Dog-Friendly Hotels Devon

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.

Pump Cottage has accommodation for 4 people with two bedrooms, a double and a twin, and a family shower room. There’s a lounge/diner with a Smart TV, sofa bed and a cosy wood burner, and the kitchen has everything you’ll need for your stay including a dishwasher.

Outside you’ll find a small private patio area where you can sit and enjoy an al-fresco meal or evening drink, plus there’s the vast shared grounds of this large Devon estate, including an outdoor heated swimming pool, children’s play areas and even a clubhouse with Wi-Fi and payable pool table and coffee machine.

The estate offers you the freedom to walk around and enjoy the countryside views and abundant wildlife and the Southwest Coastal Path and popular Tarka Trail are within easy reach of the estate too. Plus, within 50 metres of the estate entrance is access to the NCN 27 cycle route.

If you fancy heading the beach to surf or to just relax, then Woolacombe offers some of the best expanses of sand in the country where you can also experience some of the best sunsets available! Woolacombe village boasts 3 miles of golden sands, great surfing waves and a fantastic coastal footpath where there are numerous walks that can be taken. There are shops, cafes, restaurants, and a great boutique cinema in a local hotel too, all just 2.5 miles away! Woolacombe really does have something for everyone! Families can enjoy spending the day by the sea, which is patrolled by lifeguards in the summer, building sandcastles, playing beach games, exploring the rockpools for marine life and making the most of the location for its beautiful sunsets, one of the spectacles regularly enjoyed by locals and surfers out on their boards in the Atlantic waters. Voted in 2020 by travellers No.6 in Europe and No.20 in the world, Woolacombe Beach really is one of the best in the UK and is renowned for its cleanliness, water quality and facilities. Should you choose to venture away from this stunning location, Woolacombe is perfectly positioned for exploring the truly awe-inspiring North Devon coastline and all its beauty and to enjoy the countless other North Devon attractions such as the popular Tarka Trail which provides the unique opportunity to follow a disused railway line allowing you to enjoy some of Devon’s finest river and countryside scenery making the most of some excellent cafes en-route! And then there’s Exmoor National Park with its magical night skies in Europe’s first Dark Sky Reserve, just 10 miles away and Lynton & Lynmouth, c.19 miles to the east with its incredible sea views, rugged cliffs and amazing funicular cliff railway which opened in 1890 and is the highest and steepest totally water powered railway in the world!

Of course, if Woolacombe isn’t enough for you then there are several other world class beaches such as Saunton Sands, Croyde and Westward Ho! – all of which are famous for their surfing qualities, vast stretches of sand and great dunes! Keen golfer? Then look no further than the Championship Links golf course at Saunton which is just 7 miles away. There are also many family-oriented places to visit including Exmoor Zoo, Milky Way Adventure Park, The Big Sheep farm-themed park, Watermouth Castle family theme park and Combe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park to name just a few.

Pump Cottage and Ivory Cottage (UK35312) can be booked together to accommodate up to 8 guests.