If you’ve ever been curious about what it’s like to own a holiday rental, both the ups and the downs, you’re going to love this new series. Investing in a holiday home is something that I’ve toyed with for a while. And Lauren and I have both discussed whether it could be a next step for Dog Friendly Destinations. So I’ve decided to go behind the scenes and talk to the owners of some of my favourite self-catering stays to understand their journey and the steps that led them to acquiring some pretty spectacular properties.

First up, is the lovely Kathryn, owner of the beautiful beachside bolthole, No.9 Putsborough in Woolacombe in Devon. I worked with Kathryn on her logo and branding to try and encapsulate a subtle seaside vibe with carefully chosen colours and fonts … much like the way she’s chosen to style No.9 for the lucky guests who get to stay there. Over to Kathryn.

Hi Kathryn, can you tell us a little bit about No.9 Putsborough, please?

The apartment is in the centre of the beautiful ‘village’ of Woolacombe which has everything you need – pubs and restaurants serving gorgeous food, local independent shops and cafés, plus some amazing walks on your doorstep including being 150m to the glorious award-winning sandy beach. It’s also perfectly situated for exploring further afield in North Devon and is close to the Exmoor National Park.

We purchased No.9 from new and although it came furnished, it lacked soul. We’ve spent the last 2 years furnishing it with a ‘boutique’ feel so that the place is truly relaxing with lots of little touches that we hope guests will appreciate and make them want to return, such as our locally-sourced welcome hamper and the handmade wooden bellyboards we provide.

On warmer evenings we love to head down to the beach to watch the sun set then return to our balcony to relax with a glass of wine under the festoon lights (our apartment has partial sea views too). When the weather gets colder and after a blustery walk on the beach, we enjoy taking advantage of the onsite facilities such as the indoor heated pool, sauna, gym and games room.

What were your reasons behind buying a holiday property?

We’ve always wanted to live by the sea and a period of ill health made us take the plunge after years of dithering.

Why did you choose North Devon and No.9 Putsborough?

After viewing several coastal spots in the UK, we fell in love with Woolacombe on our first visit. It has a ‘village’ feel and is in a stunning location with sweeping golden sands set against a backdrop of beautiful National Trust hills and countryside. It is a very special place that you never tire of and we love visiting whatever the season.

We saw a few properties in the area but we could see that the layout and facilities at No.9 would appeal to a wide variety of holidaymakers from families, to couples, people with and without dogs and for all ages. Plus its location in the centre of Woolacombe means you can easily spend the week here not using the car (we have an allocated underground parking space which is like gold dust in the centre of Woolacombe); but if you want to go further afield there are a wealth of places to explore.

What are the highs and lows of being a holiday property owner?

Our journey as holiday property owners is an ongoing learning curve. However, it is so rewarding when you receive an amazing review from guests, particularly when they wish to return, as it makes all the hard work worth it.

What would your tips be for anyone thinking of investing in a holiday rental?

Do your research on the area you wish to purchase and be realistic on how much you will need to continually invest to keep your property up to the standard your guests expect. Also make sure it is somewhere you love to visit!

For potential guests, what are the top three things that they should see and do in Woolacombe?

There are so many things to see and do it’s difficult to limit it to three. However, you cannot miss the award winning Woolacombe beach and, in the warmer months, its array of watersports on offer. There are several surf schools in Woolacombe to book a lesson with (our guests receive a discount) or, if surfing is not your thing, you can hire paddle boards or kayaks or build a sandcastle and dip your toes in the sea. In the cooler months, it is an exhilarating walk down to Putsborough beach with a café at the end to make it all worthwhile.

A walk up Potters Hill or across Woolacombe Down (behind the sand dunes) is also a must and is a child and dog friendly walk. You will usually see Exmoor ponies grazing on the slopes (or standing in your way) during your walk. The views across the coastline are breathtaking.

For rainy days, we adore the retro cinema hidden within the Woolacombe Bay Hotel – it’s a little bit more special than your average cinema seating only 30 people and with cocktails, drinks and snacks served to your seat.

And your top three places to eat and drink?

We are lucky in North Devon to have a huge variety of excellent independent places to eat and drink. One of our ‘go to’ places in Woolacombe itself is The Beach House which is just a few metres from No.9 and serves the best locally sourced seafood around – just make sure you book as it’s so popular.

During the summer months we adore Barricane Beach Café which serves Sri Lankan curries on the beach. We take a picnic blanket, a bottle of wine and watch the sun set over the Atlantic – bliss!

For whiling away a few hours with an unbeatable coffee and a slice of homemade cake we love Meraki who also host pop up events such as Mexican street food nights.

Would you ever buy a second rental and if so where?

We would love to buy a second rental should finances ever permit. We would probably purchase something completely different, such as a small cottage in The Cotswolds. It’s nearer to our main home and an equally stunning area with plenty to see and do.

Finally, I love your account on Instagram (@no.9putsborough) but is there anyone else you would recommend that people follow for travel inspiration or life in Devon?

I love @dogfriendlydestinations for travel inspiration in the UK with its super stylish holiday properties and @the.devon.good.life for beautifully shot pictures showing how stunning Devon is.

Thank you so much to Kathryn for answering my questions. Find out more about No.9 Putsborough.

Property patter: meet Kathryn from No.9 Putsborough