Who We Are
Ways Away are a family-run, Dartmouth based company letting holiday apartments and homes in Dartmouth, South Devon. We look after all our properties ourselves, employing local, quality cleaners and staff. We strive to ensure that all our guests receive the highest level of service and so can enjoy their stay with us.
Read more about the Ways family below.
The Early Years
The Early Years
Anne and Nigel Way bought their first hotel in Sidmouth in 1979 whilst in their early 20s. It was The Little Court Hotel, a small and quaint hotel in Nigel’s home town. Anne and Nigel had a lot of help and support from friends and family at the beginning as they had no staff; Anne was the receptionist, housekeeper and waitress whilst Nigel was the bellboy, bartender and chef.
The Royal Castle, Dartmouth
In 1982, the pair bought The Royal Castle Hotel in Dartmouth and over the next 30 years they set about upgrading the accommodation, kitchens, bars and guest facilities. After many years of hard work and local support, The Royal Castle became a corner stone for the local community and a popular destination for visitors and day trippers.
Five Higher Street, Dartmouth
In the early 1990s, Anne and Nigel decided to purchase the old Job Centre in Dartmouth on Higher Street. At the time it was a dilapidated but beautiful Tudor building in the centre of the town. They spent years restoring the building and opened a restaurant called The Exchange. The property was leased out and housed many successful eateries, including Hooked and a popular Thai restaurant. Until 2012 when, unfortunately, a fire started in a neighbouring chip shop.
The Re-Build of Five Higher Street
Forensic investigations concluded that the fire was caused by an electrical fault however the complexity and age of the neighbouring buildings meant that the flames spread rapidly through voids in the building. Fortunately, this all occurred at lunchtime and no one was hurt; all customers, residents and pets where safely rehomed. The fire burnt continuously for two days! The property is now fully restored and is the location for two of our self-catered apartments, Merchant’s Rest and Merchant’s Rise. The original 13th Century facade was carefully maintained and the ancient plaster ceilings, amongst other original features, were all painstakingly replicated. The listed status of the building meant that it had be rebuilt exactly as it was originally - hence the strange staircase! The scars of the fire are still evident in the scorched window frames.
Merchant’s Rest
Sleeps 4. A stylish two-bedroom apartment on the first floor of a historic Grade I listed building close to Dartmouth's shops.
Merchant’s Rise
Sleeps 5. A tastefully restored apartment within a historic Grade I listed building located in the heart of Dartmouth.
The Royal Seven Stars, Totnes
In 2003, Anne and Nigel acquired another old coaching hotel in Totnes, The Royal Seven Stars. This landmark hotel held fond memories for Anne as this is where she had her first job as receptionist and PA to the hotel manager. The Royal Seven Stars was in their ownership for the next fifteen years and became a pillar of the local community.
The Luttrell Arms Hotel, Dunster
In 2012 the pair chose to purchase a The Luttrell Arms Hotel in Dunster, a little further away on Exmoor. It was another historic building from the medieval period, oozing history and character, and had welcomed travellers and visitors for centuries. At the time, the hotel was in administration and was looking rather sad. Ten years’ later, the hotel has a number of awards and accolades, and is now one of Exmoor’s premier hotels with twenty-eight well-appointed bedrooms, a Rosette award-winning restaurant, and well-maintained gardens. When staying at The Luttrell Arms, guests can enjoy wonderful facilities and book a spa treatment in the Mews Beauty Rooms, the newest addition to the Luttrell Arms. At the Mews Beauty Rooms, you can enjoy a relaxing massage, an Elemis facial or another one of our scrumptious treatments.
The Porlock Weir Hotel
The Porlock Weir Hotel
Not too long after this, and having fallen in love with Exmoor and the exquisite coastline, Anne and Nigel discovered the ancient Porlock Weir. Just a couple of miles beyond the village of Porlock.
It was another stunning location, close to the water’s edge with views across the pebble beach and coastline. However, the hotel was sad and had been empty for two years. It was calling out for attention! Formally The Anchor at Porlock Weir, the couple got the keys and set about striping it all back; installing new hot water and heating systems and all the mod cons. Finally, The Porlock Weir Hotel was born! It’s now a welcoming haven of tranquillity, popular with walkers and tourists looking to escape the hustle and bustle. The Porlock Weir Hotel has been open since 2018 and has garnered rave reviews from guests old and new who love the recent refurbishment.
The Beginning of Ways Away Holidays
In 2019, just before the coronavirus pandemic struck the UK, Anne and Nigel sold both The Royal Castle and The Royal Seven Stars to St Austell Brewery, a fast-growing, South West based company. They chose to harness their experience in hospitality and passion for Dartmouth and the surrounding coastline, and start Ways Away. We now have a portfolio of self-catering holiday apartments which meet the style and high standards as you would expect from any of our hotels. Anne has always had a great eye for design and décor and feels that her life in hospitality is now about cushions and curtains! We hope to bring you more locations and properties for your self-catered holiday in the future. With still plenty of hard work still to be done at the remaining hotels, Anne and Nigel haven’t quite retired but hope to ‘slow down’.
Our holiday homes and apartments
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![A backyard with a swimming pool surrounded by lounge chairs, colorful chairs, potted plants, and a view of a hillside town in the distance.]()
Lauriston House - Sleeps 8-15
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![Stone and painted house with solar panels on the roof, small windows, grassy yard, gravestones, trees, and a cloudy sky]()
Castle Mews - Sleeps 6
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![Kitchen with a countertop, sink, and coffee setup. The counter holds two white cups on saucers, a blue teapot, and a blue pitcher. In the background are appliances, a knife block, and a towel hanging from an oven.]()
Merchant's Rest - Sleeps 4
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![Living room with a large bay window overlooking a harbor with boats and cars parked outside. Contains a wall-mounted TV above a fireplace with bricks, a clock and decorative vase on the shelf, a tripod lamp, a turquoise desk with a transparent chair, a small coffee table with teacups, a beige armchair, and a chandelier.]()
Harbour Living - Sleeps 2
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![Living room with a round wooden dining table, six chairs, a fireplace with a heart-shaped decor hanging, a large wall clock with Roman numerals, a bookshelf with a lamp on top, a window with iron bars and floral curtains, and a vase on the windowsill.]()
Merchant's Rise - Sleeps 5
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![Living room with beige sofas, armchair, wooden coffee table, floor lamp, wall-mounted TV, fireplace, window with curtains, and a map of a city on the wall.]()
The Lookout - Sleeps 2
Contact Us
Ways Away offer high-quality, dog-friendly holiday cottages in Dartmouth, Devon. You can browse our selection of coastal properties and search for the perfect property to meet your needs.
Moreover, when you book directly through Ways Away, you will save 10% on your holiday compared to using other booking engines.
If you have a question about one or more of our holiday apartments or would like to discuss your booking, you can do so by sending us an email or giving us a call using the details listed below.
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