Higher Cross Park 
THURLESTONE    

Hidden away above the rolling coastline of Thurlestone, Higher Cross Park feels less like a traditional luxury holiday home in Devon and more like a private country estate quietly overlooking the sea. Reached by a private track and surrounded by open countryside, the house sits within one of the South Hams’ most breathtaking settings, with panoramic views stretching from Hope Cove to Bigbury-on-Sea and across to the distant folds of Dartmoor. Though wonderfully secluded, some of South Devon’s most loved beaches remain moments away. The village of Thurlestone, along with the sandy shores of South Milton and Leasfoot, can all be reached within a five-minute drive, placing the very best of the South Hams coastline effortlessly within reach. Inside, the house unfolds with the quiet confidence of a beautifully designed English home — elegant yet deeply comfortable, grand in scale yet entirely relaxed. At its centre sits the remarkable double-height orangery, where oak beams frame a light-filled kitchen and dining space designed for long, sociable days together. Large windows draw the surrounding landscape indoors, while a series of interconnected living spaces create an atmosphere that feels both intimate and expansive. There are places to gather beside the fire, quiet corners made for reading, and a private cinema tucked away for slower evenings in. Outside, life naturally spills into the Italian-inspired courtyard and pool terrace, where the atmosphere feels altogether more Mediterranean than Devonshire. A fully equipped outdoor kitchen and barbecue sit alongside an authentic stone pizza oven, while generous dining and seating areas surround the heated swimming pool, inviting long lunches that drift easily into sunset aperitifs. Nearby, the art-deco inspired bar enjoys what may be one of the South Hams’ finest sunset spots, with uninterrupted views across the coastline as the evening light softens over the sea. The bedroom accommodation has been thoughtfully arranged for extended families and groups of friends, balancing boutique-hotel elegance with the warmth of a private home. The principal suite offers a wonderfully calm retreat, accompanied by three additional double bedrooms and a beautifully designed family suite cOccupying the entire second floor, this thoughtfully designed family suite offers a peaceful sense of privacy, comprising a king-size bedroom, adjoining twin room and shared shower room — ideal for families travelling with children. Elsewhere, a fully equipped private gym, hot tub overlooking the coast, daily housekeeping and dedicated concierge service elevate the experience further, creating the feeling of a discreet boutique hotel hidden within the Devon countryside. Higher Cross Park captures something increasingly rare among large luxury houses in Devon — a sense of complete escape combined with beautifully considered living. It is a house designed for gathering well: for barefoot mornings after the beach, long evenings outdoors, celebratory dinners beneath open skies, and the kind of unhurried summer days that linger long after returning home.