georgian country home by the sea
This elegant country house sleeps 10 and is ideal for get-togethers, special occasions, and retreats.
Popular with walkers, surfers, golfers, artists, writers, and musicians.
Perfect if you need to relax, unwind, and invigorate your mind!
Time stands still
The house was built in 1824 (Regency era) and has a sense of history and elegance. With your own private wing, you’ll enjoy the generous and peaceful space of this distinctive Georgian country house.
Barbara has an eye for detail and quality. Everything at Southmoor has been put in place by someone who knows what they want to achieve and who has made sure that she gets it. Much of what she has done is understated. It is that which makes it so very good. A lovely place to stay.
Thank you, we loved everything, including your taste in decor, literature, and art.
Jon
Come away in …
Enjoy exclusive use of the entire wing:
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5 spacious double bedrooms
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4 bathroom suites – including an enormous ensuite/dressing room
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sitting/dining room
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large library/lounge
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2 fully equipped kitchens
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pantry
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gym
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conservatory
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lawned garden with BBQ & fire pit
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several outdoor seating/dining areas
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ample parking
… and relax
Make yourself at home. Relax and unwind. It's a tonic for the mind.
Head to the beach and enjoy the surf, stroll along the stunning cliffs, or pop down for a game of golf on England's oldest golf course – think Scotland's St Andrews but with less (or warmer) rain!
Alternatively, stay in and enjoy the luxurious space, play your favourite tunes on the piano, curl up in the library with a good book, rustle up a delicious meal in the fully equipped kitchen, or get toasty cosy by the fire pit under the stars.
Just a 5-min drive from the house, you'll find …
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the sandy beaches of Westward Ho! (2.5 km long) and Instow – both dog friendly
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the spectacular cliffs of the South West Coast Path
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the Royal North Devon Golf Club, England's oldest golf course (1864) – England's equivalent of St Andrews Links in Scotland (1552)
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the Big Sheep (for family fun and music gigs)
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the Ultimate Adventure (high ropes, assault course, paddle boarding)
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the Tarka Trail (cycling, running, walking)
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great local grocers, butchers, and fresh fish shops, and a choice of supermarkets
Westward Ho! beach …
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The Blue Flag beach at Westward Ho! falls within the North Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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The main beach is backed by Northam Burrows Country Park grassland, the Royal North Devon Golf Course, and the Pebble Ridge.
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It's 2.5 km long and 800 m deep when the tide is out. When the tide is in, the water comes in as far as the Pebble Ridge – so check the tide timetable before you head down there!
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Ideal for surfers, swimmers, kayakers, and paddle boarders. Surfing areas are clearly designated, and there are slipways over the pebbles at the RNLI points.
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The vast area of golden sand is ideal for sunbathing.
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Children love to look for shrimps, fish, and crabs in the rock pools.
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Dogs are allowed on the beach all year round, with a few summer restrictions in the designated surfing areas – check the beachfront signs.
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There's plenty of parking at Northam Burrows Country Park.
Touch Stay App
For more information, I can send you a link to the Touch Stay app, where you'll find everything you need to know about staying at Southmoor – from check-in time to the WiFi code, from great activities to the best local restaurants.
Testimonials
We were 3 generations, 3 couples and 3 children under 8 – this property managed to suit all of us. Spacious, very well appointed and everything any of us might need available (including lots of things we didn’t know we might need !).
The kids loved the trampoline, toys, books and DVDs – whilst the adults loved the private garden, huge dining table, multiple bathrooms and a very handsome building and setting.
Everything we might possibly need was provided, and all was high quality. A lovely place with a very attentive and considerate host.
Alan
Barbara is one of the best hosts that we've encountered of all the places that we've stayed. Her response is very quick. Her manner is professional, patient, and warm. Her scones are better than those from The Ritz!
It is an easy drive to nearby villages or a quick walk to the beach. We enjoyed a very comfortable restful time here!
Karen
If I could give this more than five stars I would! Our stay at Barbara's was exceptional in all areas. The house was beautiful, very clean and well equipped with everything you could need with lots of space and tea/coffee/snacks. We had a great time using the BBQ and playing games provided!
Barbara provided an app that had all the information you could need as well. The house is a short walk from the beach.
Thanks for a wonderful stay!
Mitali
A gem of a place – perfectly set up and all amenities carefully considered. Everything you need to have a comfortable and straightforward stay plus some generous extras such as toys and loads of books. We especially loved the choices of cereal and fruit left for us and the treats for the children!
Lots of space for us all, perfectly clean and a great location about 15 mins walk from Westward Ho! beach (though beware, it’s a steep uphill climb back!). Highly recommend.
Susan
Despite being large and roomy, this is a hugely cosy place to stay. We spent several evenings happily ensconced in armchairs, working our way through the well-stocked bookcases. The great selection of children’s books was a particularly nice touch that our daughters loved.
With everything you could need in the kitchen (including sharp knives for once!) and a healthy selection of essentials laid on for our arrival, it really was a perfect place to spend a few days unwinding. Can’t recommend it enough.
Laura
This accommodation is simply stunning and so very special. It is in the ideal location to explore the beautiful north coast of Devon & Cornwall being so close to the South West coastal path.
The decor of the house is a beautiful mix of old and new. The rooms are beautifully decorated with comfy beds and the added touch of chocolates, tissues, and gin! We wanted for nothing.
Barbara is an exceptional host and the house was equipped with everything we needed and so much more.
Sue
Fantastic house with all the luxuries and extras. Huge rooms, comfy beds, well-equipped kitchen, bbq, fire pit, piano and a huge trampoline. Everything we could have hoped for our family break.
Barbara was available and helpful with recommendations for the area. Highly recommended!
Tali
Barbara was a fantastic host, the house was incredible for all our family to come together to celebrate our wedding. Barbara made the house extra special with lots of small touches that we really appreciated and accommodated our every need! The house is true to pictures and is full of things to keep you entertained.
Nicole
Lots of space. Very well equipped & very nice personal touches. Very helpful host before & during our stay.
Anthony
We had a lovely time in the lovely, characterful house. It was spacious and comfortable and had all we needed – we were 2 families, 11 people and a dog!
Barbara made us all feel very welcome, and this part of Devon is so beautiful too. We enjoyed the firepit, barbecue and trampoline especially! Would recommend a stay here - near enough to walk in to Westward Ho! yet in a peaceful, rural location. Enjoy!
Claire
Thank you for a great stay again. For anyone thinking about booking definitely do it! The house is incredible and Barbara was a great host! Would 100% recommend to anyone looking to stay in the area!
Olly