In May we had the absolute pleasure of staying for 4 nights at Batman’s Summerhouse, near to Loddiswell and Kingsbridge in South Devon. It really is a place like no other!
Batman’s Summerhouse is the sort of place that I didn’t think would be somewhere we could stay with a child. Or that would even exist for a ‘family’ stay. But it is absolutely perfect. Imagine how magical it was for our (at the time) 4 year old given how magical it is through the eyes of an adult! And that’s before you see peacocks roaming about the hamlet, and hear their dawn calls across the valley!
The summerhouse is a large cabin nestled amongst trees next to a private stretch of river. It is a glorious bolthole that you have to see to believe. Nearing our visit I was nervous it was going to be pokey and overly basic. I needn’t have worried, as it was rustic chic through and through and there was plenty of space for us all. It’s only 15 minutes to the beaches but is a world away from the busy seaside villages.
Sleeping 4, there is a double bed downstairs and a twin room up in the eaves with 2 small single beds. It is a perfect getaway for a small family, although I suspect it is more commonly used by couples, not using the upstairs room.
Downstairs is open plan – 2 sofas, a well kitted out kitchen, dining table, kitchen island. Everything looks fantastic and happily it is all very functional too! There is a big sun deck off the kitchen with Adirondack chairs and a hammock, as well as a grassy area, so you can very much spread out into the garden if the weather allows. The garden looks down to the river and the wind in the trees as well as the peacock calls is all very relaxing.
Also downstairs is the double bedroom which is snug but comfortable, and the toilet and shower. There’s also a big wardrobe in the living room where all our stuff went, so we had no issues with storage. There is a wood burning stove but we didn’t use this as we had the pleasure of visiting in May when it felt like summer! I also found the washing machine hidden carefully away, so there really is a good amount of space!
Upstairs in the eaves are the two smaller beds, our 4 year old loved climbing the ladder to his rooftop home. It is pretty basic up top but there is thankfully a fan as well as a sky light window in the main roof.
There really isn’t much to do, which is part of the beauty of the place! We used Batman’s Summerhouse as our base to explore the beautiful beaches not very far away – it really was an ideal location.
Thankfully Tesco can find the place easily for deliveries too, order in plenty as there aren’t many shops nearby! On one morning we took a walk down the river and that was very picturesque, I think we could have walked on to a number of cafes but our focus was always on the beaches. There is also a garden area right next to the river where the owners have a large trampoline.
You’ve probably read all this and thought – what does a wooden cabin in the middle of nowhere have to do with batman… A fair question, one that Bertie asked! Well – in the early 1900’s, a ‘batman’ was a personal assistant and servant assigned to a military officer. This cabin was built for a batman as his personal home, near to the officer he was assigned to.
For a truly unique stay, and a chance to switch off and enjoy the sounds and smells of nature in comfortable surroundings I can’t recommend Batman’s Summerhouse enough. 4 days was the perfect amount of time to chill out and enjoy the wonderful quirks of somewhere that is definitely a one of a kind. It’s the perfect place for quiet time away, if you like something a bit different and very special. Bertie was spellbound by the place as were we. We all relaxed and slept soundly, waking to a peacocks call each morning!
Book here and take a look at the other riverside cabin that the same family also own. Most places in Devon don’t take short break bookings in the school holidays, but thankfully that is offered here.
Enjoy my summerhouse tour on instagram:
I booked our stay a year ahead of our visit, so if you like what you see get booking quickly!
We adored our stay!
🌳 Remote and beautiful
🛖 Small yet perfectly formed
🔪 Big fridge and a washing machine
🖼️ Beautiful decor
🛏️ The cutest roof bedroom for children
🛝 A trampoline
🐦⬛ Stunning decking to enjoy nature
📏 Far bigger than it looks
🦚 More peacocks than people!
💦 Stunning riverside walks
