Kirstie Allsopp’s Meadowgate

Jo Rees went off the beaten track to wildest Welcombe to stay at Kirstie Allsopp’s home from home

What?

An opportunity to soak in Kirstie Allsopp’s bath, sleep in her bed and … enough information already.

The Location, Location, Location presenter’s holiday home, in a remote part of Devon, was the eponymous star of Kirstie’s Homemade Home. The Channel 4 series saw her rescue the dilapidated farmhouse in Welcombe Mouth on the north Devon coast and work with craftspeople to transform it into an inviting abode for the Allsopp clan.

Why?

To step into a Famous Five story. Meadowgate is so delightfully old fashioned it’s like visiting Kirrin Island to stay with Uncle Quentin and Aunt Fanny. All that’s missing is Timmy the dog and lashings of ginger beer – and you can get the latter at the nearby pub.

The house is managed by Classic Cottages and sleeps 14 so is a good spot for a group getaway. Four of those beds are bunk beds in a single room, however, which is worth bearing in mind if you’re planning a mini-break with a group of mates.

The best bedroom in the house is, hands down, the huge master bedroom with its trad freestanding bath next to windows overlooking the valley. That said, all the rooms are comfortable and have sinks, chintzy furniture, eclectic artwork and rural views.

A spacious sitting room and small snug – both with fireplaces ‑ plus a games room (with a huge poster of Kirstie on the wall from an old bus ad campaign) provide plenty of places to hang out with (and get away from) other people.

Nearby

Meadowgate has a huge, well‑equipped kitchen, which acts as the social centre of gravity in the house, so it’s easy to eat well without having to travel. However, there are some quality experiences in close proximity at The Farmers Arms in Woolsery, The Old Smithy Inn at Welcombe and The Electric Bakery (for alfresco coffee and snacks) in Bude.

Despite all of its appealing indoor features, the house’s coastal setting is one of its biggest attractions; the pebbly beach at Welcombe Mouth is just a five-minute-walk away, bookended by hilly coastal paths. The beach is wild and quiet for most of the year, and exactly the kind of spot where Julian and Dick would have stumbled upon a cache of smuggled goods at the start of their summer holiday.

Verdict?

Comfy and peaceful, Kirstie’s crash pad is a seductive spot where a group of chums can go wild in Devon.

Recommend to friends?

Without doubt. Better still, go with them – just arrive first to bag the master bedroom.

classic.co.uk