Sleeps 16 | 9 bedrooms | 5 bathrooms listed | 4 accommodation areas | Estuary access | 3 dogs

Overview of Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse

Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse is a distinctive large group holiday property close to East Portlemouth on the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary. Sleeping 16 guests in nine bedrooms, the accommodation is spread between Apple Tree, The Love Shack, Windfalls and a separate converted boathouse closer to the water. This makes it quite different from a conventional nine-bedroom holiday house. View our full selection of large holiday homes near Salcombe here.

The four-part arrangement gives different families or generations their own sleeping and living space while keeping everyone together within the same six-acre setting. Apple Tree and The Love Shack accommodate seven guests, Windfalls sleeps five and The Boathouse sleeps four. There are several kitchens and living areas, giving larger groups much more independence than they would have in a single open-plan property.

The grounds slope down towards Goodshelter Creek and approximately 800ft of private foreshore. Guests can spend time beside the old lime kiln overlooking the estuary and experienced sailors can arrange to use the property's Wayfarer sailing dinghy. Rowing dinghies are also available, subject to tides and the property's conditions.

East Portlemouth and the sandy beaches around Mill Bay and Sunny Cove are approximately a mile away. From East Portlemouth, the passenger ferry crosses directly to Salcombe, while coastal walks continue towards Gara Rock and Prawle Point.

Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse at a Glance

Who is Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse Best For?

Goodshelter is particularly well suited to several families or a multi-generational group who want to holiday together without sharing every bedroom, kitchen and living room. Four separate accommodation areas allow smaller family units or different generations to retain some independence, while the grounds, foreshore and outdoor areas provide plenty of places for the whole group to spend time together.

It also suits groups who want walking, beaches and time on or beside the water to form a major part of the holiday. Guests looking specifically for one large house where all 16 people eat and socialise in a single room should be aware that Goodshelter works differently, with facilities distributed across the separate buildings.

Why is Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse a Great Large Holiday Property?

• Sleeps 16 in nine permanent bedrooms, without relying on sofa beds for the advertised capacity.
• Four accommodation areas give several families or generations greater independence.
• Multiple kitchens and living areas make the property particularly flexible for a group of 16.
• Approximately 800ft of private foreshore provides direct access to Goodshelter Creek.
• Sailing and rowing dinghies are available, subject to experience, tides and the property's conditions.
• Six acres of grounds extend from the converted farm buildings towards the estuary.
• Up to three dogs are welcome, making it suitable for larger dog-owning groups.
• East Portlemouth, sandy beaches and the ferry to Salcombe are approximately one mile away.

FAQs

How many people do Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse sleep?

The combined property sleeps up to 16 guests in nine bedrooms. Seven guests stay in Apple Tree and The Love Shack, five in Windfalls and four in The Boathouse.

Is Goodshelter one large house?

No. The accommodation is divided between Apple Tree, The Love Shack, Windfalls and The Boathouse. This gives different parts of a larger group their own bedrooms and, in several cases, their own kitchen and living space.

Does Goodshelter have direct access to the estuary?

Yes. The six-acre grounds slope towards Goodshelter Creek and include approximately 800ft of private foreshore.

Can guests use the boats at Goodshelter?

A Wayfarer sailing dinghy is available for experienced sailors and rowing dinghies are also provided. Their use is subject to tides, experience and the property's conditions and is at guests' own risk.

Are dogs welcome at Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse?

Yes. Up to three well-behaved dogs are currently accepted.

How close is Goodshelter to Salcombe?

East Portlemouth is approximately a mile away, from where the passenger ferry crosses the estuary directly to Salcombe. The ferry operates daily throughout the year, although the departure point changes seasonally.

Bedrooms & Bathrooms at Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse

Goodshelter has nine bedrooms spread across four accommodation areas. All 16 guests have permanent bed space, with a useful combination of double, twin and single rooms for families and mixed groups.

Group Accommodation Layout

How does the layout work for a group of 16?

This is one of Goodshelter's most important distinctions.

Apple Tree and The Love Shack sleep seven: Apple Tree has a king-size bedroom, twin bedroom and single bedroom, while The Love Shack adds another king-size bedroom.

Windfalls sleeps five: one king-size bedroom, one twin bedroom and one single bedroom.

The Boathouse sleeps four: one double bedroom and one twin bedroom.

The result is nine genuine bedrooms and permanent sleeping space for all 16 guests. The layout is particularly useful for three or four family units travelling together because different sections of the group can have their own living and cooking space rather than relying on a single kitchen and lounge.

Bedroom & Bathroom Layout

How many bathrooms are there?

The Toad Hall headline information currently states five bathrooms. However, its detailed accommodation description identifies two bathroom facilities in Apple Tree, one shower room in The Love Shack, two bathroom/shower facilities in Windfalls and one bathroom in The Boathouse.

Because the provider's headline and detailed description do not perfectly align, I would use 5 bathrooms in the main Large Cottages data field and advise guests for whom the exact bathroom configuration is important to confirm the current arrangement when booking.

Is Goodshelter suitable for guests with limited mobility?

An access statement is available from the booking provider, but Goodshelter should not automatically be described as Accessible Accommodation. The bedrooms are spread across several buildings and floors, and The Love Shack bedroom is reached by a wrought-iron spiral staircase. Guests with specific mobility requirements should check the detailed access information before booking.

Facilities & Information at Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse

The advantage of Goodshelter for a large group is not one enormous kitchen or lounge, but the number of separate living and cooking spaces available across the property.

Apple Tree has a kitchen with double oven, dishwasher, fridge and freezer, together with a living room with open fire and a separate snug. Windfalls has its own open-plan kitchen and lounge, while The Boathouse has another kitchen, dining table and waterside living space. This makes it much easier for different families to organise breakfasts, children's meals or quieter evenings independently.

Outside, there is a level garden with a picnic table and paved terrace, a deck at The Boathouse and the old lime kiln area beside the estuary. The foreshore provides another focal point for the group, particularly for guests using the dinghies or simply spending time beside the water.

A communal laundry room is available, and WiFi, bed linen, towels, a travel cot and highchair are included. EV charging is available for an additional charge.

Facilities

Facility	Details
Kitchens	Separate kitchens in Apple Tree, Windfalls and The Boathouse
Multiple living areas	Living room, snug and separate cottage living spaces
Dishwashers	Available in parts of the accommodation
Real fire	Open fireplace in Apple Tree
WiFi	Yes
Washing facilities	Communal laundry room
Cot	Travel cot included
Highchair	Included
Garden	Level garden, terrace and other outside areas
Outdoor dining	Picnic table, Boathouse deck and waterside lime kiln area
Barbecue	Barbecue beside the old lime kiln
Dogs	Up to 3
Parking	Ample
EV charging	Available for an additional charge

Important Information

Maximum occupancy	16
Bedrooms	9
Dogs	Up to 3 well-behaved dogs
Owners	Owner's home shares the courtyard area
EV charging	Available for an additional charge
Dinghies	Use subject to experience, tides and guest responsibility
Beach towels	Guests should bring their own
Preferred changeover	Friday
Check-in	4pm
Check-out	10am

Location & Things to Do Near Goodshelter Barns & The Boathouse

Goodshelter sits beside a tidal creek on the quieter eastern side of the Salcombe and Kingsbridge Estuary, approximately a mile from East Portlemouth. The waterside setting is one of the property's defining features, with the grounds extending directly to the private foreshore and local lanes and paths connecting the area with nearby villages and the coast.

East Portlemouth gives access to a string of sandy beaches. Mill Bay is sheltered and family friendly, while nearby Sunny Cove looks across Salcombe Harbour. The South West Coast Path continues from this side of the estuary towards Gara Rock and Prawle Point, with a 3.9-mile East Portlemouth and Gara Rock route among the established local walks.

The East Portlemouth passenger ferry crosses directly to Salcombe, opening up the town's harbour, shops, cafés, pubs and restaurants without requiring the much longer journey around the estuary by road. Village Farm is less than a mile from Goodshelter for a café, local produce and everyday supplies.

South Pool is approximately two miles away and is home to The Millbrook Inn. The wider South Hams also offers sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking and miles of coastal walking, making Goodshelter particularly well suited to groups who want an active waterside holiday rather than simply using the property as somewhere to sleep.

Nearby Places