Like living on the edge? Cottage on edge of a cliff for sale

By Tom Bevan

A stunning home perched on the edge of a precarious cliff has failed to sell at auction for a $325,000 asking price — despite being worth more than $1.3 million.

The three-bedroom thatched cottage saw its value plummet after it lost part of its garden to a cliff fall in 2024 and was left just meters from a massive drop.

But the owners have been forced to take a massive hit after they paid $900,000 in June 2011, and its normal market value is listed between $1.4 million and $2.1 million.

It went up for auction today, and despite a listing that described the unique detached home as having "some of the finest panoramic sea and coastal views" in the country, its exposure to the cliff falls saw it fail to reach the reserve price and remains unsold.

The home, located on Sidmouth's coastline in Devon, now sits roughly 40 feet (12 m) from the cliff face looking over a 390-foot precipice.

Drone footage shows an enclosed and manicured garden with a wooden gate leading out onto the precarious edge.

It also reveals large sections of the Jurassic Coast cliffs, famed for their fossils, which have collapsed.

The coastline is made of soft, unstable red sandstone and is prone to sudden and unpredictable collapses.

There have been numerous cliff falls in the area in recent years, with the council regularly having to close beaches below.

During the 2024 incident, the rockfall occurred days after a large portion of the cliff collapsed a few hundred meters away at Jacob’s Ladder Beach.

The property was listed by Bradley's Estate Agents and went up for auction today (July 21) with a guide price of $325,000.

The property attracted three bidders with a top offer of $323,000. It is understood the owner is now seeking offers and may return it to auction at a later date.

The listing also noted that the area has suffered from coastal erosion, stating: "The property has in recent years suffered a cliff fall within the very far boundary of the garden.

"A full cliff survey can be seen within the legal pack."

The listing added: "Occupying a spectacular cliff-top position, this unique detached thatched residence enjoys some of the finest panoramic sea and coastal views in East Devon, stretching along the Jurassic Coast.

"Designed and built in the 1960s for renowned novelist R.F. Delderfield, this distinctive home features an imaginative circular design that maximizes natural light and captures the breathtaking outlook from many of the principal rooms.

"Beautifully presented throughout, the accommodation includes a bespoke integrated kitchen, an impressive sitting room with French doors opening onto terraces, a versatile dining room/bedroom three, two generous first-floor bedrooms, a contemporary bathroom and an ensuite.

''The mature landscaped gardens provide exceptional privacy and seclusion, with terraces, ornamental pond, lawns and colorful planting all enjoying stunning coastal vistas. A garage and extensive driveway parking complete this rare opportunity to acquire one of Sidmouth's most iconic and beautifully positioned homes.''