This vacation home is located within a 15-minute drive of Baxter Hall and Hatherleigh Community Centre. The vacation home includes a kitchen, a fireplace, and a balcony.
Hatherleigh Community Centre - 15 min drive - 9.3 miles
RHS Garden Rosemoor - 15 min drive - 10.3 miles
The Plough Arts Centre - 17 min drive - 11.6 miles
Dartmoor National Park - 26 min drive - 20.3 miles
Getting around
Portsmouth Arms Station - 12 min drive
Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.) - 64 min drive
Restaurants
Globe Inn - 7 min drive
Tally Ho - 12 min drive
Duke Of York - 6 min drive
Bull & Dragon - 8 min drive
The Laurels Inn - 12 min drive
About this property
Entire place
You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.
Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat)
Regency country villa (sleeps 10 in beds, extras on airbeds welcome) with verandah and walled gardens in the heart of the village. Comprises Sages House and Sages Flat as a single rental (with communicating door opened up). Please see separate Sages House and Sages Flat listings for full details.
Sages is a grand 6-bedroom Regency villa with 80ft verandah hidden in an acre of walled gardens, at the very heart of a pretty Devon village of traditional houses in the Torridge Valley. It is great for families as the children can run around the extensive grounds without any danger of traffic.
The building is divided into Sages house (one half) and Sages Flats 1 and 2 (other halves of ground and first floors respectively). Sages house and Sages Flat 1 are available for holiday lets, either separately or together. Sages Flat 1 has private access and a private garden if hired separately. A communicating door enables the whole house to be opened up if hired together.
The house, out-buildings and grounds are also available for venue hire, for parties and weddings (NB: Sages is not currently licensed for wedding services but please enquire if this is of interest as it is our plan). Use for an event requires a minimum of 7 nights booking for both Sages house and Flat 1. Please contact us if you wish to hold an event so that we can discuss parking etc. with you. We can also provide folding tables and chairs, parasols, bunting, some village fete-type games etc. for an additional charge.
The accommodation at Sages Flat 1 comprises: - a large drawing room with period features and working fireplace overlooking the private front garden. - hall, with french doors to front garden - kitchen - bathroom, with shower over bath and with WC - side bedroom off hall, overlooking private side garden (superking / twin beds + optional airbed to make a triple) - rear bedroom off kitchen passage (1 king size bed) - rear hall to courtyard - courtyard parking (1 car) - access to walled gardens (c. 1acre)
If hired together with Sages house, Sages Flat 1 has access to the front hall of Sages house through a communicating door in its drawing room. Please see separate listing for full details of Sages house. Summary details are: - a large drawing room with working fireplace overlooking private front garden - dining room with French windows onto front garden - sunroom, leading onto private walled garden and ground floor shower and WC - kitchen and scullery - master bedroom (superking / twin beds) overlooking front garden, with ante-room that can be used as a nursery if required - second bedroom (superking / twin beds) overlooking front garden, with communicating door into master bedroom plus separate entrance from bathroom landing - third bedroom (superking / twin beds) - bathroom - WC - shower room - extensive walled gardens of 1 acre - 2 acre paddock at the rear of the property, leading down to a stream, which can be used for event parking, fireworks displays etc.
Sages has been our family home for nearly one hundred years. We are at the beginning of a long-term restoration programme so we have set our rates and policies to reflect its element of "shabby chic" and families with young children are very welcome!
The vacation home is heated and features a kitchen, 4 bathrooms, and a balcony, and there's space to spread out with 5 bedrooms. Other standard amenities include a washing machine, a fireplace, and a coffee maker. Housekeeping is available on request.
Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)
General
Garden
Housekeeping (on request)
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 4:00 PM
Check-out
Check-out before 10:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools
Rules
We permit events at our written discretion. Please contact us for more details. Weddings require two week booking Sages + Flat.
Pets must live, eat, sleep in kitchen, sunroom. No pets in rest of house except in sitting room in basket under supervision. Never on furniture.
Walk pets for calls of nature in field, leashed. Pick up poo elsewhere. Wash dirty pets before entering. Take pets with you, never leave unattended.
Pets
This property welcomes pets
3 total pets
Restrictions apply
For more information, guests can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
Service animals exempt from fees
Note from host: Pets taken ONLY BY owner's prior written approval
Children and extra beds
Children allowed: ages 0-17
Events
Events allowed: family gatherings, birthday parties, weddings
Event by prior agreement only Event fees may apply
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site; maximum attendees: 99
Note from host: Event by prior agreement only Event fees may apply
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children; if you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 4:00 PM
Check-out: 10:00 AM
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios, terraces which may not be suitable for children. If you have concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm they can accommodate you in a suitable room.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Parties and events (including family gatherings, birthday parties and weddings) are allowed on site. Maximum attendees: 99.
Note from host: Event by prior agreement only Event fees may apply
Frequently asked questions
What's there to do near this vacation home?
This vacation home is located in Winkleigh, close to RHS Garden Rosemoor, Baxter Hall, and Hatherleigh Community Centre.
Will I be able to park at this vacation home?
No, there isn't parking available at the vacation home.
Is this vacation home associated with a casino?
No, this vacation home is not connected to a casino.
Is there an indoor pool at this vacation home?
No, there is no indoor pool at this vacation home.
What will couples enjoy most about a stay at Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat)?
There are many amenities for couples at this vacation home, including a fireplace and access to a chef in each accommodation with some featuring fireplaces.
Does Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat) have a hot tub?
No, there isn't a spa tub at this vacation home.
Does this vacation home provide breakfast?
No, this vacation home doesn't offer breakfast.
Does this vacation home allow pets to stay for free?
Although pets can't stay for free, they are welcome at this vacation home.
Does this vacation home have connecting rooms?
No, this vacation home doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.
Where is the closest airport to this vacation home?
The closest major airport to this vacation home is Exeter (EXT-Exeter Intl.), which is about 29.1 mi away.
Are there rooms with balconies at Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat)?
Yes, every accommodation at Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat) comes with a balcony.
Sages - Regency country villa in heart of Dolton (house and garden flat) Reviews
Reviews
9.0
Wonderful
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 13 out of 24 reviews
10 - Excellent
13
Rating 8 - Good. 10 out of 24 reviews
8 - Good
10
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 24 reviews
6 - Okay
0
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 24 reviews
4 - Poor
1
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 24 reviews
2 - Terrible
0
8.8/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
4/10 Poor
Zowie B.
Sep 19, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness
Zowie B.
Stayed 14 nights in Aug 2025
10/10 Excellent
Barbara W.
Aug 23, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
This property was exactly as described, shabby chic and quirky. We loved the house, with ita hidden nooks and surprises round every corner! The gardens are wonderful, and Jenny was a fabulous contact, helpful and friendly with lots of local knowledge and passion for the area.
Barbara W.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2025
8/10 Good
Linda E.
Jun 1, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Whit week at Sages
Had a lovely holiday week. We had the house and flat, ideal for our party of 9 and three dogs. Plenty of space for everyone to relax. Kitchens have just been refurbished, main house one wasn't quite finished but not a problem. Love the outside space too, enclosed garden for the children and dogs. Visited both the pubs for drinks and meals too, good food and welcome.
Linda E.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
Sam S.
Aug 19, 2023
Liked: Cleanliness
Extended family holiday
Excellent property for our large multi generational family . Fabulous grounds for our family fun sports day .
Jenny the housekeeper is also an excellent cook and can supply and cook a mean curry with all the trimmings.
Looking to book again for next year !
Thank you Richard & Jenny for an excellent stay
Sam S.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2023
10/10 Excellent
Graham D.
Aug 20, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
great places to play hide and seek
Kids really enjoyed the space, amenities very good, no worries about the facilities, perfect for being able to relax and not worry, only gripe is the radiators being dangerously hot incase little hands touched them
Graham D.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022
10/10 Excellent
Tansy S.
Aug 16, 2022
Liked: Cleanliness
Peaceful and perfect holiday destination
We had ten exquisite days enjoying this rambling, comfortable home in rural Devon. The facilities were fab but not so perfect that you had to walk on eggshells. Lots of games, books, and nooks and crannies to escape into, old world elegance, and beautiful gardens. The weather was fantastic. The only thing that was slightly tough for a hot summer holiday was the warmth of the Rayburn but we soon got over that.
Tansy S.
Stayed 10 nights in Aug 2022
8/10 Good
heather m.
Aug 22, 2021
Liked: Cleanliness
Enjoyable stay in interesting house
House was very interesting with lot of room some areas are in need of repair but that didn't detract from us having a lovely time.
heather m.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2021
8/10 Good
Brian H.
Aug 6, 2021
Liked: Cleanliness
Sages
Lovely house, comfortable beds and well equipped kitchen. We enjoyed our stay.
Only small observation is that there was no BBQ and the furniture in the house large garden was very dirty.
Brian H.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
8/10 Good
Helle T.
Jul 24, 2021
Liked: Cleanliness
Great, atmospheric and spacious property with fab garden
Great time was had in lovely spaces, generously sized rooms and fabulous large walled garden. Village is lovely, peaceful and has a treasure of local store and butcher. Friendly locals and great manager.
Had fun cooking on an Aga. Beaches also great, half hour away. Definitely a great place for a family holiday.
Rented both house and apartment for eight people.
Helle T.
Stayed 14 nights in Jul 2021
10/10 Excellent
Patricia J.
Jun 6, 2021
Liked: Cleanliness
Very quirky and plenty of room garden very spacious
Enjoyed our week weather was very good village very friendly
Patricia J.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
8/10 Good
Matthew T.
Dec 29, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
A relaxing stay in the country
Sages is an interesting house - lots of room for a large group of people. It is well-equipped (everything you could want in two kitchens), with washing machines, dishwashers etc. Due to its size, you certainly get your steps in, too!
The beds and very comfortable the the linen and bedding lovely. Also, the bathrooms/shower rooms are good. For the size of the property, an additional toilet would be good but that’s a minor point.
There is lots of lounge space. It’s tricky to get everyone around the table in the flat lounge area (warmer than Sages’ dining room) but we managed. The open fires were really good. As many old properties are, it’s quite cold; however, plentiful hit-water bottles made a big difference, and the Rayburn in the kitchen of Sages was fab for drying washing and when cooking!
Sages is a great place to stay and Richard was a host who communicated well and efficiently. We really liked the welcome gifts, too. Staying there in the summer would be great with the terrace and the garden to enjoy.
Matthew T.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019
10/10 Excellent
Emma G.
Sep 7, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
"We miss our Dolton home"
Well we were 10 friends who rarely get together. This occasion was for a nearby wedding. I booked the property and nearer the arrival date some of the crew rechecked the online reviews.
Bland complaints around deposits retained due to broken stuff. One of the accident crew was warned lol
But apart from constantly losing each other due to the size of the property. Plus having to number the rooms i.e. kitchen/lounge/bathroom number blah, we had the most amazing time.
We had an evening with piano recitals, hidden talents, from most of the crew. We enjoyer a chilled DVD night, care of the collection in the house the night after the wedding. We enjoyed breakfasts and an afternoon picnic in the many outside areas. The baths were amazing! Best I've used in years. Lots of storage. The beds are soooooo comfy.
Richard was so attentive. So there were no questions unanswered.
We are just looking for a reason to come back tbh. Can highly recommend it!
Emma G.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2019
10/10 Excellent
Megan F., Bristol
Aug 10, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
A lovely break!
The house was fantastic. It had everything we needed and the village was wonderful to stay in. Thank you for providing us with a great house for our family holiday.
Megan F.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2019
10/10 Excellent
WILLIAM J.
Jul 28, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Beautiful house in beautiful Devon
Lovely old house with far more space than the pictures suggest and a fantastic set of gardens. Had a really, reallt fantastic stay and couldn’t have hoped for a better pace to stay. Close to Dartmoor and great beaches on the north coast (Saunton Sands particularly beautiful). Also a very friendly and helpful host
WILLIAM J.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2019
8/10 Good
Paul H.
Jun 11, 2019
Liked: Cleanliness
Good value venue for family get-togethers
Sages is a very large property with nice large gardens that was the ideal size for our multi-family gathering. It is located in a pleasant village deep in the Devon countryside, so cars are essential for major grocery shopping and sightseeing, though there is a village shop nearby. The level and standard of décor is rather variable , with some nice bedrooms, but other parts rather in need of updating especially in the flat (where in fact the kitchen was in the process of being redone) but the description is upfront about this and it is fairly priced.
Unfortunately our children broke an ornate wooden towel rail and apparently there was minor damage to the new tiles in the flat kitchen and loose tiles in the house kitchen. We pointed out we had only used the flat kitchen and suggested replacing the towel rail ourselves. Richard was flexible in negotiating an agreed settlement for all the damage, which we appreciated. However if anyone brings children to the house we suggest you review what breakables you leave them alone with especially if they look valuable!
I never got to meet Richard but he was a readily contactable and courteous host who ensured a smooth check-in and handled the whole process well.
Paul H.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2019
10/10 Excellent
Guy L.
Dec 17, 2018
Magical Regency villa in a Devon village
We had a fantastic long weekend reading books by the fire in this magical, warren-like country home.
Richard was so helpful and communicative throughout and we really appreciated his flexibility around our check-out times.
We rented the flat and house together and had a brilliant time when we first entered it up, walking down every corridor and discovering all the hidden rooms and passages.
Ah it was great! I hope to stay again in the new year. Thanks, Richard!
Guy L.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2018
10/10 Excellent
Patricia L.
Sep 12, 2018
Wonderful stay in a character filled house.
A beautiful house situated in magnificent gardens in a very picturesque village in North Devon. What more could you want?
The owner Richard was very helpful and welcoming.
The location is ideal for seeing large parts of Devon. We visited Clovelley, Westward Ho!,the sandy beaches of Saunton, Woolacombe and Ilfracombe, as well as walking in the Torridge Valley and spending time on Exmoor.
The area is rich in history and unspoilt countryside.
If the weather is poor there are inside attractions for families, within easy reach, but fortunately we were lucky.
There are two very different public houses in the village. We tried both and found good quality food. Devon can boast some amazing thatched inns.
Thank you Richard and Homeaway.
Patricia L.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2018
8/10 Good
Jane W.
Aug 26, 2018
Really enjoyable stay
Sages is a lovely, homely and characterful house in the middle of a peaceful village. It's got masses of space which was ideal for our big family group (and great for hide and seek games!) and there was lots of lovely outside space too. The house was really well equipped with everything we needed and was very clean. We were also impressed at how well the shop in the village was stocked, with the two local pubs, and with the fish and chip van that comes to the village once a week. We all enjoyed our stay and thought that it provided excellent value for money for the space, facilities and character it offered.
Jane W.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2018
10/10 Excellent
Derek Y., UK
Jun 12, 2018
Great location, lovely old property with garden room, gardens & open field to discover.
We had the two storey house & the ground floor (adjoining) flat; perfect for our extended family (7 adults, 3 children); lots of space, & we'd been there 24 hours before discovering we had access to the garden room, patio & (another) garden area.
The house scullery/kitchen & the flat are probably in need of a refurb, but we were forewarned of this & it really didn't spoil our enjoyment/use of all rooms.
The owner, Richard Haddon, was very communicative & easy to contact (Thanks again Richard!). We'd love to go again sometime.
Derek Y.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2018
8/10 Good
Jessica H.
Apr 13, 2018
Lovely old property in beautiful village
Sages has loads of character as an old cottage, we loved staying there. The house is beautiful (though quirky), beds and bed linen comfy, showers hot, garden big. It’s quite a cold place as it’s so old with thick walls, but the heating eventually heats it up, and the Rayburn and open fires really make a difference. The kitchen could be better stocked with useful pans, mugs and another kettle, but we managed overall - probably worth packing your own if you’re cooking as a bigger group. There’s a dishwasher but there were no dishwasher tablets, and there wasn’t much toilet roll, but the local shop is great so we just picked stuff up there. We brought our dog, which has to stay in the kitchen area only (despite what the guest book says in the house). The kitchen is warm and nice for the dog, so it’s no problem. Richard was very accommodating and provided all information required. He did however accuse us of letting the dog into the house (despite this not being the case), and threatened to deduct my deposit because there was mud on the sofa throw (it was an incredibly wet and muddy weekend and we did a lot of walking, so perhaps we weren’t vigilant enough with changing our clothes before sitting down). On further discussion with Richard, he was understanding enough to decide not to deduct any deposit but I did feel slightly put out by the accusation and threat of taking money off as it’s very easy to wash mud off a throw on the sofa. That aside, we loved the place. Just be vigilant with cleanliness and your dog if you don’t want drama around your deposit once you leave.
Jessica H.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2018
10/10 Excellent
Jill M., Blackheath, London UK
Jan 7, 2018
Festive family break
There were nine of us staying in the flat and main house. Both are very well equipped and comfy. Biggest bonus is dogs are welcome but must stay in the kitchen with the raeburn. They loved it and kept swapping beds. The big old rambling house was wonderful for hide and seek with the children. Even the village is so dog friendly, with total strangers guiding us on where to walk the dogs. We had a wonderful few days here and would come back again.
Jill M.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2017
10/10 Excellent
Francis A.
Aug 1, 2017
Simply fantastic!
Amazing!
Francis A.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2017
8/10 Good
Martin F.
Jan 29, 2017
Spacious Property. Good Value
We rented the both the house and the adjacent flat over the new year period. We had 13 people, with a couple on airbeds, but there was plenty of space. There are also private gardens surrounding the flat, which I'm sure would be nice in the summer, and a field at the back, which we were able to use for a bonfire and fireworks.
The house has a lot of character, with many interesting features and an interesting layout. The kitchen has a Rayburn, which we really enjoyed using, although there are ovens as well if needed.
Dalton itself seemed like a nice village. We didn't spend too much time there, but there are a couple of nice looking pubs, and a shop 2 mins from the flat which is very handy.
Overall, the house is in a better condition than the flat, which is in need of a bit of redecoration in places. For what we paid, we felt is was very good value though.
Martin F.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2016
8/10 Good
Elizabeth C.
Sep 12, 2016
Spacious Georgian family property with warm welcome.
We loved the Georgian house and walled gardens of this beautiful property. Our grandchildren could hide under trees and thoroughly enjoyed gathering windfall plums and apples. What a lovely Devon town with excellent restaurants and pubs.