The Greatest Escape: living by the seaside is the dream for millions, so forget about winter and enjoy the views

After the longest, darkest and definitely coldest winter in years, we are all craving the sun and nothing reminds Britons more of that than the seaside.

Living by the sea is the dream for many of us, taking in the ever-changing views, enjoying access to a beach and generally making the most of wonderful weather.

In a new series, Homes & Property will take a look at affordable, and not-so-affordable homes with sea views, that can help you realise those dreams.

Close your eyes and imagine the vista from such a place and this cottage in Devon has just what you’re thinking of, and is also literally a stone’s throw from the beach.

The living room from this £400,000 cottage in Devon looks across a picture postcard beach to Burgh island, famous for the Burgh Island Hotel, an Art Deco masterpiece that was the setting for two Agatha Christie detective novels after the author stayed there.

The horseshoe-shaped cove is surrounded on all sides by the rolling hills of the South Hams and the entire coastline is part of the protected South Devon area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The house itself is in Challaborough, a holiday village between Bigbury-on-Sea - whose beach is famous for kite-surfing - and Ringmore, which is chockful of chocolate-box thatched cottages.

Challaborough has a pub, cafe and a shop open in the summer months and the house would make a perfect hideaway during the winter from which the unspoilt villages of this stunning coastline are easily accessible.

The local beach itself is sheltered from the winds that attract kite- and wind-surfers to adjacent areas, but still offers brilliant surfing as well as the chance to cool off with a dip.

The house has a spacious deck from which to take in the sea air while sipping a large glass of rose and watching the sunset, while inside is the living room, kitchen-dining room - complete with Baumatic commercial-style range - and a guest bedroom.

Upstairs are three further bedrooms, with the master offering not only a fireplace but magnificent views across the valley and also out to sea, and a bathroom.

An attic bedroom has windows front and back, with sea and hillside views. Although there’s no off-road parking, there’s a layby without restrictions.

Fittingly for such a coastal hideaway, Challaborough is best reached by road because the nearest train station is in Plymouth, some 18 miles away.

The house is just over 200 miles from London, taking about four hours by car via the M3 and A303.

The cottage is on the market for £400,000 with Luscombe Maye.