Savour the seaside at this converted Victorian apartment just a stone's throw from the sand. The sea can be seen from quiet corners around the home, from the plush sofas in the living room to the private sun-trap terrace. Watch the gulls glide overhead, their squawks synonymous with summer holidays, and let the soft sigh of waves washing over the shore soothe your soul. If you're feeling adventurous, walk along the three-mile stretch of sand and pick up the coastal path to Baggy Point – a dramatic headland with wonderful views of Woolacombe and Croyde beaches. Seals, pods of dolphins and even the very occasional basking shark are known to inhabit the briny deep below (don't worry, they only feed on plankton). Stop by the Porthole beach cafe for some well-deserved tea and cake, then head home to put your feet up around the crackling fire in the original fireplace. With a scattering of secluded beaches, Sri Lankan curry served on Barricane Beach (with proper plates, knives and forks – summer only), and the award-winning Woolacombe Beach under ten minutes away on foot, we can't think of a better place to slow down and breathe in the sea air of North Devon.

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