Westward Living has received the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for Specialty Accommodation for the eighth time.

This coveted award celebrates businesses that consistently deliver fantastic experiences to travellers all over the world, having earned glowing reviews on TripAdvisor over the past year.

“We are delighted and honoured to be recognised for the sixth time with this prestigious award,” said Chris and Kathy Murdoch, owners at Westward Living. “We have invested significantly over the winter in upgrading some of our original cottages, so it means the world to be recognised for our efforts. The Westward Living team has worked tirelessly to create the dream holiday experience for visitors in North Devon.

“Frankies Cottage, Sadlers, Dream, Star and Furlong  and Gallops cottage have all been upgraded and it is the best feeling to know visitors are enjoying the newly refurbished accommodation. We now welcome guests from all over the world to our little slice of paradise at Duckhaven Stud and we are so proud of how much we have achieved since opening in 2010.”

We value the little touches and we know our guests do too. So, as part of our winter upgrades, we now offer local artisan and environmentally-friendly soaps and a digital guest book. We have also partnered with local suppliers to create our world-famous Westward Living cream tea, and our guests are invited to collect fresh eggs from our beautiful hens for breakfast. To ensure our guests can take full advantage of the spectacular scenery and starry skies in the evening, we have also added new hot tubs and BBQ Nest for 2024.

Westward Living offers a truly unique holiday experience, located within the grounds of a former thoroughbred racing yard. With the exception of the Gallops, Paddocks and Furlong, all of the cottages are named after winning horses that were trained at Duckhaven Stud. The grounds overlook the tranquil North Devon countryside and the Atlantic Ocean beyond, meaning a picture-perfect sunset is always on the cards.

The coastal resort of Westward Ho!, moments from our glorious holiday cottages, has so much to offer visitors to North Devon. Its sweeping sandy beach has consistently earned the esteemed Blue Flag award, while the village itself is home to many independent restaurants, bars, and cafes. Westward Living also occupies a prime position on the South West Coast Path, with private access onto the trail, following the dramatic landscape of the North Devon coast.

We take pride in the fact that many of our cottages are accessible, dog-friendly and family-friendly, so everyone can enjoy an unforgettable holiday at Duckhaven Stud. As a family-run business, it is important to us that everyone feels right at home during their stay.

Receiving the 2024 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award again allows us to reflect on all the amazing memories made at our very special holiday cottages. Thank you to everyone who has stayed with us and we hope to see some of you again in the forthcoming year.

 Here are a few of our favourite recent TripAdvisor reviews…

 “A fabulous place to stay and a perfect base for exploring the local area, with the added bonus of a Jacuzzi being the perfect way to unwind watching the sunset.” - Gareth

“A perfect family holiday in luxury accommodation. We could not recommend this place and the facilities anymore, simply 5*.” – Carly

 “The virtual welcome pack was really useful and there were fresh scones on arrival, which we swiftly polished off. Thank you for a wonderful and memorable stay.” - David