A fairytale cottage in need of work in North Devon
This Grade II-listed cottage in Lynton could make the perfect summer escape once renovation is completed.


Buyers heading to the West Country have the opportunity to make their mark on a Grade II-listed cottage in Lynton on the north coast of Devon. Work has been already started at the one-bedroom property, which is for sale through Exmoor Property Lynton at an asking price of £240,000, but needs to be completed with plumbing and heating, plastering, new kitchen and bathroom units and floor coverings and decorations.
The house, which could make a perfect summer retreat or holiday let, has an open-plan living area and an additional room on the ground floor. Upstairs is the master bedroom, which has French doors and planning permission to install a balcony.
‘There is a real “wow” factor with this property,’ says Greg Lang, spokesperson for Exmoor Property Lynton. ‘It's like someone dropped Hansel and Gretel's cottage into the Exmoor National Park. It's finished to builders ‘first fix’ so the new owners can put their own stamp on the interior to make this property a unique retreat for themselves or a profitable holiday let.’
The agents estimate that buyers will need to budget about £60,000 to finish the works. The property also comes with a garden that could benefit from some landscaping.
The cottage is for sale at £240,000 via Exmoor Property Lynton — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Lynton: What you need to know
- Location: Lynton is a picturesque coastal town about 17 miles from Barnstaple
- Atmosphere:With the sea on one side and Exmoor on the other, Lynton couldn't have a more scenic setting. An established tourist destination, it has plenty of shops and places to eat and drink, a cinema, and an arts & crafts centre showcasing the work of local artisans.
- Things to do: The beach, with opportunities to go wild swimming, surfing, kayaking or coasteering, and Exmoor, with its haunting scenery and wildlife, would keep most people busy all year round, but if you hanker for more, there's the breath-taking river gorge at Watersmeet (managed by the National Trust), the cliff railway and the Lyn and Exmoor museum of local life
- Schools: Lynton Church of England Primary School is rated good by Ofsted
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Carla must be the only Italian that finds the English weather more congenial than her native country’s sunshine. An antique herself, she became Country Life’s Arts & Antiques editor in 2023 having previously covered, as a freelance journalist, heritage, conservation, history and property stories, for which she won a couple of awards. Her musical taste has never evolved past Puccini and she spends most of her time immersed in any century before the 20th.
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
Sign of the times: In the age of the selfie, what’s happening to the humble autograph?
When Ringo Starr announced that he was no longer going to sign anything, he kickstarted a celebrity movement that coincided with the advent of the camera phone and selfie. Rob Crossan asks whether, in today’s world, the selfie holds more clout than an autograph?
By Rob Crossan Published
-
Graham Norton's elegant East London home hits the market, and it's just as wonderful as you would expect
The four-bedroom home in Wapping should be studied for how well it uses two separate spaces to create a home of immense character and utility.
By James Fisher Published
-
About time: The fastest and slowest moving housing markets revealed
New research by Zoopla has shown where it's easy to sell and where it will take quite a while to find a buyer.
By Annabel Dixon Last updated
-
A wisteria clad hall built by one of the founders of the Bank of England
Come for the history of Old Hall. Stay for the interesting interiors.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published