“We had a wonderful stay in a red bricked detached house in the suburbs of Exeter city. Every home comfort was available to us, my daughter Claudine fell in love with her bedroom, as a result I have some interior decorating to do now since our return on her room! Due to the location of the house we could easily walk to all the amenities that Exeter had to offer which was a novelty for us. Exeter is a beautiful city with a lovely quayside containing bars, restaurants and craft shops only 10 mins walk from the house. Devon as a county is fabulous and we visited many beaches 20mins to hour or so from the house. Dartmoor national park was one of the kids favourite places to go, the scenery was spectacular. A return trip is def on the cards for us. Thanks so much to Paul and family for accepting our offer of a swap in 2015!”
House, 4 bedrooms, 20mins walk from City/Cathedral
House, 4 bedrooms, 20mins walk from City/Cathedral

Paul
Joined
Aug 2013
Last login
Today
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- 4 Bedrooms
- Sleeps 6
- 2 Bathrooms
About our home
Built in 1925, our house has polished wooden floors downstairs and painted wooden floors upstairs. The house retains many original features but has been lovingly modernised, including building into the loft to create a fourth bedroom.
Up a very shallow staircase you will find a family bathroom; a small bedroom which we use as a study, it contains a futon bed which can sleep two people; a larger single bedroom used by our daughter; and a master double bedroom with en suite shower and toilet. A second staircase leads into the converted loft (from which you can see over the roof tops to Exeter Cathedral). This room has two single beds.
Downstairs there is a living room/lounge with sofas, chaise longue and feature fireplace; plus well stocked games cupboard; HD TV connected to FreeSat and a blu-ray player (both connected to the internet); and a Nintendo wii.
Separately there is a dining room which will comfortably seat 6. This also contains a hi-fi.
A separate toilet can be found beneath the main staircase.
The kitchen, at the back of the house, is well fitted (including dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge freezer, and microwave. We also have a bread machine which can be set so you wake up to the smell of freshly baked bread!). The kitchen is a favourite spot and is frequently used; we both love to cook! There is a breakfast table, which can seat 4 when pulled away from the wall. A serving hatch provides easy access to pass food and dishes to and from the dining room.
The kitchen also contains an Amazon Echodot, just ask "Alexa"!
From the kitchen double doors lead onto a patio and then into the garden.
At the bottom of the garden is a summerhouse, a chicken coop which houses 5 bantam hens, and a separate garage used for storing garden tools and the like. There is a barbecue/smoker on the patio.
We hope you will be willing to feed and water the hens, and gather and eat any eggs they lay! However, in the past we have made arrangements with a neighbour to do this if you do not want to.
The house has gas central heating; solar panels on the roof help minimise electricity consumption.
Features
- Main home
- Garden
- Wifi
- Cable TV
- Car optional
- No smoking
- Central heating
- Dish washer
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Parking
Paul's reviews
As a host (3)“Paul and Chantal's home has everything you need for a relaxing holiday, It is very spacious and only a short walk to the train station, I took a train to Torquey, Plymouth and Taunton, I really did not feel the need for a car, although it would be handy to explore the wonderful area. Exeter itself is a lovely historic city. Communication was very good with Paul and Chantal and my home was very clean when I arrived home. If you are looking to explore the South West of England and its wonderful countryside and beaches, I Would highly recommend a swap with this home. I would certainly repeat the experience.”
“We have spent a very nice holiday in this lovely house with a cosy garden. The area where is located is very quiet and in few minutes you are in the center of Exter. Perfect place for families with children, along the river side and the park. We had a great time!”
More about us
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We are Paul and Chantal, a married couple with two children Louis (age 21, who no longer lives at home and is unlikely to travel with us) and Leila (age 18). We enjoy travelling, and are keen to explore as much of our wonderful planet as possible!
Home exchange provides a perfect opportunity to explore another way of life in another country as a resident - and allow someone to see ours. We have enjoyed exchanges in Italy, France (twice), Ireland, Canada, Scotland, and Yorkshire (England).
We would expect to arrange an exchange some way in advance in order to get to know our fellow exchangers via email first to see how best we can facilitate their stay in the UK.
We look forward to hearing from you and know you will enjoy your stay in beautiful Devon!Note: Paul is allergic to cats. We are unable to exchange with anyone who has a cat in their house, even if the cat is not there for the period of exchange.
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In these current strange COVID times, we have deferred the swap arranged for July 2020 to July 2021 - travel to the USA permitting.
Hoping to swap in the UK once or twice in 2021
Swap availability
- White
- Open to offers
- Green
- Available
- Red
- Not Available
Where is it?
Neighbourhood
Our house is half a mile from the River Exe and Exeter Quay, where bikes or canoes/kayaks may be hired to enable you to explore the riverside and canal. There are also some wonderful pubs and restaurants along the canal/river.
We are only 8minutes walk from a local train station which will enable you to explore alongside both sides of the Exe Estuary.
From St, David's station (20mins walk or take a local train): an hour by train will take you to Plymouth and the National Marine Aquarium; or in the other direction Bristol and the SS Great Britain. Central London can be reached by train from Exeter in 2.5hours.
On our doorstep is Dartmoor National Park (ten minutes drive) 368 square miles of granite tors and rugged landscape. Brilliant for walking.
Or 20minutes drive (or train) will take you to one of the many popular Devon beaches. While the north coast of Devon/Cornwall (an hour's drive away) is frequented by surfers.
Exeter's 2,000 year history is reflected in its heritage attractions, such as the Gothic St Peter's Cathedral and the Roman City Wall. Explore beneath the city's streets at Exeter's Underground Passages, medieval passages originally built to bring fresh water into the city in medieval times. Find out more about Exeter's fascinating history on one of the free Red Coat Guided Tours, or take one of three Self-Guided Heritage Trails around the city.
Other historic buildings include the Exeter Guildhall and Tuckers Hall, or head down to Exeter's Historic Quayside, a hub of leisure and activity, where you can explore the River Exe and Exeter ship canal by boat, bicycle or on foot, and discover the historic Exe Island. Visit the Quay House Visitor Centre to discover Exeter's maritime history and watch a free short film - Exeter: 2,000 Years of History.
Stunning displays at the City's Royal Albert Memorial Museum take visitors on a voyage of discovery from pre-history to the present day and from Exeter all around the world. It's busy programme of exhibitions and events means there's always something new. Free entry means you can call time and again.
Exeter hosts a varied programme of performances at its Theatres, from local amateur dramatics to international touring theatre companies. The Exeter Corn Exchange and Exeter Phoenix both hold regular performances of theatre, dance and comedy, plus live music from internationally renowned acts. There is also live music in Exeter's bars and Nightclubs, and the city has three Cinemas showing the latest blockbuster films and world cinema.
Exeter has plenty of green space in and around its city centre. Within the city, Northernhay Gardens and Rougemont Gardens are wonderful places to walk or sit in peace, bordered by colourful displays of plants and flowers and surrounded by the historic City Wall.
Surrounding the city are five Valley parks, offering a wide choice of leisurely walks, places to relax, fine views and plenty of wildlife. Exeter is located close to two National Parks, the closest being Dartmoor just seven miles away.
Walking in Exeter is a popular activity, as it is a compact city, easily explored on foot. Flat, accessible routes alongside the river are ideal for exploring with a wheelchair or pushchair. Exeter is a Cycling Demonstration Town, so Cycling is also an excellent way to explore. The city is particularly cycle-friendly with an extensive network of cycle paths and convenient places to park your bicycle.
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