Yes, yes — no sniggering in the back there. Cockington is indeed the sort of village where a large number of postcards are probably sold to the easily-amused and their friends. And while the saying 'all publicity is good publicity' has clearly been rendered hopelessly out of date by the social media generation, there's probably something to be said for a quirky USP that puts you on the map. Especially when that USP is literally printed on the map.
Attracting a visitor, of course, is one thing — keeping them amused is another, but luckily Cockington delivers on far more than just its amusing name. It's 'effectively a country village within a town, hidden away in a deep valley, yet just a mile from the centre of Torquay,' according to agents Jackson-Stops, with its lovely old high street of quirky shops, welcoming pubs and thatched houses.
Rose Cottage Tea Gardens is one of the staples of Cockington village life and very much lives up to the definition of a picture-postcard setting. The sort of place, in other words, that people dream of when they think about moving to the country and running a lifestyle business. And at an asking price of £995,000, we’d imagine there will be no shortage of people looking to swap suburban lives for the different pace of Devon.
The main accommodation is Rose Cottage itself, a thatched dwelling listed Grade II, which offers four bedrooms and two reception rooms under its beautiful sloped roof.
Inside, the house is an ideal mix of the period and the contemporary, with a new kitchen proving a particular highlight.
As well as the cottage itself, the 1½ acres of gardens and grounds are a joy to behold, with a stream, pond, and lawns so manicured you could set your watch to them.
The Tea Gardens are fully licensed and can cater for 185 visitors. Although the gardens are included, the pianist who plays during opening hours sadly is not.
Escape from the city: The Cotswolds v the Hamptons
Jay Gatsby frequented one, Kate Moss the other, but what makes these rural hotspots so desirable?
Country Life's guide to Salcombe
We recommend heading to the seaside town of Salcombe, on Devon’s south coast.
A modern-day castle in grounds created by a disciple of Lutyens, accessed by an electric portcullis
Lincombe Keep was designed to blend into its unique surroundings, in turn designed to make the most of the spectacular
The tale of the finest Winter Gardens in Britain, and what lies ahead for these majestic glass palaces
Winter Gardens have had a difficult late 20th century. What lies ahead for these extraordinary architectural creations, asks Marcus Binney,
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country LifeAn Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
The legacy od Dad's ArmyKate Green takes a look at Dad’s Army, the iconic BBC sitcom written by David Croft and Jimmy Perry.
-
An utterly charming island home in Scotland with gardens so beautiful they made the cover of Country Life
An Cala on the Isle of Seil has a fascinating history that is only enhanced by its amazing setting.
-
Soft tones and a sense of place: A Mayfair duplex that breaks the modern mouldA new designer-led residence at 60 Curzon in Mayfair reminds us that everything new doesn't necessarily have to look it.
-
'The very best North Yorkshire has to offer': The £25 million Kirkham EstateWith 1,103 acres and on the market for the first time in a century, we've got a new frontrunner for the sale of the year.
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back homeAt first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificenceWomersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigreeThe Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central LondonFelmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country LifeA waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
