Watermouth Castle Apartments

Watermouth Castle in Ilfracombe, Devon offers a rare combination of opportunities - for not only do visitors have the chance to live in a castle, but they also enjoy unlimited, free entry to one of the West Country's premier tourist attractions during their stay. Within the splendid castle itself, there are six superb apartments, an indoor heated swimming-pool, a museum, a choice of theme attractions, and some fascinating water displays.

Outside, the castle's 50-acre estate features wonderful landscaped gardens, with plenty of space for strolling and relaxing, and glorious woodland walks. There are ducks and waterfowl to admire on the lake outside the walls, and beautiful views from the castle over Watermouth Bay and its harbour, where there are slipway facilities for visitors' boats, as well as moorings for larger craft (by arrangement with the harbourmaster).

The castle is a true example of a Victorian folly, completed in the mid 19th-century by the Bassett family. Now extensively restored by the current owner, its self-contained apartments are reached through an archway in the south court, where the indoor heated swimming-pool is available exclusively to apartment residents. All of the properties have been decorated and furnished to a comfortable standard throughout, in keeping with the style and ambience of the Castle, and all feature four-poster, half tester or brass beds.