Linden House - Sleeps 2 (+ 2)

If a precious stone, this apartment would be an emerald, as suggested by the natural light filtering through the lime green blinds and by the darker green hues of the sitting room’s Persian style carpet. Put another way, this holiday hideaway is, genuinely, a gem – there are so many thoughtful, imaginative and pleasing features.

For a start there’s the lovely chalet style bedroom, lit from two sources: an oblong, pillar-box style wall window and a rooflight above, through which you could gaze from a reclining bed position and stargaze or wonder whether that one swallow you’ve just spotted does indeed make a summer.

The bedroom’s outlook is private – onto a secluded patio garden populated by purple chairs, garden table, parasol, sun lounger and bamboo plants – the king sized double bed is sumptuous (it can be split into two comfortable singles if that suits) and the electrical goods (iron, ironing board and hairdryer) helpful.

Adjacent to the garden is a charming wooden shed, home to a couple of bikes use of which is complimentary for guests. In case you wonder where to take these two wheelers, you don’t have to look too far to discover a first route to explore. Just the other side of the garden gate situated beside the shed is a tree-lined cycle pathway that takes you, in little more than 5-10 idyllic minutes, to the beach.   
     
Back inside again, the living room – with dining area – packs plenty of utility into a compact space, including two 2-seater sofas (one a luxury sofa bed from Marks and Spencer), a dining table with two chairs, a flatscreen TV with Freeview and DVD player, a music system, a library of books (including a coffee table one full of spectacular aerial views of the surrounding area), CDs and DVDS plus a cupboard bulging with board games to pass the time after your day out at the beach (a five minute walk away). Oh, and a small safe, in case you bring your emeralds to this little gem.

Adjoining this space is an extremely well equipped kitchen where you will find all the usual suspects in terms of appliances…and then some. A juicer suggests Linden House would suit the growing military style fitness brigade; a sandwich maker would be handy for making toasties (and undoing all that good press-up work?) if the weather turned inclement and you wanted to hunker down on the deep sofas with the cosy throws supplied for a spot of afternoon DVD watching.

Next to the kitchen is the wetroom style shower room which having just been refurbished now features a stunning dark marble effect splashback surround.

This self contained apartment is situated at the rear of the main property and is entirely private. The entrance is festooned with hanging baskets, exploding with colour in the summer months.

This welcome is further extended by the provision of a hamper choc-a-bloc with provisions – ideal if you arrive late on your first day and the nearby Waitrose has shut or to take with you to the beach as soon as you are ready to saunter out.

A pretty and pleasing pied-a-terre.