The Sandy Cove Hotel

8.4
Excellent
(752 reviews)

Old Coast Rd, Ilfracombe EX34 9SR, United Kingdom

+44 1271 882243

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Hotel Description

Nestled on a picturesque clifftop in North Devon, The Sandy Cove Hotel offers guests a stunning vista over both the Bristol Channel and the serene landscapes of Exmoor. Located at Old Coast Rd, Ilfracombe EX34 9SR, United Kingdom, this upscale hotel is an ideal retreat for those seeking a tranquil escape while remaining conveniently close to popular attractions. Situated just 4 miles from the charming town of Ilfracombe and 10 miles from the renowned Woolacombe Bay, guests can easily access a variety of cultural and outdoor experiences during their stay. The hotel’s modern and airy design complements the surrounding natural beauty, featuring spacious rooms with large windows that let in ample light and views of the cliffs and sea. Many rooms come equipped with comfortable furnishings, including tea and coffee-making facilities, and some offer additional luxuries such as iPod docking stations, balconies with sea views, and refrigerators. For families, The Sandy Cove Hotel is especially accommodating, as children aged 13 and under stay free when accompanied by an adult, making it a perfect destination for family vacations.
The hotel boasts an array of amenities designed for relaxation and convenience. Guests can enjoy a range of leisure options, including an indoor pool, sauna, and steam room, all within the comfort of the hotel’s facilities. For those looking to unwind after a day of exploring the area, there is also a cozy bar and lounge, ideal for relaxing with a drink while taking in the beautiful views. Breakfast is served in the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant, where guests can enjoy a delicious selection of dishes to start their day. The Sandy Cove Hotel stands out as one of the few in the area to offer air-conditioned rooms, ensuring a comfortable stay regardless of the weather. Room service is available, and the 24-hour front desk ensures that all guest needs are attended to at any hour.
The hotel’s location is ideal for both relaxation and exploration, with easy access to public transportation options and major attractions. Dawlish town is just a short walk away, with the local train station only 1 minute on foot. For those flying in, Exeter Airport is approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes away by taxi, while Bristol Airport is just over 2 hours by car. Guests can explore a variety of nearby landmarks, including the Victorian Watermouth Castle, just a 4-minute drive from the hotel, and the popular Woolacombe Beach, known for its expansive sandy stretches and world-class surfing waves, only 27 minutes away.
Guests at The Sandy Cove Hotel will find a host of dining options nearby, with restaurants such as Sticky Rice Restaurant and The Smugglers Inn offering delicious cuisine just minutes away by taxi. The hotel is also pet-friendly, welcoming dogs, so families can bring their furry companions along for the adventure. With its smoke-free property, exceptional service, and prime location offering stunning views, The Sandy Cove Hotel is the perfect choice for anyone visiting the North Devon area, offering a relaxing yet adventure-filled stay for all types of travelers.

The Most Outstanding Trait

1. One of the few hotels in the area with air conditioning.

2. 8-minute walk to the nearby Broadsands Beach.

3. Indoor pool, sauna, and steam room available for guest use.

4. Pet-friendly policy allowing dogs to stay with guests.

5. 24-hour front desk service ensuring guests are always attended to.

6. Room service available for added comfort and convenience.

7. Stunning sea and cliff views from many rooms and public areas.

8. A fine-dining restaurant serving breakfast with local ingredients.

9. Close proximity to popular North Devon attractions, such as Watermouth Castle and Woolacombe Beach.

10. Family-friendly with free stays for children aged 13 and under.

11. Free Wi-Fi in public areas, ensuring connectivity throughout the hotel.

12. EV charging stations available for electric vehicle owners.

13. Accessible rooms and services for guests with mobility needs.

14. Convenient public transportation links to nearby towns and airports.

15. Close to local dining options, including Sticky Rice Restaurant and The Smugglers Inn.


7.4 Very Good

Location rating

Top sights

Watermouth Castle
4 min
Combe Martin Wildlife & Dinosaur Park
10 min
Woolacombe Beach
27 min
Arlington Court
20 min
Tunnels Beaches
11 min
See more Interesting locations

Good to know

Check-in15:00
Check-out11:00
Location rating7.4
Nearest airportExeter Airport
Travel time to airport1 hr 25 min

Nightly price (Only for reference price for sample day)

Check-in: Fri, Dec 06
Check-out: Sat, Dec 07
    Official Hotel

    $181

    Booking.com

    $194

    Agoda

    $194

    LateRooms.com

    $194

    Reserving

    $194

    Tripening Hotels

    $202


Location

Old Coast Rd, Ilfracombe EX34 9SR, United Kingdom

Airports:

Exeter Airport

Taxi: 1 hr 25 min

Transit: 3 hr 3 min

Bristol Airport

Taxi: 2 hr 6 min

Transit: 4 hr 31 min

Cardiff Airport

Taxi: 3 hr 2 min

Transit: 6 hr 6 min

Transit:

Sandaway Beach

Walking: 11 min

Whitegates

Walking: 17 min

The Sawmill Inn

Walking: 14 min

Top of Barton Lane

Walking: 5 min


Nearby locations

7.4

Very Good Location

Set on a North Devon clifftop with views over both the Bristol Channel and Exmoor, this upmarket hotel is 4 miles from Ilfracombe and 10 miles from Woolacombe Bay.

Top Attractions


Amenities and Facilities

Activities

Beach access

Languages spoken

English

Accessibility

Accessible

Food & drink

Restaurant

Bar

Table service

Room service

Breakfast

Wellness

No fitness center

No spa

Pools

Pool

Indoor pool

No hot tub

Rooms

Air conditioning in some rooms

Refrigerator in some rooms

Coffee maker in some rooms

Minibar in some rooms

Parking & transportation

Parking

EV charger

Services

Front desk

Full-service laundry

Wake up calls

Housekeeping

Pets

Pet-friendly

Dogs allowed

Policies & payments

Smoke-free property

Bathrooms

Private bathroom

Bathtub

Shower

Children

Kid-friendly

Internet

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi in public areas


Reviews

100% reviews from partners and customers booking on Dinogo

8.0

10 reviews

Wonderful
5
Excellent
1
Good
3
Below Average
1
Not Good
0
BM

Bradley M

5/5
We just got married at the Sandy Cove on the 9th September, from arrival and throughout, we cannot fault any of the staff, wedding staff and hotel staff. The hotel was clean, and staff were very attentive and friendly. …

AB

Alice B

5/5
Whilst on holiday, we booked a table at the Cove restaurant to celebrate mine and my husband's anniversary. We were a little weary as we didn't have childcare but we still wanted to celebrate. The whole experience was lovely. …

SJ

S J

5/5
Genuinely one of the nicest meals i’ve ever had, would recommend to anyone! We just came out for a meal here, we didn’t stay in the hotel, but the servers were excellent, the service was fast, and the food was perfect. The view as well on top made this an amazing evening. Thanks!

EM

Emma M

5/5
We stayed at late notice, called the hotel and explained. The lovely receptionist listened to our predicament and completely sorted us out. We had a beautiful sea view room and large beautiful bathroom. Felt totally spoilt. …

Dn

Dawn n

3/5
Rooms are ok we stayed in a deluxe room with Balcony, the view was amazing but the room lacked the deluxe touch. …

Cover Image for Andy Hornsby

Andy Hornsby

3/5
The hotel is in a beautiful location with some amazing views, but although it's well kept, clean and stylishly decorated the overall design is sadly dated. Narrow staircases with no lifts! Narrow corridors that are very airless. Rooms that don't have air conditioning. This was a real problem for us, as our room was far too hot for sleeping, even with the balcony doors open all night.The food in the Cove restaurant was good, but some of the staff serving breakfast really need some customer service training. We were made to feel more like misbehaving schoolchildren rather than customers paying a lot of money for a 3 night stay! The hotel also needs more housekeeping staff, although those we met were polite and willing.Overall it could have been so much better.

c

chrisw1973

2/5
We attended a wedding in August at the Sandy Cove Hotel with a two night stay and various dining experiences. The hotel caters principally for weddings and it seems has them daily. …

W

Wander29075028203

4/5
Hats off to the young lady ellie I think her name was, that sorted out all our pre order tonight and brought us out every single plate and cleared everything herself. …

Cover Image for Sydney Gibson

Sydney Gibson

5/5
We stayed at the Sandy Cove Hotel for 2 nights for our wedding at the Sandy Cove and I was blown away by it. The room was impeccable, it was set up with the sofa bed for our children and was so clean. The greeting from the front desk was amazing. Our wedding day was nothing short of perfect and when we returned to our room it was tidied and cleaned for us and we even had a bottle of Prosecco and a card from them. Breakfast was delicious and such a huge choice! Genuinely couldn’t be happier we picked the Sandy Cove as I have nothing bad to say, 100% recommend!

Cover Image for Ian Castle

Ian Castle

3/5
Went here for a (fabulous) wedding, and there's no doubt the Sandy Cove is a beautiful venue, the views are absolutely stunning. There are, however, some issues that I hope the hotel can take notice of...Our room with a view was quite small, and the inbuilt wardrobe opened from left over right rather than the expected right hand door opening first.There was no full length mirror in the room, which, for a hotel that sells itself as a wedding venue is pretty unforgivable.We hadn't booked a table for dinner, and when we asked to be added to an existing table with friends, this was only done after a bit of 'negotiation', and one member of staff doing their best to make things a bit tricky.Weirdly, there is just one menu at the breakfast service, which everyone has to share. The biggest issue is that they have one of those rolling toaster machines, which you have to wait for and burns one side of the bread. The full English was small.