We have been excited to welcome Dart Valley Cottages to the Visit Dartmouth Community. You may have seen their wonderful holiday accommodation on our Where to Stay search area, however we wanted to give you a small insight into their South Devon Holiday Cottages that feel like home…

Your home is your sanctuary. It’s a reflection of who you are. Yet when it comes to choosing a home in which to spend your well-earned holiday, you have a choice: find something comfortingly familiar, or dive into something excitingly different.

For over 20 years, Dart Valley Cottages has aimed to give guests a memorable experience to make the most of Dartmouth and the South Hams.

The variety of visitors who come here means this family-run agency has to have a broad selection of holiday homes to hand. Over the years, they’ve built up a superbly-diverse collection of homes to welcome everyone from couples to families to groups of friends – and even work-from-home guests wanting inspiring surroundings.

Dartmouth is proving to be as popular as ever this year, according to the Dart Valley Cottages team. The bookings began rolling in just after Christmas. And, while summer was definitely on most minds, others got in early for Dartmouth’s key events, such as the Dart Music Festival in May, August’s Royal Regatta, and even a few Christmas breaks!

Holidays, of course, are about more than just choosing where to lay your head after a day exploring, so the Dart Valley Cottages team say their aim is to make sure guests are fully looked after – from the moment they make an enquiry to when they’re making their way home by being on hand 24/7 if their guests need help, advice, or insider tips on where to go and what to do. That also means making sure the homes themselves are kept ship-shape (being hands-on with the maintenance and housekeeping is cited by homeowners as a key reason they chose to sign up with Dart Valley Cottages).

We’ve had a look around a few of their homes (and who doesn’t like peeking around gorgeous homes?), so let’s show you a handful…

One of Dart Valley Cottages’ latest homes is ‘The Bank’ – a brilliantly-styled two-bedroom apartment that’s perfectly placed at the harbourside. As the name suggests, it’s in one of the town’s grand former banks (you can guess which one by the chic colour scheme). Contemporary and soothing, The Bank has been creatively designed with some clever touches. The elevated copper bath in the main bedroom and the hidden large-screen TV that rises from the end of the super-king-size bed to name but two.

Another home with heritage is at 16 Clarence Hill, known locally as ‘The Skinny House’. Its quirky façade tells the story of the town – it’s made from the remnants of long-gone buildings from centuries past. Inside, though, it’s modern yet homely aesthetic all the way. Plus, there’s an orangery-style secret garden and views estuary views where the Dart meets the sea.

One of our neighbours here at Visit Dartmouth HQ is also worth a look. 2 De Courcey House is a bright and airy 2-bedroom apartment on the site of the old police station. Colourful and contemporary, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony to take in the Dart Valley air. What’s handy, too, is that it’s not only on the embankment, it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump through the Royal Avenue Gardens to the harbourside and the heart of town.

One more to mention: Kittiwake is a terrific Tardis of a home. From the front, the house reflects the others in this quaint, narrow lane. But once you’re through the door, Kittiwake stretches out into a spacious, three-bedroom home.

The colours inside are crisp and clean. The living area’s bright and breezy, and the bedrooms are as soothing as they are refreshing. The feature you’ll love the most, though, is that there are amazing river views from every room (especially the brilliant Sky Room). Those views are maximised outside – terraces arranged in multi-level zones so there’s somewhere different to sit, eat, or snooze in the sun – and all looking across the waves to the Kingswear promontory.

So, which is it for you? Relax in a recognisable home-from-home, or escape to something new to awaken your adventurous side?

The Dart Valley Cottages team say they want to find guests a home they’ll love so that, in return, you’ll say those special three little words… ‘definitely coming back’.