Waitrose Food Illustrated

Enjoy some Downe-time in North Devon

If you need a bit of indulgence, but aren’t keen on big hotels or flocks of twittering therapists, then Downe Cottages is the place for you. Set in wonderful, peaceful isolation on the North Devon coast, it’s a collection of old farm buildings converted into superbly comfortable self-catering accommodation, plus a simple spa. Spend your days walking the coastal paths or pootling through nearby villages, then return for a jacuzzi, a sauna and an aromatherapy or reflexology treatment from Julie Skidmore, a talented therapist who makes you feel relaxed before she’s even started. Then, still wrapped in your fluffy white robe, you can pop back across the courtyard to your cottage to cook a simple supper before falling into your bed.