Winter Breaks in Devon

A warm waterfront apartment in Plymouth's Royal William Yard, when the crowds have gone and the sea has something to say for itself. From £103 per night — our quietest and best-value season.

The Coast Is Better Out of Season

Plymouth in July is busy. Plymouth in November is yours. The Barbican's cobbled lanes are walkable again, you can get a table at the good restaurants without booking three weeks ahead, and Plymouth Sound in a winter swell is genuinely worth the trip on its own.

Royal William Yard is a Grade I listed Georgian dockyard on the water. In summer it hums. Between October and March it becomes something quieter and considerably more atmospheric — stone, sea and weather, with a bakery and a couple of very good restaurants a few minutes from your door.

Why Winter Works Here

Best Value in the Calendar

Our lowest rates fall outside school holidays and peak summer. A winter midweek stay is the cheapest way to have the same apartment and the same view.

Dartmoor at Its Best

Forty minutes away and at its most dramatic between November and February. Frost on the tors, low light, and often nobody else up there.

Warm and Properly Equipped

Central heating throughout, a full kitchen and a washing machine. A converted listed building with modern comfort, not a draughty cottage.

Christmas and New Year

A self-catering base for Christmas in Devon, with room to cook properly. These dates book early — check availability well ahead.

Storm Watching

Plymouth Sound in a westerly is a spectacle. Watch it from the warm, then walk it when it eases. Devil's Point is five minutes away.

Longer Stays Welcome

Winter is when we have the most flexibility. Weekly rates from 7 nights, monthly rates on application — useful if you are working here or escaping somewhere colder.

What to Do Between October and March

  • The Box — Plymouth's museum, gallery and archive. A proper afternoon indoors, 10 minutes away.
  • National Marine Aquarium — on the Barbican, the largest in the UK.
  • Dartmoor National Park — 40 minutes by car. Winter walking at its best, with pubs at the end of it.
  • Royal William Yard — restaurants, a bakery and a gin distillery, all on your doorstep.
  • Mount Edgcumbe — across the water by the Cremyll ferry, a short walk from the apartment.
  • The Eden Project — an hour away, and far quieter in winter than in August.
  • Plymouth Christmas Market — city centre through December.

Winter Rates and Longer Stays

  • Standard nightly rate — from £103/night, with the lowest rates outside school holidays
  • Weekly rate — discounted for 7 nights or more, quoted on request
  • Monthly rate — available on application for extended winter stays

Book direct and you avoid the 10-20% fees the listing platforms charge. Email info@welcomeretreats.co.uk with your dates for a quote on anything longer than a week.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is arguably better. The Barbican and Royal William Yard are genuinely atmospheric out of season, the restaurants are easy to get into rather than booked solid, and Plymouth Sound in a winter swell is a spectacle you simply do not get in August. Dartmoor is at its most dramatic between November and February, and you will often have the tors to yourself.

Plenty within walking distance or a short drive. The Box is Plymouth's museum and gallery and takes a full afternoon. The National Marine Aquarium is on the Barbican. Royal William Yard itself has restaurants, a bakery and a gin distillery a few minutes from the door. Further afield, the Eden Project and Buckland Abbey are both comfortable day trips.

Yes. It is a converted Grade I listed building with modern insulation and central heating throughout. Guests staying in December and January have consistently commented on how warm and comfortable it is. There is also a washing machine, which matters more than you would think on a wet winter break.

Yes, subject to availability. Christmas and New Year are popular so they tend to book early. Check the availability calendar for live dates, or email us and we will tell you what is free.

Rates start from £103 per night and our lowest rates fall outside the school holidays and peak summer, so a winter midweek stay is usually the best value in the calendar. For stays of 7 nights or more we offer discounted weekly rates on request.

Yes, and winter is when we have most flexibility. Weekly rates apply from 7 nights, and monthly rates are available on application. Longer winter stays suit people working in Plymouth, contractors at Devonport, and anyone escaping somewhere colder for a few weeks.

Book a Winter Break

From £103/night. Our quietest season, our best rates, and the same view.

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