Stoodleigh is a perfect little estate village on top of the scarp of hills running along one side of the glorious Exe Valley, right on the edge of Exmoor. The Old Rectory is a gorgeous Georgian building of the kind in which Victorian vicars would raise large families. The house is now fully refurbished and modernised throughout.

You're on top of the world here. Close to the centre of the village, overlooking the little church, the Old Rectory has views of the Blackdown Hills 15 miles in one direction and Dartmoor 20 miles in another. Drive through the gates past a line of classic English beech trees, you go through an acre of your own lawned gardens with clipped hedges, a feature rose garden, a covered 10m x 5m heated pool and a children’s play area with play equipment.

The weather in Devon is warmer than other parts of the country. As well the main living areas, the Old Rectory has a Mediterranean style courtyard, a suntrap barbecue area and there is a boot room for keen walkers to de-boot. On rainy days, a library provides the ideal place to run away and read the newspapers.

Stoodleigh is superbly accessible. It is signposted from the North Devon link road which connects the M5 to the resorts of the North Devon and Cornwall coasts. You can be on the beach in 45 minutes.

Closer to hand, local pubs include the Exeter Inn, nestled by the dramatic River Exe, the Quarryman’s Rest in Bampton and Hartnoll Hotel outside Tiverton for food, and for gourmets there's a Michelin starred restaurant, the Masons Arms, in nearby Knowstone.

There’s so much to do here – and so little to do, too. It’s up to you!

Inside, the rectory has six ensuite bathrooms to bedrooms, two further bedrooms and a further bathroom. One of the bedrooms is downstairs. Two of these rooms are doubles with an additional single so the property sleeps 18. The 30ft x 15ft kitchen diner has views of the Blackdown Hills. The kitchen part of it comes with electric range, microwave, granite worktops, and a kitchen dining table that seats 20 comfortably. The large main living room has views views of Dartmoor. There's a games room with a pool table and table football, flat tv screens with Sky in all the bedrooms and main living rooms and there are iPod docks in the main rooms too. The house is heated by oil central heating and main living rooms enjoy the welcome glow of wood burners.

Please visit http://www.sleeps12.com to find out more about the holiday cottage, amenities, surrounding area and places to visit in Devon.

Travel: Tiverton

Good places to visit:

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Good places to eat:

Local Sports: Walking, Riding, Cycling, Golf

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