It is easy to see why Devon cottages by the sea are a popular holiday choice. The county boasts beaches with golden sands and spectacular coastal scenery. Add to this the chance to sample a cream tea, local cider or seafood; you have a great excuse for renting a holiday cottage in Devon by the sea.

Less commercially developed than the south with rolling hills, hidden woodlands, spectacular rivers, rocky coves and long sandy beaches, North Devon boasts some of the best beaches in the country with surfing, diving and windsurfing popular sports due to the clear waters.

The Exmoor National Park's spectacular moorland terminates in towering cliffs above the Bristol Channel. Rocky headlands, steep wooded ravines, plunging waterfalls and jumbled heaps of fallen rock make this an area of outstanding beauty. On the coast the popular fishing village of Lynmouth, connected to Lynton, perches on the cliff-top above by a cliff railway.

Croyde Bay has a secluded, undeveloped feel and is a popular choice for surfers. Likewise the long, sandy beach of Saunton Sands is another venue, great for big breakers and backed by the dunes of Braunton Burrows, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Woolacombe has an award winning 3-mile-long beach where speed boats and jet skies are prohibited, leaving you safe to windsurf or ride the big breakers.

Beyond Barnstaple, the main town of North Devon is Bideford on the River Torridge. This was the location for the story of Tarka the Otter and the river can be followed on a cycle track well inland. At the mouth of the estuary is Appledore, a quaint fishing village. Nearby is the wonderfully named village of Westward Ho!, a Victorian resort with over two miles of sandy beach backed by its famous pebble ridge. If you are staying at any of our Devon holiday cottages by the sea be sure to visit Clovelly, a former fishing village of steep cobbled streets lined with white-washed cottages brimming with brightly coloured flowers.

The mild climate, holiday atmosphere, sandy beaches and Mediterranean feel have given the three South Devon towns of Torbay - Torquay, Paignton and Brixham - the distinction of being known as The English Riviera. This is the ideal place to soak up the atmosphere, wander the parks and gardens and relax on the beach to experience a classic English seaside resort. The busy resort of Torquay is at the centre of the English Riviera. With its safe, sandy beaches and famous zoo, Paignton is a popular choice for families. Brixham, somewhat quieter and more traditional, has always been a fishing village and you can see the trawlers along the harbour side with their daily catch. South Hams lies between Torbay and Plymouth on Devon's south coast. The stunning coastline, sweeping rivers and estuaries, golden beaches and rolling countryside are easily accessed from many towns and villages found within this area, including Salcombe, Kingsbridge, Modbury, Hope Cove, Thurlestone, Torcross and Dartmouth. The Pilgrims set sail for America in 1620 from here, but now the harbour is filled with yachts from around the globe. From Bigbury a short walk across the sands at low tide is Burgh Island. The island's white, Art Deco hotel, which can be seen for miles around, was built in the late 1920s to look like a cruise liner on dry land.

I've come up with a selection of Devon holiday cottages by the sea. So, if you are looking for holiday cottages in Devon by the sea, why not browse my selection to find something that catches your eye?

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