{"id":26524,"date":"2020-01-22T16:35:28","date_gmt":"2020-01-22T16:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.coastandcountry.co.uk\/blog\/?p=26524"},"modified":"2026-02-18T16:15:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-18T16:15:28","slug":"2-court-cottages-letting-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coastandcountry.co.uk\/blog\/2-court-cottages-letting-story","title":{"rendered":"2 Court Cottages: A Q&A with the holiday cottage owner, Elisa Anniss"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here at Coast & Country Cottages we love to hear how our holiday home owners fell in love with South Devon and found their perfect cottage, whether it be by the seaside, in stunning rural countryside or a chocolate box town or village. We truly believe that every property is unique and that our holiday cottage owners have fascinating stories to match. We spoke to Elisa Anniss, owner of 2 Court Cottages<\/a> in Aveton Gifford<\/a>, to find out about her experience in letting her South Devon holiday cottage for the very first time. Living in London, Elisa wanted a second home in an area to holiday in herself and retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and this idyllic cottage was the perfect fit! With the helping hand of the Coast & Country Cottages team, 2 Court Cottages is now live on our website and available for bookings.<\/p>\n

Book a holiday to 2 Court Cottages today!<\/a><\/p>\n

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The story of 2 Court Cottages, told by Elisa Anniss<\/h2>\n

What are the main things that made you fall in love with Aveton Gifford?<\/h3>\n

\"2<\/p>\n

We tried surf lessons at Bantham<\/a> a couple of times with little success, but it was when we were introduced to swooshing (swimming in moving water) that everything changed. It happened a couple of summers ago on a boiling hot afternoon. My sister\u2019s family introduced us to the cool, fast-moving waters of the Avon estuary at Bantham \u2013 speeding along in it felt absolutely fantastic. In fact, we found it so special and exhilarating that we came back alone the next day and did it all over again. For me, this was a turning point, especially when we learned that we could walk over the fields from Aveton Gifford to the beach at Bantham<\/a>, or, if we were so inclined, even one day swim, paddleboard or kayak the entire way. I think this was the first thing that really clinched it for us. We\u2019d also heard from friends and family that Aveton Gifford was a thriving village with a great community spirit, a well-stocked village shop, a green space with a stream running through it, a tennis court and a children\u2019s playground.<\/p>\n

On a practical level, we also loved that Aveton Gifford is easy to get to, well-placed on the main road from Kingsbridge to Modbury where the bypass takes most of the traffic around, rather than through the village.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Why did you decide to buy a holiday cottage?<\/h3>\n

We wanted to establish roots somewhere that we could escape from our urban East London life. We plumped for this area of absolute beauty because it has brought us back year-after-year, is filled with fond childhood memories and is where we now had a family connection. We were looking for a place that we could come to more and more to re-charge, write, read, walk and experience a different kind of life. We had both sailed in a North London reservoir and once on the Thames, but had little dinghy sailing experience on the sea. Now here was our chance to try this and a host of other water sports.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What made you fall in love with 2 Court Cottages?<\/h3>\n

\"2<\/p>\n

The sky-blue exterior as well as neighbouring houses painted in ice cream colours, instantly appealed. At first, the cottage seemed small, but once I got inside it was plain to see that this place packed an awful lot into its three floors. To me, the place was brimming with potential. I loved the very private top-floor bathroom and bedroom and envisaged the beams becoming a feature once we had removed the dull, dark varnish that covered them. We could also remove the carpets and replace them with wooden floors, just like we had at home \u2013 much easier to maintain and keep clean. A wood burner would also be a welcome addition along with double-glazed windows (wood not UPVC) so that in the winter months this area would become all warm and toasty. As for the outside space, I believed that new fencing and a rambling rose or flowering hydrangea \u2013 with abundant white blooms – could make all the difference.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Can you tell us about how you decided on an interior design theme and discovered such lovely, unique interior finds?<\/h3>\n

\"2<\/p>\n

All of the walls in the living area are fairly plain, either white or a putty-coloured chalky paint called \u2018Aldersgate\u2019, from an East London interiors shop called The Hackney Draper. We needed to find a sofa that would accommodate a lot of people, make a statement, but that didn\u2019t dominate the room. Even though we are near the sea we wanted to steer clear of the colour blue or any obvious nautical touches, which is why we plumped for green. The four-seater velvet sofa from Made.com ticked all the boxes. I was given the African print lampshade by a furniture designer that I wrote an article about. My sister-in-law who is an Antiquarian book dealer found the Chinese ancestor-inspired painting at auction.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Do you have a favourite local interior shop in South Devon?<\/h3>\n

I have a few actually. I bought a Regency library mahogany chair upholstered in green velvet from Mark Davis Antiques in Kingsbridge<\/a>. I like it because it isn\u2019t an exact match, yet perfectly complements the sofa. Whenever I am in Kingsbridge, I always stop in for a chat to see what extraordinary new pieces Mark and his wife Danielle have found. My other favourite place in Kingsbridge is Two Rooms<\/a>, it\u2019s an emporium with such an eclectic mix of pieces, you never quite know what you will find there.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s your favourite aspect of your holiday cottage?<\/h3>\n

\"2<\/p>\n

Lying in bed in the morning listening to the swooping down of swallows or the faint ping of racquets hitting tennis balls; to me, this is what summer is all about. And I know it sounds a bit odd, but whenever I arrive at 2 Court Cottages I can\u2019t wait to luxuriate in a long, hot bath. The water pressure is so much better here in the cottage than it is in our house in London. So, on the first night of arrival, I have a soak in the en-suite bathroom before going to bed, and my husband does the same in the family bathroom downstairs.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What do you think your guests will like the most about your cottage?<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s super cosy with comfortable beds and clean, modern bathrooms. In wintertime fire up the wood burner, stretch out on the sofa and spread out the papers or catch up on some reading. We keep a selection of recently published novels in the top floor bedroom for guests to enjoy. In summer, crack open something sparkly and sit out on the terrace \u2013 it\u2019s a little suntrap where you\u2019re guaranteed to catch the last rays of the day. There\u2019s something for everyone in Aveton Gifford, including dogs and children, after all the village green space and the playground are only a short walk away. There\u2019s always the possibility of paying \u00a39 at the village shop and booking the tennis court located in the centre of the village. So, if you stay here, don\u2019t forget to pack your racquets.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What are the benefits of holiday letting to you?<\/h3>\n

Living in London, Aveton Gifford is too far away for us to visit every weekend. It seems such a waste to have the cottage sitting empty when we are not free to enjoy it ourselves or we want to holiday elsewhere in the world. Houses need to be lived in, windows need to be flung open, a space needs to breath, which is why we like the thought of our cottage being occupied and enjoyed by others when we are not there. The beauty of a holiday let over a buy-to-let is that we get to use the property too.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Can you tell us your favourite ways to spend a weekend at 2 Court Cottages?<\/h3>\n
\"East

The stunning view along the East Portlemouth to Gara Rock walk<\/p><\/div>\n

There\u2019s always a new path or route to discover, whether it\u2019s a section of the South West Coast Path \u2013 East Portlemouth to Gara Rock – a circular walk<\/a> from Kingston<\/a> or walking straight out of the cottage into the surrounding countryside. As for food, restaurants here are relaxed but excellent. We have many favourites, but at the top of our local list would be the Church House Inn, Churchstow, the Beach House Caf\u00e9, South Milton<\/a>, the new Hope Cove House, or, for special occasions, Mitch Tonks Seahorse restaurant in Dartmouth. The independent shops in the South Hams are always intriguing and we like nothing better than to browse what\u2019s on offer in Dartmouth or Totnes. Of particular note is visiting the vineyard at Sharpham or taking the ferry to Dittisham<\/a> over to Greenway where the novelist Agatha Christie once lived.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Are you a holiday home owner or are you thinking of letting?<\/h3>\n

At Coast & Country Cottages, we are part of the Sykes Cottages family. This means that we can offer the best of both worlds the presence and expertise of a national brand, coupled with the knowledge and support of a local team in our Salcombe and Dartmouth offices.<\/p>\n

To find out how we can help your holiday home reach its full potential, complete the form below. Our team will be in touch to offer more information and a free copy of our Owner Guide.<\/p>\n