4.9★
Helpful Holidays rating
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6 Guests
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3 Bedrooms
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2 Bathrooms
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Pets Yes
Features
- Garden / Patio
- Cot available
- Highchair available
- Pub/shop < 1 mile
- Dishwasher
- Seaside
- Broadband / WiFi
Reviews & Ratings
* Based on a combined average customer score
72 Customer Review(s)
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Catherine 
“This is a beautiful cottage .”
Clean and very comfortable and very well equipped. Sea views of the estuary and within walking distance to the town with plenty places to eat and drink Our 4th visit so that speaks for itself.
Clean and very comfortable and very well equipped. Sea views of the estuary and within walking distance to the town with plenty places to eat and drink Our 4th visit so that speaks for itself.
- Catherine, February 2025 -
Sue “Fabulous cottage with amazing views of the estuary.”
The Cottage was very clean and well equipped. Would definitely recommend this property
- Sue, September 2024 -
Lisa “We had a fabulous week at the Crab Shell, beautiful cottage in a stunning location.”
Will definitely be returning
- Lisa, August 2024 -
Joanne “Such a fabulously clean and welcoming cottage!”
A great base to explore the area and equipped with everything you will need for your stay. A beautiful location and great to wake up to the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks. Just perfect. Will definitely book again. Only downside? Parking!!
- Joanne, July 2024 -
Delwyn “Lovely and clean .”
Perfect location , will definatly return in the future.
- Delwyn, June 2024 -
Candyce “The Crab Shell is a beautifully maintained and comfortable property in an ideal location in Appledore!”
Highly recommended! Thank you to the owners for our wonderful stay in this property.
- Candyce, June 2024 -
Victoria “Fantastic property, home from home.”
We will be booking again for next year. 10/10
- Victoria, April 2024 -
Jane “A lovely spacious and clean house with gorgeous views.”
No complaints, it was spot on with everything you could need. Would recommend without hesitation
- Jane, April 2024 -
Sam “Really wonderful cottage - highly recommend”
- Sam, April 2024 -
Amanda “Lovely position in Appledore with great views.”
The two front bedrooms fabulous views and good size. The top bedroom has a toilet and sink, basically en-suite without shower or bath. Lovely clean cottage. Lovely pubs in Appledore and a nice walk from the cottage. We really enjoyed our stay, a lovely cottage with fab views. Just make sure you bring dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid and soap for the bathrooms.
- Amanda, February 2024 -
Catherine “Crab Shell cottage is very clean and spacious and well equipped with everything you could possibly need.”
The cottage overlooks the estuary with views of instow .This was our 2nd stay and again we enjoyed walking our cocker spaniel on the coastal path to Westwood Ho and visiting the local pubs and restaurants in appledore . A most relaxing holiday hope to return in the future . Only thing I would add is a rug in the lounge area we actually did bring one from home to put in front of the log burner just to make it cosier on cold winter nights
- Catherine, November 2023 -
Janice “Myself and my mum had a great time.”
Would love to visit again.enjoyed the views and sea air.plenty to do good bus service so you can take a break from driving.
- Janice, November 2023 -
Julia “We had a fabulous holiday at the Crab Shell and everyone wants to return.”
The property is comfortable, very well presented and has a glorious view of the estuary. The kitchen is delightful and has everything you could need. There are long walks to be had without using the car and plenty of delightful places to eat. The Beaver Inn gets a special mention as we felt like locals in no time at all. And it’s a short walk away. All in all a fabulous family holiday. We were sad to leave. Thank you. Julia.
- Julia, October 2023 -
Elizabeth “It was perfect but we would have liked an extra front door key to come and go.”
The location was great and we loved sitting out on the benches across the road with a cup of tea. My Grandad was stationed in Appledore as an artillery gunner in ww2 and we were curious as to where the guns were located. When we made it to the Maritime museum 5 days into our stay we discovered they were on the exact spot outside the cottage where we'd been enjoying the bench!
- Elizabeth, September 2023 -
Wendy “Lovely place to stay home from home”
- Wendy, August 2023 -
Alan “Nice cottage with beautiful view over the estuary.”
It was very clean and in walking distance of local pubs.
- Alan, June 2023 -
Joy “Excellent standard throughout.”
Wonderful location and a real home from home.
- Joy, June 2023 -
June “Lovely well equipped cottage, beautifully furnished with fantastic views”
- June, May 2023 -
Richard “We had a great time at the Crab Shell in Appledore.”
This property is amazing. Will book to go again. 5*
- Richard, May 2023 -
Calvin “Our stay at the Crab Shell was just perfect!”
Amazing views Spotlessly clean Kitchen full of everything you could need Location excellent for walking Will definitely be booking again
- Calvin, April 2023 -
Wendy “We had a wonderful 2 weeks in Appledore.”
So peaceful, beautiful scenery and lovely atmosphere. Great cottage with all necessary equipment and extras you need to have a wonderful worry free stay. Would definitely recommend it.
- Wendy, April 2023 -
Julie “Lovely house, warm and with everything we needed.”
Appledore is a lovely hamlet with lots to do and see in the area. All good!
- Julie, December 2022 -
Jane “Brilliant as always .”
.. 3rd time of using . Absolutely love it . Great location , amazing views .
- Jane, September 2022 -
Andrew “It's all been said already I'm sure!”
The Crab Shell is in a perfect location, had everything that my family needed and was very clean and well kept. I would, and already have, recommended to my friends and family.
- Andrew, August 2022 -
Margot “This was our 2nd visit to The Crab Shell - we absolutely love it”
- Margot, June 2022 -
Terry “Fantastic home with amazing sea views, the house was extremely well equipped with everything we need for a week in the lovely village of Appledore.”
The rear garden was a great sun trap very useful for a cold beer in the sunshine. The house was spotlessly clean and the future comfortable, it was conveniently located a five minute walk form two good pubs and a further short walk into the village with more great pubs and restaurants. Parking was no problem we managed to park outside the property on arrival and departure but made use of the close by car park during the week. We will definitely be booking again for our next visit.
- Terry, June 2022 -
Anne “The only thing that it needs is a downstairs toilet.”
- Anne, June 2022 -
Stephen “This property was perfect from the extremely comfortable beds and quality bedding to the sun trap outside sitting area and the wonderful view from the front of the house.”
Appledore is a very friendly place and above all its so dog friendly with walks to beaches where dogs can run free on the doorstep
- Stephen, May 2022 -
Gwynedd “This property is fantastic, the layout is perfect.”
The views are stunning and everything possible has been thought about. The house is clean and decorated beautifully. It also has a beautiful spot in the village within walking distance of 2 nice pubs and local shops. There is a lovely walk along the coast and the sunsets are stunning. Highly recommend this cottage.
- Gwynedd, April 2022 -
Katherine “Beautiful cottage, comfortable, spacious and spotlessly clean.”
Excellent facilities, by far the best equipped cottage I've ever stayed in, there was nothing we wanted or needed that wasn't there. I dropped one point off on how likely I am to recommend purely because the parking was an issue for us, I was unable to park anywhere near the cottage or on the little car park at the back. On the day we arrived and unloaded that was a problem as my son is disabled.
- Katherine, April 2022 -
John “A most enjoyable week away, facilities were really excellent, we were fortunate with the weather as well.”
House was spotlessly clean, with all the gadget needed to make your break feel like home from home. I would be happy to recommend this property to anyone seeking a quite get away, there are plenty of great restaurant's and pubs close to hand you can't go wrong staying at The Crab Shell cottage.
- John, March 2022 -
Catherine “Crab Shell cottage was absolutely the most comfortable and the best equiped cottage we've stayed in Appledore.”
Beautifully furnished home from home Would recommend to our friends and family and hope to return to enjoy again soon
- Catherine, March 2022 -
Helene “Lovely property everything you could possibly need.”
Very clean and comfortable. Very helpful owners
- Helene, February 2022 -
Jean “A very comfortable, stylish, well equipped and clean property, Crab Shell has fabulous views, armchairs in the top bedroom are great for reading with a view.”
Appledore is a good base for coastal walking and exploring North Devon. Lovely selection of pubs for food nearby.
- Jean, January 2022 -
Jon “We stayed here in January 2022 for a quiet and relaxing break.”
The Crab Shell and Appledore served our needs perfectly. This house was spotlessly clean and had all of the facilities we could possibly have hoped for (and much more). It was a joy to open the curtains every morning and see the wonderful views over the estuary and the sea beyond. We would not hesitate to recommend this house to friends and family wanting a holiday in North Devon.
- Jon, January 2022 -
Valerie “Had a fabulous week over Christmas at the Crab Shell.”
The cottage is lovely very well equipped very much home from home. The views are spectacular, and wonderful to go to sleep with the waves crashing on the rocks across the road. We had Christmas dinner at the cottage with the Christmas Tree lights on and the Wood burner glowing couldn't have wished for more. Would highly recommend the Crab Shell what ever time of year. Thank you Pete for answering my queries so quickly.
- Valerie, December 2021 -
Linda “Beautiful property in a lovely seaside village”
- Linda, October 2021 -
John “Nice location.”
Well furnished and appointed. One little gripe, there were two super showers but they had very slippery floors.
- John, April 2021 -
Robert “Great location overlooking the estuary.”
Appledore is fascinating. I feel we should have dressed in 18th century costume.
- Robert, April 2021 -
Jane “Great base .”
Amazing outlook from the cottage .Didn't want to leave ! Equipped highly and gorgeous .
- Jane, October 2020 -
Carole “This cottage was beautifully fitted out.”
We had expected to struggle because of corona virus, but everything was there that we needed, and super clean. We appreciated all the helpful little touches. Honestly? The best cottage I’ve ever rented. Thank you P and D, May you continue to have lovely tenants who respect what you offer.
- Carole, October 2020 -
Cheryl “A fantastic cottage in a wonderful location.”
Felt like home & relaxed from the first night. Great pubs with good food. Everything you need in the cottage & a lovely seating area at the back. Loved sitting & watching the activity on the water. Also took a glass of wine & sat to watch the sunset on the green at the front. Perfect! Would love to visit again but booked up, not surprised!
- Cheryl, August 2020 -
Donna “The Crab Shell accommodated our family (two adults and four children) with ease.”
It is fantastically well equipped, a real home from home, & perfectly located to explore north Devon.
- Donna, July 2020 -
Lisa “Loved our stay at the crabshell,and loved appledore.”
The house was spotlessly clean and very well equipped. The weather was lovely so we enjoyed the beach at Instow. Would definitely return again.
- Lisa, July 2020 -
Lisa “Fantastic views exceptionally clean well equipped great location.”
Could do with a baby gate at top of stairs in top bedroom
- Lisa, March 2020 -
Geoff “Fantastic cottage with great facilities.”
Appledore is a gem of a village, friendly and welcoming. The parking issue isn't really a problem if you put it in perspective. There is a long stay car park on the road behind the cottage, about 3 minutes walk away and only £3 for 24hrs or £16 for the week.
- Geoff, February 2020 -
Norah “Our second holiday at the fabulous Crabshell, we have had another lovely week here.”
Donna and Pete make it feel like no one else has stayed on your arrival, the cottage is immaculate and everything you need is on hand. We love how dog friendly this house is and we love the views across the estuary, you have a stunning view every day as the aspect changes. If you want a totally relaxing home away from home, this is the place to be! We are now booking our 3rd visit :)
- Norah, November 2019 -
Sally “Loved the area with the long walks and dog friendly places to visit in lifting restraints and bars.”
- Sally, October 2019 -
Maria “The Crab Shell in Appledore is a beautiful house.”
We assumed it would be equipped with most amenities but it exceeded all our expectations. It had everything and more to make our holiday a good one. It has beautiful views onto the estuary. I would not hesitate to go back again.
- Maria, September 2019 -
Wendy “Such a beautiful location, waking up every morning to the sound of water and the sight of the horizon right outside your window was just bliss.”
An easy walk into town, with oce cream, fish 'n chips on demand leads to a perfect day. Heaven on earth for dogs. my furry friend had the best holiday ever. Gorgeous apartment fitted out with everything you could possibly need. We had a wonderful time, and would definitely recommend it to friends and family.
- Wendy, August 2019 -
Philip “The parking situation at the property was accurately described as "on road parking on a first come first served basis" however I think clearer information could have been given about alternative parking options - there was free parking available near the RNLI station which is closer than the pay and display parking referred too.”
The property was well presented, very clean and comfortable and had everything we (as a family of 5) needed - thank you!
- Philip, August 2019 -
Jim “A gorgeous house beautifully decorated with loads of facilities.”
Felt more like a home than a holiday let. The back courtyard is a sun trap from 3-7. Parking is first come but there is a small council car park 50 yds away that is safe and very reasonable. Appledore is a beautiful little town with plenty of pubs, 2 chip shops and a small grocery. Plenty of places to walk with the dogs or visit within easy driving. Will definitely return.
- Jim, June 2019 -
Lisa “I rented the crabshell for a family holiday.”
I am in my 50s, my parents in their 80s and my son 18... Plus my partner and the dog. The crabshell is deceptively large with 3 true double bedrooms, each with tv, 3 wcs, plus showers and baths. We cooked a few evenings, and ate out others. The kitchen is modern, the dining area spacious and tv lounge comfortable. The yard is compact but a real sun trap. My only criticism is the weather... However with beautiful views over the esturary, even on rainy days it was mesmerising. It is positioned at the top end of town, meaning its much easier to park. We took 2 cars and did not use an appledore carpark all week. If you know appledore, then you know why i keep returning. If you don't... Then im not sure i want to share how wonderful it is!
- Lisa, May 2019 -
Sarah “The Crab Shell is an amazing property which the owners have kitted our extremely well.”
It has everything you could possibly need! I have been visiting Appledore for many years and this is the best property I’ve stayed in by far. The views are to die for regardless of the weather and the sunsets every evening that you could watch from the comfort of the living room are amazing. We were a large party, a mixture of adults, children, babies and dogs and not once did we feel crowded. There is plenty of space and great comfort at all times. And if you get lovely weather like we did, there is a beautiful little seating area out back which is an amazing sun trap. We enjoyed a couple of BBQ’s while having lazy afternoons which was a lovely end to a day! The owners really have thought of the guests with The Crab Shell. Beautiful house, with beautiful decor and beautiful views. I know I won’t be booking anywhere else when I return to Appledore! No where else lives up to it! Love love love the Crab Shell!!
- Sarah, May 2019 -
Hazel “Wonderful cottage.”
Great views over river. Lively place.
- Hazel, April 2019 -
Christine “The house was very comfortable and had all the equipment necessary to make a self catering holiday a good experience.”
However, our dog likes to go swimming so we thought it would be ideal to access the property via the back patio so that we could dry him off before allowing him to enter the house. Unfortunately we could not lock one of the back french doors from the outside, it was fine from the inside. The back gate was also very stiff, binding on the frame, and would have benefited from having a pull handle to aid opening. Neither of these minor issues spoilt our stay at The Crab Shell.
- Christine, April 2019 -
Elaine “Fantastic location and a beautiful home very well equipped.”
It was easy to have a wonderful holiday with 3 generations and 2 dogs.
- Elaine, March 2019 -
Norah “We loved the Crab Shell, the cottage was lovely in every way.”
The owners have put a lot of thought into this property, the kitchen was the best equipped we have ever had in one of your properties! Everything was great, beautiful views, comfy beds, cosy log burner and very dog friendly too. I had the pleasure of meeting Donna and her son on our arrival and she was so accommodating - the house was immaculate and beautifully decorated. Appledore is also a beautiful village, great walks, very relaxing. We have already booked another week in December, we can't wait to go back :)
- Norah, March 2019 -
Mark “This was definitely the best holiday cottage we have stayed in, not only was it stunning, the location was perfect, it really was a home from home, it lacked nothing, I can't wait to book it again for when we next visit Appledore, and Sykes made the booking process frictionless from £20 deposit right up to useful info and the easy to use app.”
Thank you for a wonderful week
- Mark, March 2019 -
Ian “Listing matched very well with what we found in the property.”
We like the style & decor and it felt like a home from home. Only one improvement would be Broadband speed which was very slow while we where there. Host was great and we had a lovely few days away.
- Ian, February 2019 -
Karen “The cottage was amazing!”
- very modern, everything had been thought of and very clean. The views over the estuary out of the lounge and two bedroom windows are fantastic. We would definitely go back again. However, the cottage is situated at the end of a very narrow lane which during good weather and school holiday time is very busy and difficult to negotiate. Once you have managed to arrive to the cottage, the chances of parking are small! In the week we stayed, we were only able to park once outside the cottage. There is a pay & display car park within a 5 minute walk but that was often full. There were no problems parking in the larger car park a little further away. Parking charges were very reasonable. We had a great holiday, staying in a beautiful cottage in a lovely part of the country!
- Karen, October 2018 -
Ann “Superb location with fantastic views.”
Immaculate property. Would highly recommend.
- Ann, September 2018 -
Allison “Crab Shell Cottage is finished to a high spec and has everything you need for a great holiday.”
At the end of the day you can watch the sun go down from the luxury of the living room. The cottage is positioned very close to the estuary and it was wonderful to see the sea while eating breakfast. There are only two little caveats to advise of with this cottage - there is no allocated parking and access is via a narrow street which is quite often full of pedestrians. Parking can be difficult close to the cottage although there is a long stay car park about 5 minutes walk away. The third bedroom is lovey and has good toilet and sink facilities, the only issue is access which is via quite a steep and narrow staircase. It is fine as long as you are mobile and well worth it once you are settled in.
- Allison, June 2018 -
Patricia “An amazing home from home.”
Fantastic sea views.
- Patricia, June 2018 -
Linda “Beautiful house, very clean and stylish in a lovely spot overlooking the estuary.”
A very dog friendly place. Convenient for visiting places.
- Linda, May 2018 -
John “This is a really good cottage, spacious, clean, well presented and equipped with excellent views.”
It is an easy walk into Appledore which is a charming village. Everywhere is dog friendly with the Beaver Arms, 5 mins away, and the Instow Arms, across the river by ferry, of particular note. We had a really good holiday here.One niggle with the cottage is there is no information book or instructions for the appliances - trial and error as they are an unusual manufacturer. Also parking in this part of Appledore is difficult particularly for loading/unloading.
- John, May 2018 -
Sue “Crab Shell Cottage was perfect in every way.”
The Cottage has been sympathetically modernised to a very high standard and has lovely views over the water. We found it very homely and super comfortable. The cottage was equipped with everything we needed and more to make our holiday a very pleasant one. The real log fire was lovely for curling up in front of once the children had gone to bed in the evenings. There are lovely walks to take and a great bus service to explore north Devon (cost us £16 for 3 adult and 3 children for a day pass so could hop on and hop off as we pleased). Overall we had a 5* holiday. Will definitely be re-booking to go back again.
- Sue, February 2018 -
Michael “This is a very nice cottage , if it were mine I don't think I would let it out to just anyone, it is far too well appointed and I only hope that future clients will look after it.”
- Michael, December 2017 -
Steve “This is our 4th time staying in Appledore and this was by far the best place we have stayed so far.”
I couldn't fault a single thing with this property and had an amazing week.
- Steve, November 2017 -
Kay “Whilst the cottage was very contemporary and comfortable there two areas which let the property down, in our opinion.”
Firstly there was no information regarding any of the white goods or electrical goods, no information regarding the area e.g restaurants, places of interest and finally there was no information as to where we place the rubbish and recycling. Secondly the heating systems left a lot to be desired. On the Sunday morning we rose to a warm cottage, on every subsequent day the heating was off and appeared to be set at 13 degrees, which was totally unacceptable.The temperature in the cottage was approx.18 degrees still not warm enough on a very cold morning. Whilst we increased the temperature on the thermostat to 23 degrees it took a while to warm up and to shower in a cold bathroom in something I hate. It would seem that the timer must have been set for different times at the weekend to the rest of the week. As a result of the fluctuation in temperature we spent £20.00 on logs to keep warm. Having said all that I did enjoy the holiday but I do think the owners should rectify the heating problem especially for people booking during the cold winter days.
- Kay, November 2017 -
Francesca “Really impressed with this property, well located and well equipped, like home from home only better!”
- Francesca, September 2017 -
Andrew “The Crab Shell was beautifully presented.”
Everything that we needed to make our stay comfortable was available. Appledore is a pretty village and it was lovely to be able to walk around so easily. The only downside was the lack of free parking.
- Andrew, July 2017
Summary
- Open plan kitchen, dining and sitting area
- Three bedrooms: 1 x king with en-suite shower, basin and WC, 1 x double, 1 x double with WC
- Bathroom.
- Gas central heating, log burner (first basket of logs free)
- Electric oven and gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, dishwasher, washer/dryer
- Smart TV with Freeview, Blu-ray DVD, WiFi
- Fuel and power inc. in rent
- Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
- On road parking opposite on a first come, first served basis public car park nearby
- Cot and highchair available on request
- Patio area with seating
- Two well-behaved pets welcome, at £25 per pet per week
- Sorry, no smoking
- Shops, pubs and restaurants 5 minute walk.
The property
Admire the fabulous views across the estuary from this lovely cottage.
Appledore is a quaint and quirky fishing village full of winding streets lined with tiny shops, wonderful cafes and quayside inns Steeped in history of smugglers and fishing tales, it is an idyllic spot to spend your holiday or to use as a base to tour the area.
Take a hike or a cycle along the South West Coast Path or the Tarka Trail, both offering miles of beautiful walks and stunning views and you will come across the glorious sands of Westward Ho, a two mile stretch of beach with white water waves perfect for surfing lovers.
Hop on the ferry at Appledore across to the village of Instow or take a boat trip to the wildlife haven of Lundy Island where you may even spot some seals.
There are more beautiful beaches in North Devon such as the award winning Woolacombe Beach, Croyde and Saunton so plenty of opportunities for playing in the sands.
Golf enthusiasts will enjoy the golf course at Northam Burrows and some riding stables offer the chance of a beach or countryside ride.
Picnic on Exmoor National Park amongst rolling fields and wild flowers but do bear in mind that sheep and ponies roam wild here, then stumble across a county inn in a hidden valley and stop for some refreshments.
The historic market towns of Bideford and Barnstaple are within easy driving distance or true shoppers may enjoy a day out to the city of Exeter.
With so much to see and do in this glorious area of Devon, a week just won't be long enough! The Crab Shell is a beautifully presented terraced cottage with views across the estuary.
An open plan kitchen, dining and sitting area are on the ground floor with three bedrooms on the first and second floors.
There is also an enclosed patio area.
Note: This property has a Good Housekeeping bond of £100.
View on map
About the location
APPLEDORE
Bideford 4 miles;
Where the Taw and Torridge rivers meet, sits the delightful quayside village of Appledore, next to the River Torridge. Appledore boasts a small but great range of shops, pubs, guesthouses and art galleries. A thriving fishing and trading village since the 14th century, Appledore has been a famous boat-building centre for many years and the shipyard is still active today. Picturesque Appledore provides a peaceful base from which to explore North Devon, and is close to surf beaches.The Quay is very central to life in the village and it is here you will find many activities including fishing trips, crabbing contests on the quay, and sometimes Morris Dancers. This quaint fishing village has a maze of narrow streets leading to the quay.
Just four miles from Appledore,straddling the Torridge estuary, is the quaint bustling town of Bideford boasts a medieval bridge, town quay, quaint pannier market and vibrant shopping area - all well worth a visit. For the more active, several major surfing beaches, golf courses, theme parks and other attractions are nearby and the South West coast path passes close by on its way into Cornwall. The beautiful cliff-top fishing village of Clovelly is half an hour by road, and the delights of Exmoor and Dartmoor can be reached in under an hour. Surf the waves, stroll through pretty villages, wander along the Tarka Trail, visit a famous garden or have some fun at one of the local theme or farm parks – it’s all on the doorstep.