In five acres of gorgeous green stuff, there’s a space for everyone. Swimmers and sun-worshippers will love the Med-style heated pool. Dogs will love the woodland sniffing and snuffling. Alcaraz wannabes can strut their stuff on the tennis court. And bookworms can sit and turn pages beneath the grade II-listed Victorian grotto.
Kids will think they’re deep inside an Enid Blyton book, unravelling mysteries and rescuing Uncle Quentin. Grown-ups will feel like they’re part of a murder-mystery in an old country house nestled among the Devon hills. Maybe book one? And everyone will love the serenity, sophistication, and sheer romance of the ambience.
While you’re figuring out whodunnit, you can misspend an evening over the full-size snooker table or outfox your folks on the chess table. Play table tennis in the games room, tinkle the piano, then all come together in the evening in the generous sitting room for Netflix nights around the 50” TV (bring your password).
Drop fresh, natural ingredients from Eggesford Garden and Farm Shop and Higher Hacknell Organic Farm into pots and let the oil-fired Aga turn them into hearty hunks of homely delight. Or just book our in-house chefs while you loll around in the pool or shoot a few frames of snooker.
Eat in the baronial, colonial dining room or out in the five-acre gardens beneath the summer sun with the gas barbecue set to sizzle. Or eat in small groups beneath the pool parasols after a dip. Stock up the two fridges with Tesco deliveries, bits and pieces from Chulmleigh Village Store, and wine from Bray Valley.
Treat yourself to takeaways from The Tandoori Cuisine, Chulmleigh Fish and Chips, and Pizza Time. Or head out to lovely pubs such as The Red Lion Inn for classic pub grub and a family beer garden, or The Grove Inn for local ales and hearty meals. Or build your own burger at The Bell Inn in Chittlehampton.
For a spot of elegant fine-dining or a romantic evening out, try Northcote Manor in Burrington for the taste of two AA Rosettes. For traditional curries and fresh-baked naan bread in a cosy and authentic Indian, head out to The Tandoori in Chulmleigh, or grab your handmade pizza and pasta from Belluno Italian.
Ten luxurious bedrooms here accommodate 20 lucky guests. Behind high stone walls, nestled between Dartmoor and Exmoor, deep sleep will seep into your soul.
On the first floor, the Principle bedroom offers a kingsize four-poster bed and en-suite bathroom with large bespoke bath, shower and WC. The Peacock bedroom is also a kingsize with en-suite shower room, while the Parisian room has a superking and en-suite bathroom and the Master bedroom is a superking with rolltop bath in the en-suite.
The Garden bedroom offers a kingsize brass bed and en-suite, sharing a Jack and Jill bathroom with bath and shower with the kingsize Courtyard bedroom.
On the second floor, the White room has a superking bed and en-suite bathroom with bath, shower and WC. The Cherry bedroom has twin beds and an en-suite shower room, the Princess bedroom offers an Emperor-sized bed and en-suite family shower room, and the Scarlet room is a superking.
Some of the doubles can be set up as family-flexible twins, thanks to the miracle of zip-and-link.
