Teign Townhouse, Road Test

2021 will be the year for family reunions. Baring a few hurdles to clear in the early stages of the year, we are hoping that it will be entirely possible by summer to gather all generations together under one roof again. And for those planning on getting together again Teign Townhouse has our stamp of approval; there is something for everyone and is an ideal base for exploring the endless attractions across South Devon.

During the final stages of renovations to this former bed and breakfast, the owner invited our family to trial this brand new family townhouse. Ever ready for sampling South West retreats and something new, and having never stayed in Teignmouth, we packed the car and headed west once again.

The drive into Teignmouth, descending into the Teign Valley is sublime. This quintessential Victorian seaside town and important commercial maritime port sits at the mouth of the River Teign. South facing, the sun seems to shine here at every angle possible.

The house sits on one of the main drags into Teignmouth, and really is superbly located, a two minutes walk to the town centre. If you were arriving by train, then it is either a 2 min taxi or a 10 minute stroll from the station.

The first impression of this period property is the regency feel which I personally loved, for me it brought back family trips to Llandudno in the 90s, and the grandeur has been retained inside. High ceilings and open plan living space predominate.

The owners have done magnificently to warm this enormous property with purposeful restructuring and tasteful interior design. Clean, crisp greys and blues have been used to fantastic effect to ensure that the entire house exudes a genuine and transformative calming tone. On this most wintriest of stays, the thick soft carpets in the bedrooms were very welcome.

The living area and dining room incorporate subtle nods to the local coastline, a charming monochrome print acts as a window to Dawlish Warren, enjoyed from a bespoke timber dining table, where everyone was able to face each other. The table is cleverly designed to replicate  Teignmouth’s iconic beach groynes, with that classic and timeless fusion of timber and steel.

Again careful thought has gone into the design for the purpose of the living room; no tv (cue sharp intake of breathe, eeek). But this really worked for us. When we gathered the kids before and after meals, the scandi-esque seating provided a communal space for us all to catch up, read and watch the world go by outside.

When the kids (and bigger kids) needed their fix of the box, the lower ground cinema room was simply perfect. An enormous 90 inch screen befitting the grandeur of this property, with seamless streaming of on demand films and our current series on Netflix.

The December weekend that we visited on was a typically drizzly one, but the house seconded as a splendid venue for an almighty game of hide and seek, entertaining 4 year olds to 40 year olds alike. The dedicated games room with table football, pool and a ps4 ticked plenty of boxes for the teenagers.

The girls braved the weather and tiptoed around the corner and into town, indulging in some retail therapy to cheer their mood. Teignmouth is a charming little town with a good mix of local craft and art shops as well as familiar high street outlets. It also benefits from some sumptuous food outlets, great for procuring local produce (see Lloyd Maunder for a breakfast bap), and we happily sampled Finn McCools fish and chips twice.

Sunday morning we awoke to a stunning sunrise and a crisp, clear winters day. Refreshed from a fantastic nights sleep in the box fresh beds and bedding, we decided to breakfast early and head up onto Dartmoor. We wanted to trace the mighty Teign River back up the valley to its roots on the moors.

If you ever get chance, Fingle Bridge is one our favourite spots for a combined Sunday walk and lunch. The winding paths traversing the Teign valley all the way up to Castle Drogo are captivating and rewarding at every turn.

Cream crackered, we returned to Teign Townhouse in the evening to retire. Whipping up a quick meal was a breeze, and the fancy Smeg hob was luxury – in an age where everyone is opting for induction, a quality gas hob is a rare treat and bonus for the culinary minded guests out there.

With the girls tucked up in the bunks on the top floor, we crept back down to the cinema room with the boys, for a final movie and glass of red. This place allowed us some much needed time spent together, as well as making us feel easily at home.

The drive home was an icy one up the valley and winding our way out of Teignmouth climbing onto Holden Hill, but when you’re only 15 minutes from Exeter, this house has to make the list as a great base for exploring Devon and beyond. Sleeping up to 14, and with discounts for smaller parties, Teign Townhouse gets our seal of approval.

You can view and enquire about booking this Unique Holiday Stay below.