Guests say
Guests generally appreciate the stunning views and excellent location of the Spyglass apartment, close to Dartmouth's centre. The property's charm and reverse-level layout are highlighted, with the rooftop terrace and well-equipped kitchen receiving positive mentions. Some guests noted maintenance issues and the challenge of steps, but the unique character and convenience often outweigh the drawbacks.
The property is mostly well-received in terms of cleanliness, though some guests mentioned specific issues such as a blackened fire glass and window panes needing cleaning. These seem to be isolated incidents rather than a general trend.
The location is highly praised for its proximity to the town centre, stunning views, and the inclusion of a parking permit. The convenience to local attractions and restaurants is a consistent positive throughout the reviews.
Comfort receives mixed reviews, with many finding the beds comfortable and the property cosy, while others mention an uncomfortable sofa and bed, and issues with heating. The balance leans towards a positive experience for most guests.
Facilities are generally good, with a well-kitted kitchen and comfortable furnishings. However, maintenance issues such as sticky doors and the need for professional cleaning of the fire glass have been pointed out, suggesting room for improvement.
While guests have mentioned thoughtful touches like the provision of a parking permit, there is insufficient information on gifts or additional thoughtful gestures to accurately score this category. It should be noted that while some guests suggested improvements, gifts are not a standard offering.
About this property
An unusual, reverse-level property near to the heart of Dartmouth, with superb 180 degree views across the river, towards Dartmouth Castle and out to sea, Spyglass is a charming former sail loft, maintaining its naval character throughout. This quirky cosy property sleeps four and would be suited to a couple or small family wanting to enjoy exploring the South Devon coast and AONB. Spyglass is approached via 32 steps up, which form part of a public footpath, enter the property at ground-floor level and find two bedrooms; the 'Captain's Bedroom', a double bedroom with feature wooden panelling, a wall-mounted electric heater and subtle nods to the nautical theme, and the 'Crew's bedroom', a twin room with fitted wardrobe and electric heater. The recently refurbished shower room has a large, slightly elevated electric shower, where you can start each day with a refreshing rinse. Head upstairs to find a wonderful open-plan living space, which does have limited head height in places. The space has exposed floorboards and a cosy woodburning stove, while four wonderful Velux roof windows add a bright and spacious feeling to the room. Relax on the sofa and enjoy a book from the window shelf, or enjoy flicking through the TV to find your favourite show, or just simply admire your incredible view. The extendable dining table is a great space to enjoy meals together, prepared in the compact but well-equipped kitchen, with a fridge and dual microwave that doubles up as an oven and grill. Outside, there is a roof terrace with a table and seating, which you must take advantage of and soak up those sea views. The bustling town of Dartmouth is known for its Royal Regatta and Naval College and is steeped in history and unique architecture. Find a selection of boutique shops, fantastic restaurants, art galleries and plenty of local events taking place in this popular tourist destination, all within short walking distance of the property. Cyclists and walkers will be spoilt for choice with trails they can join nearby, including the South West Coast Path and the Dart Valley Trail, as well as walks along the River Dart, visiting attractions like the Dartmouth Museum and 15th century castle, while the closest beach, Sugary Cove, is less than a mile away. Enjoy a trip along the Dartmouth Steam Railway towards Paignton, or hop on a ferry and discover the village of Kingswear, where you can see its castle and the National Trust's Coleton Fishacre House & Gardens, along with the fishing town of Brixham, with its picturesque harbour, sandy beach, Berry Head peninsula and national nature reserve, offering walkers some incredible coastal views.Venture south from Dartmouth towards the South Devon AONB and discover the market town of Totnes, with its Norman motte & bailey castle, museum and farm of rare breads, which makes for a lovely family-friendly day out, while the South West Coast will bring you to a host of glorious sandy beaches and charming hidden coves in Salcombe, Kingsbridge and Bantham, as well as the dramatic cliffs at Bolberry Down. With incredible scenery and plenty of things to do from your doorstep, Spyglass is a fantastic retreat within a couple of minutes walk of the heart of Dartmouth.
Dartmouth lies on the banks of the beautiful River Dart estuary in the popular and picturesque South Hams area of South Devon. Located within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and close to the coast, Dartmouth is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Devon. It offers a stunning waterfront, ancient narrow streets lined with boutique shops, restaurants and art galleries plus many local events such as the annual Dart Music Festival and the Port of Dartmouth Royal Regatta, along with the Dartmouth Food Festival held every October. There are many interesting cycling and walking routes around Dartmouth, including the South West Coast Path, the Dart Valley Trail and plenty of quiet country lanes. A trip on the Dartmouth Steam Railway through picturesque countryside to Paignton is a must, and so is a boat trip across to Kingswear and on to Brixham, a pretty little harbour town. For those seeking some beach activities, there is a wide choice in the South Hams area such as Blue Flag Award winner Blackpool Sands, and Slapton Sands, both extremely popular and just a stone's throw from Dartmouth. A relaxing location in South Devon.
Accommodation
Reverse-level accommodation providing roomy accommodation for 2 adults, ideal for a family with two young children or cosy accommodation for 4 adults.
Two bedrooms: 1 x ground-floor double, 1 x ground-floor twin.
Ground-floor bathroom with shower, basin and WC.
First-floor open-plan living/kitchen/dining with wood burning stove.
Heating with wood burning stove and electric heater.
Built-in oven, grill and
microwave, fridge, washing machine, TV.
Fuel and power included in rent.
Bed linen and towels included in rent.
Roof terrace with furniture.
Pet Friendly - charge of £25 payable per dog.
Strictly No Smoking.
Shop 0.2 miles, Pub 0.1 miles, Note: Property accessed up 32 steps, which form part of a public footpath.
Note: A parking permit for one car is available for the Mayor's Avenue car park (subject to available spaces).
Please note-kindling, fire lighters and logs are not provided for the log burner, these can easily be bought in the petrol station or supermarkets at the top of town.
Nearby points of interest
- Dartmouth Castle
- Blackpool Sands
- South Sands Beach
- Shaldon Beach
- Bantham Beach
- Golden Hinde
- Torquay Museum
- Babbacombe Model Village
Reviews (25)
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Lia
The location, and position and property on a whole proves a magical and unforgettable stay, that enables you to experience the charm of Dartmouth. The views out to the river Dart and the sea beyond are spectacular. We will be sure to return each year, as Spyglass has positioned itself a secure place and truly special place in the heart of our family.
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Francesca
It was wonderful to be so central to Dartmouth and yet feel quite private amongst the rooftops. And of course the views were amazing. Everything in the property was well thought out and the kitchen was equipped appropriately and everything worked well. It is bijou, but perfectly furnished. Though there are steps up to the property, we did not find them troublesome and enjoyed the fact that the property was tucked away. The parking permit was a godsend allowing us to park in the central car park. Parking in Dartmouth is difficult at best and the roads are quite tiny. In peak months you can park for two hours directly outside the property (at the bottom of the steps) which was helpful when dropping off luggage and on the morning of departure. It was a beautifully hot week and the bedrooms were cool with the windows open and upstairs too which created a lovely breeze. I did see another comment about the visibility through the small window in the front door which I initially didnât think much about, but can now agree that a small curtain there would be ideal. If, as we did, you sleep with the crew bedroom door open to allow the room to stay cool on a hot night, you are in fact potentially on view to those coming down the steps outside. We managed to rig up a towel to create privacy, but a small curtain would be an easy solution. This did not detract from our overall delight in staying here and would fully recommend the property and we definitely hope to return.
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Carol
. we really enjoyed our stay. The views are wonderful and we will definitely be back!