Town Mills is a historic, Grade II listed former Mill and Manor House situated on the banks of the River Torridge on the outskirts of Great Torrington in North Devon. Built by Lord Rolle in 1823 and made famous as ‘Tarka’s Mill’ in Henry Williamson’s book ‘Tarka The Otter’, Town Mills started life as a Grain Mill and a Saw Mill, both mills being powered by waterwheels. Now, almost 200 years later, Town Mills has been sympathetically converted into seven well-appointed holiday cottages all with their own charm and personality.
From a cosy holiday cottage that sleeps three people, to a larger six-bedroom holiday cottage that sleeps twelve, every cottage benefits from character and charm combined with modern convenience. Located in the beautiful North Devon countryside, Town Mills is ideally situated for visiting the North Devon Coast, Exmoor, travelling The Tarka Trail, or visiting our next-door neighbour, the RHS Gardens at Rosemoor.
Tarka is our largest three-storey cottage which sleeps 12. It was originally the Grain Mill at Town Mills and has the Waterwheel on the side. You enter Tarka from the main garden side of Town Mills, entering into a large open plan living/dining area complete with large Smart TV. The well-equipped kitchen, including a double toaster, an extra small fridge for drinks and high quality cooking pans/knives/utentsils is also on the ground floor, and windows to the rear of the cottage look out over the riverside garden/play area and across the river to the fields beyond. On each of the first and second floors is a double bedroom with en-suite shower room. There are also two twin rooms and a separate bathroom with toilet and wash basin. Please note the ceiling height is low on the second floor.
On-site, there is a indoor shared swimming pool which is kept warm between 31-32 degrees, so is suitable for even the smallest guests. The owners offer the opportunity to reserve the pool for your exclusive use, allowing you the chance for a session of family fun, or a quiet moment to relax. There is a games room with a free pool table and a classic table football, along with a dart board and fruit machine. Located by the riverside, but securely fenced, the children’s play area offers picnic bench seating with swings, slide and climbing frame, as well as an elevated playhouse, its the ideal spot to spend a lazy afternoon with a picnic whilst trying to spot an otter or some of the other many local wildlife visitors. For younger guests, there is a kids hideaway where they can escape to. On the opposite side of the Mill there is a garden where you can enjoy a few moments, maybe have a picnic or watch the peacocks as they wander around.
The countryside around Town Mills is dotted with sleepy villages nestled among the hills, while extensive woodlands, traversed by many footpaths, offer the chance to experience the area’s natural beauty. Local attractions include the renowned RHS gardens at Rosemoor (adjacent) and Dartington Crystal, offering a factory tour and visitor centre. Great Torrington is only a mile away with good shopping and amenities, and there is golf at nearby Hartland. Town Mills adjoins Torrington Common which extends to 365 acres, incorporating 20 miles of footpaths. The common is a haven for wildlife. The ‘Big Sheep’ and ‘Milky Way’ theme parks are each less than 10 miles away.
The River Torridge runs downstream to the ancient port of Bideford, still with a working quay offering boat trips to Lundy Island. Just around the corner is the attractive little town of Appledore with its colourful houses and narrow streets. To either side lies Devon’s most spectacular stretch of coastal scenery – a chain of magnificent cliffs and rocky promontories, interspersed here and there by long flat sandy beaches, where the Atlantic breakers roll in to create ideal surfing conditions. There are splendid beaches at Instow and Westward Ho!, the latter bordered by the Royal North Devon Golf Club, and the Northam Nature Reserve. Further west is the supremely picturesque Clovelly, with narrow, cobbled main street descending at a dizzying gradient to the little harbour below. The cathedral city of Exeter can be reached via a delightful drive through lush river valleys.
Town Mills offers very attractive accommodation set in 3 acres of beautiful gardens with streams, waterfalls and the water wheel which is still operational. This superb location makes a wonderful holiday base, especially for families, with sandy beaches on the North Devon coast only 10 miles away. Shop ½ mile.

Town Mills is a historic, Grade II listed former Mill and Manor House situated on the banks of the River Torridge on the outskirts of Great Torrington in North Devon. Built by Lord Rolle in 1823 and made famous as ‘Tarka’s Mill’ in Henry Williamson’s book ‘Tarka The Otter’, Town Mills started life as a Grain Mill and a Saw Mill, both mills being powered by waterwheels. Now, almost 200 years later, Town Mills has been sympathetically converted into seven well-appointed holiday cottages all with their own charm and personality.
From a cosy holiday cottage that sleeps three people, to a larger six-bedroom holiday cottage that sleeps twelve, every cottage benefits from character and charm combined with modern convenience. Located in the beautiful North Devon countryside, Town Mills is ideally situated for visiting the North Devon Coast, Exmoor, travelling The Tarka Trail, or visiting our next-door neighbour, the RHS Gardens at Rosemoor.
Riverside is one of the most popular cottages at Town Mills, partly because of its location and private veranda overlooking the river. This charming two-storey cottage originally formed part of the stable blocks almost 200 years ago. It is a good-sized four-bedroom property. On the ground floor there is a double bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, and a twin bedroom. Both of these bedrooms have French windows offering easy access to the veranda. With nobody to overlook you, waking up to the views of the river and countryside is a great way to start the day. The main bathroom is also downstairs, and has an over-bath shower, plus toilet and wash basin. Two further twin rooms are located upstairs. A selection of outdoor furniture on the veranda provides the ideal setting for enjoying a little al-fresco dining whilst looking at the local wildlife. You may spot an otter if you’re lucky.
On-site, there is a indoor shared swimming pool which is kept warm between 31-32 degrees, so is suitable for even the smallest guests. The owners offer the opportunity to reserve the pool for your exclusive use, allowing you the chance for a session of family fun, or a quiet moment to relax. There is a games room with a free pool table and a classic table football, along with a dart board and fruit machine. Located by the riverside, but securely fenced, the children’s play area offers picnic bench seating with swings, slide and climbing frame, as well as an elevated playhouse, its the ideal spot to spend a lazy afternoon with a picnic whilst trying to spot an otter or some of the other many local wildlife visitors. For younger guests, there is a kids hideaway where they can escape to. On the opposite side of the Mill there is a garden where you can enjoy a few moments, maybe have a picnic or watch the peacocks as they wander around.
The countryside around Town Mills is dotted with sleepy villages nestled among the hills, while extensive woodlands, traversed by many footpaths, offer the chance to experience the area’s natural beauty. Local attractions include the renowned RHS gardens at Rosemoor (adjacent) and Dartington Crystal, offering a factory tour and visitor centre. Great Torrington is only a mile away with good shopping and amenities, and there is golf at nearby Hartland. Town Mills adjoins Torrington Common which extends to 365 acres, incorporating 20 miles of footpaths. The common is a haven for wildlife. The ‘Big Sheep’ and ‘Milky Way’ theme parks are each less than 10 miles away.
The River Torridge runs downstream to the ancient port of Bideford, still with a working quay offering boat trips to Lundy Island. Just around the corner is the attractive little town of Appledore with its colourful houses and narrow streets. To either side lies Devon’s most spectacular stretch of coastal scenery – a chain of magnificent cliffs and rocky promontories, interspersed here and there by long flat sandy beaches, where the Atlantic breakers roll in to create ideal surfing conditions. There are splendid beaches at Instow and Westward Ho!, the latter bordered by the Royal North Devon Golf Club, and the Northam Nature Reserve. Further west is the supremely picturesque Clovelly, with narrow, cobbled main street descending at a dizzying gradient to the little harbour below. The cathedral city of Exeter can be reached via a delightful drive through lush river valleys.
Town Mills offers very attractive accommodation set in 3 acres of beautiful gardens with streams, waterfalls and the water wheel which is still operational. This superb location makes a wonderful holiday base, especially for families, with sandy beaches on the North Devon coast only 10 miles away. Shop ½ mile.

Palm View is a delightful holiday property situated just outside of the town of Paignton, a seaside town making up part of the beautiful English Riviera and close to the beautiful village of Stoke Gabriel. This pet friendly bungalow benefits off road parking and picturesque garden and is just a 10-minute downhill walk into the town.
As you enter Palm View you find yourself in the bright and airy open plan living/dining/kitchen area. With fully equipped kitchen and central island, perfect for rustling up a good meal. The living/dining area is alongside this with comfortable sofa seating, Freeview TV and glimpses of the sea. This area as a whole is very social with doors opening out onto the rear garden, a great set up for hosting those summer barbecues for family and friends. The rear garden is a lovely area to sit out in with various plants/shrubs and seating on the decked area. There is also a large studio in the back garden which guests can use as a games room/lounge area with sofa seating. Back into the property and there are three good sized bedrooms, sleeping up to seven guests! The main bedroom contains a double bed and has fitted wardrobes for guests use. The second bedroom also contains a double bed and the third bedroom has a double bed with single bunk over, a great room for children or adults alike. The family shower room in the property boasts a walk-in shower and stylish his and hers sinks.
Just up the road from Palm View are Primley Woods, a large field and wooded area which is great for walking those four legged friends. Just a short walk downhill into the first part of the town is where you can find several takeaways, shops and pubs as well as a laundrette if needed. A bit further into town and onto Paignton seafront and beach with its arcades, pier, mini golf course and various pubs/restaurants often hosting live music. Paignton harbour also has some good quality new restaurants, especially for seafood. If guests are wanting to explore the local area as well as Paignton, the nearby towns of Torquay with its marina, the famous fishing town of Brixham and Dartmouth and Kingswear are a relatively short drive away, as is the nearby city of Exeter. The town is only a 15 minute walk and only a 20 minute walk from the coast.

Tawny Cottage at Woodbury Farm Cottages boasts both character and contemporary aspects. Based in a rural setting on the owner’s farm, the surroundings give guests the feeling of peace and space while still being just a stone’s throw from the main town of Dartmouth itself. At the front of the property is a patio with seating, making this a great place to enjoy looking out across the rolling nearby fields with a morning coffee or a late-night glass of wine.
Upon entering the property on the ground floor are the three bedrooms. One bedroom contains twin single beds, another with a kingsize bed with its own en-suite shower room, and the final bedroom again contains a kingsize bed with access to the main bathroom from the bedroom and the hallway. Upstairs then leads to the large open plan living/dining/kitchen area, with high vaulted ceilings and lots of natural light, this space feels spacious, bright and airy. Here the kitchen is well-equipped, just next to the dining area with table and chair seating and a cosy wood burner in the living space with Smart TV and sofa seating.
The main town of Dartmouth is just a 10-minute drive away, as are the local supermarkets and petrol stations, just a 5-minute drive in the same direction. The popular Dartmouth golf club is only an 8-minute drive in the opposite direction, as is the family fun adventure park, Woodlands. Guests wanting to venture further afield can take the ferry from Dartmouth acrpss to Kingswear and onto the famous fishing town of Brixham, or alternatively drive into the market town of Totnes and explore the rest of the South Hams
Beautiful local beaches include Blackpool Sands and Slapton Sands which stretches for three miles along the coast, part of the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Away from the coast take a trip to the wild beauty of Dartmoor, 40 minutes’ drive away. Regardless of the nature of your visit, Tawny Cottage is a fantastic place to start.