25/06/2026
We are delighted to share that the Topcliff Cottage Guest Information Pack is now fully digital. It is thoughtfully designed and packed with everything you need for your stay, including details about the cottage, ideas for exploring the local area, and our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink.
The guide is fully searchable, making it quick and easy to find what you need, and is enhanced with AI to help you navigate the content even more intuitively.
We will also be sharing selected highlights from the guide here for you to enjoy
The Wreckers Window In The Master Bedroom
‘Wreckers windows’ like we have in the master bedroom at Topcliff Cottage are a curious feature sometimes found in old coastal cottages around Devon, including Shaldon. Local folklore tells of villagers using small seaward-facing windows to display misleading lights during storms, supposedly luring ships onto dangerous rocks. The so-called wreckers windows, often small angled or unusually positioned openings in old cottages such as Topcliff Cottage, are now viewed more as intriguing architectural curiosities than evidence of wrongdoing. While historians believe many of these tales were exaggerated, coastal communities often did salvage goods from ships wrecked along the coastline during severe weather.
With Shaldon’s rich maritime history at the mouth of the River Teign, stories of wreckers, smugglers and shipwrecks have become part of the village’s character. Today, these unusual windows are seen more as fascinating reminders of local folklore and seafaring heritage, adding to the charm and mystery of Shaldon’s historic lanes and cottages.
Needless to say, we have adopted the Wreckers Window shape as the logo for Topcliff Cottage.
(c) 2026, Topcliff Cottage, all rights reserved.
