Redlap House

One of the most dramatic private coastal estates in the South West.

High on a rugged, wind-carved stretch of coastline, Redlap House commands a breathtaking position overlooking the full sweep of Start Bay. With its own private cove, a winding drive through woodland, and 31.63 acres of gardens, terraces and wild coastal land, the estate offers extraordinary privacy and a sense of seclusion that is increasingly rare. Not a single public right of way crosses the land; everything here — from the beach to the wooded valley — belongs entirely to the house.

The result is a coastal sanctuary of great beauty: dramatic, elemental, and deeply peaceful.

Redlap Cove — A Private Beach

Redlap Cove is a secluded, sandy beach reached only by sea or via the estate’s private pathway. Sheltered beneath towering cliffs, the cove feels utterly cut off from the world — a tranquil inlet ideal for swimming, launching paddleboards, or simply sitting quietly as the light shifts across the bay. Electricity at the cliff edge and steps through the woodland make it wonderfully usable while still feeling untouched and wild.

Redlap House

The house reveals itself gradually: a long private drive threads through woodland, opening at last to the south-facing façade with its first glimpses of the sea. The architecture is graceful, with tall sash and French windows drawing in light and framing the ever-changing coastal views.

Inside, the proportions are generous and finely balanced. The reception hall leads to four elegant rooms, each with an open fireplace and a view onto either the gardens or the sea. The study, in particular, holds one of the house’s most mesmerising outlooks: the desk is set to gaze directly down the valley - across the ornate gardens - to the sea, and to the rolling South Hams hills rising on the far side of the bay. It is a captivating vantage point, and perhaps one of the most inspiring places to work or reflect.

The kitchen/breakfast room, centred around its AGA, is designed for the rhythm of everyday family life.

Upstairs, the principal suite enjoys panoramic views, with a large dressing room and bathroom. Five further bedrooms complete the accommodation, two en suite and two served by separate bathrooms.

The 34-foot artist’s studio is a real triumph: vaulted ceilings, superb light, and a sense of space that seems to draw in the landscape itself — a mesmerising room for painting, writing, or any creative work.

Swimming Pool & Guest Complex

A superb leisure building designed to echo the grandeur of its setting. The 20-metre pool sits beneath a dramatic beamed ceiling and opens onto a broad terrace looking across the gardens to the sea.

Below are the spa rooms; above is a generous reception room with a gallery over the pool and views to the coastline. Two en suite guest bedrooms make this a self-contained retreat — ideal for visitors or as a private wellness suite.

Gardens & Grounds

The estate blends formal structure with wilder romanticism. A stream runs through the centre of the valley, leading the eye towards the sea. Around the house, lawns and mixed borders give way to woodland, exotic planting, and terraced cliff gardens where tender species thrive in the sheltered microclimate.

The kitchen garden, productive and beautifully kept, enjoys the same protection, offering year-round growing. Higher up, Redlap Warren forms a more rugged coastal landscape — home to cirl buntings, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife.

The walled Italian garden near the pool complex is another quiet pocket of the estate, hidden and peaceful, with meandering paths leading down towards the private beach.

Redlap House sits on one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the UK within the South Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and a designated Coastal Preservation Area. The house is just outside the pretty clifftop village of Stoke Fleming which provides a traditional village pub, several cafes, medieval parish church and a village shop and post office within walking distance.

The scenic waterside town of Dartmouth is a 2-mile drive away, its cobbled streets lined with attractive painted houses and an excellent array of independent shops, delicatessen, galleries, pubs, cafés and restaurants including the award-winning Seahorse. With its rich naval history and ancient deep-water harbour, the town is a popular boating hub offering access to fantastic sailing with a world-famous Dartmouth Royal Regatta held there each summer. The charming towns of Totnes, Brixham and Salcombe are a short drive away and perfect for day trips and further shopping.

One of the main pleasures of living at Redlap is undoubtedly its immediate access to the coastline which forms a sanctuary for wildlife and provides plenty of opportunities for walking, cycling, swimming, fishing and foraging. There are plenty of lovely local walks joining the nearby South West Coast Path, and various circular routes like the Stoke Fleming and Strete Circular and the Blackpool Sands Circular. Outstanding nearby beaches include Blackpool Sands, regarded as one of the finest beaches in the UK and home to a chic café and restaurant, as well as Compass Cove Beach and Slapton Sands.

Travel

Totnes mainline station is 12 miles away, providing regular direct services to London Paddington (2 hours 42 minutes), while Exeter Airport (40 miles) and Bristol Airport (90 miles) provide a range of national and international flights including private jet operations. Devon has a comprehensive rail network and road links to the M5 motorway, providing easy access to the rest of the UK.

Dartmouth 2 miles, Totnes Railway Station 12 miles,
Exeter Airport 40 miles, Bristol Airport 90 miles
(Distances and times approximate)

This stretch of coastline with its close proximity to the strategically important naval port of Dartmouth, has witnessed some of the most exciting and monumental moments in British history.

Dartmouth’s recorded history stretches back over 900 years, its ancient deep-water harbour ensuring its position as a key trade post and naval hub since the Middle Ages. 12th Century crusader ships assembled in its harbour prior to setting out to the Holy Land on the second and third crusade. The town provided ships to fight the Spanish Armada and was the site for the docking of the Armada’s gold-laden flag ship, the Nuestra Señora del Rosario, following its capture by an English ship, aptly named The Revenge, in 1588. Bayard's Cove sheltered Pilgrim Fathers sailing on the Mayflower and the Speedwell who put into harbour for essential repairs before their voyage to the New World.

Perhaps best known as the home of Royal Naval officer training, which has been established here since 1863, Dartmouth also served as the headquarters for the US Navy's Advanced Amphibious Base during WWII with the area operating as a crucial training ground and staging post for the launch of the D-Day landings.

Redlap House itself was predominantly built in the late 18th century during the Georgian period. According to local rumour, it was once owned by the Governor of Dartmouth Castle, who was said to be actively engaged in smuggling, reportedly constructing false walls in the hall at Redlap House to conceal illegal contraband. Intriguingly, a hidden underground tunnel is rumoured to lead from Redlap Cove up to the house. Although never found, this tunnel remains central to the estate's smuggling legends. During the 1930s, Redlap was owned by the prominent actor and theatre-manager Cyril Maude. Among Maude’s cultural circle was the Poet Laureate, John Masefield, who may have found inspiration for Jim Davis, his tale of a young orphan turned smuggler set on the Devon coast, whilst staying at Redlap.