Instow Home Exchange

A warm welcome

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Welcome to our lovely family home in the village of Instow, North Devon. The 4 bedroom seaside villa has contemporary furnishings and light rooms, and is only a minute's walk from a sandy beach.

Click on one of the categories on the left to see more photos…

Surrounding Area

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The town of Bideford is 5 minutes drive away (or 20 minutes cycle), and across the water is the quaint village of Appledore with many galleries , pubs and restaurants.The view of Appledore from Instow beach

The market town of Barnstaple is 10 minutes drive away for shops, a pannier market, cinema, theatre and restaurants.

20 minutes drive away are the surfing beaches of Saunton, Woolacombe and Croyde.

Within easy driving distance is the rugged coastline and rambling tracks of Exmoor, or the Cornish coast.

Who we are

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Welcome to our blog on our home in Instow. We hope this will give you more information about the house and area, so you'll choose us to do a House exchange. Bob and I are a professional young(ish!) couple - 36 and 42 - who enjoy travelling, culture, outdoor activities and good restaurants. We are available for exchanges throughout the year, anywhere in the world, for any length of time. We are non-smokers who love our house, and would treat your home with respect. We have done a few house exchanges in the past with "friends of friends" - references are available on request.

Useful Links

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We've got plenty of leaflets at the house regarding things to do in the area and local attractions, and here are some useful links to websites about Instow and Devon.

The village's own website: www.instow.net
Tourist Information: www.northdevon.com
www.discoverdevon.com

Eating and Drinking
The Commodore Hotel: www.commodore-instow.co.uk
The Boathouse pub and restaurant: www.instow.net/boathouse/boathouse.htm
Decks restaurant: www.decksrestaurant.co.uk
The Wayfarer pub and restaurant: www.thewayfarerinstow.co.uk
We also like:
Broomhill Art Cafe, Barnstaple: www.broomhillart.co.uk
The Hoops Inn, Horns Cross: www.hoopsinn.co.uk
Damien Hurst's restaurant, Ilfracombe: www.11thequay.co.uk
Fullam Chinese Restaurant, Barnstaple: www.fullamrestaurant.com
The Cafe on Fremington Quay: www.fremingtonquaycafe.co.uk

Activties
Kayak hire: www.atlanticwatersportsuk.com
Surf lessons: www.northdevonsurfschool.co.uk
Lundy Island: www.lundyisland.co.uk
Cycle hire: www.biketrail.co.uk
Horse riding: www.mullacott.co.uk
Golf: www.royalnorthdevongolfclub.co.uk
Health and Beauty Spa days: www.woolacombe-bay-hotel.co.uk

Maps

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Click on a map below to see it bigger. The wine glass icon represents pubs and restaurants in the village.

Things to do

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Atlantic Watersports in Bideford can arrange kayak hire and will drop them upriver so you can paddle with the outgoing tide.

Cycle on the flat "Tarka Trail" that loops along the Estuary - bikes can be rented on Fremington Quay

Surf or Boogie-board at Croyde, Woolacombe or Saunton (boards and wetsuits can be hired on the beach at each place)

Explore Exmoor, Lynmouth and Appledore

Enjoy fresh fish brought in on the trawler (see blackboard on the beach for timings), or a Hockins ice-cream, made locally in Appledore

Take a ferry from Bideford to Lundy

Visit the picturesque fishing village of Clovelly

Enjoy a cream tea on the patio of the Commodore Hotel in the village, or in the Cafe on Fremington Quay.

Exeter is only an hours drive away for shops and restaurants

Travel into Cornwall - Padstow is about 1 1/2 hours drive, or 2 hours to the Eden project.

If theres bad weather, shop in Atlantic village or take the kids to The Big Sheep.

Instow

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Instow sits at the mouth of two rivers - the Taw and the Torridge - where they meet the sea. The sandy beach is perfect for families as the water is sheltered and safe for swimming. Its a very shallow beach so the tide goes out quite a long way - perfect for walking dogs!

The village has a great little shop and delicatessen for supplies, and 3 pubs each serving local, fresh produce - all within 5 minutes walk of the house.

Our dog friendly beach!

Accommodation

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Open plan lounge, dining area and kitchen with doors onto patio and garden. Flatscreen TV and DVD player. Gas cooker, microwave and washing machine.

4 Bedrooms:

Double bedroom with ensuite (with shower cubicle)

View from top bedroom

Double Bedroom

Twin bedroom
(Beds can be moved apart)

Fourth bedroom is used as a study with computer, printer and wireless internet

Bathroom with bath and shower

Walled garden with decked area, bbq, and patio furniture.

Parking for 2 cars.

We will provide all bed linen, and bath towels - please bring your own towels for the beach. The house is well stocked with crockery, cooking utensils, cutlery and basic condiments. There is a range of board games, beach equipment (umbrella, wind break, buckets & spades), 2 boogie boards, a kayak and 2 bikes. This is our family home, so please take care of it as much as possible. If you have any problems, or there are damages, please let us know.