HOTEL REVIEW
checkingout
Bovey Castle North Bovey, Devon
contact details Bovey Castle, North Bovey,
Dartmoor National Park, Devon, TQ13 8RE T: 0844 474 0077 F: 01647 445020
E:enquiries@boveycastle. com W:
www.boveycastle.com
Small Luxury Hotels
http://agents.slh.com
The Background: It was William Henry Smith (of W.H Smith fame) who bought this beautiful tract of Dartmoor in 1880 and his son who completed the manor house in 1907. It fi rst became a hotel in the 1930s and was named Bovey Castle in 2003. Since then it has continued to ex- pand including the addition of 14 lodges, a spa, indoor pool and Castle Bistro. Today it is a quite stunning country hotel overlook- ing Dartmoor and a member of Small Luxury Hotels (SLH).
Discerning views on the latest hip hotels, at home and abroad
ning with a bathroom off to the left of the small entrance hall and a shower/dressing room to the right. The huge main room had an exceptionally comfortable bed with a chest of drawers/bedside table either side and all adjacent to the French windows that open on to the outdoor balcony and sun loungers. The living area had a large sofa and easy
chairs, fi replace and occasional tables. A six-place dining table fi lled the alcove with its leaded windows overlooking the gar- dens, golf course and Dartmoor beyond. Other facilities included an alcove bench
Where Is It? Close to the thatched roofs of the picture-postcard Devon village of North Bovey with its outstanding Ring of Bells pub. The nearest town is Moreton- hampstead, easily accessible from the A30 and A38. Bovey Castle is 20 miles from Exeter Airport and 16 miles from Exeter rail station, easily reached from London Paddington.
First Impression: With its long winding driveway through the hotel’s 18-hole golf course, fl anked by trees and, in March, lots of daffodils, the fi rst sight of the manor house is of an imposing but welcoming country house with the modern bistro sympathetically tacked on to the end. The small entrance leads to a large porch with its racks of Wellington boots for guests’ use. The reception is well staffed with the check-in swiftly and amiably handled. What’s Unique: Bovey Castle is one of the UK’s outstanding country house hotels but, unlike many, it is entirely family friendly and actively pursues the family market whether accommodated in the main build- ing or in the more modern lodges. New owners in 2006 have successfully given the hotel a ‘luxuriously-relaxed’ atmosphere within a ‘decadent rural retreat’. The Rooms: Bovey Castle offers 63 rooms and 14 lodges. Our Grand Suite was stun-
seat, wide-screen TV, tea/coffee-making equipment (with Villeroy & Boche cups and saucers), 150-year-old framed dried grasses, book case and ornaments. The whole created the perfect archetypal country house room. Dining: There are two main choices, the Art Deco style candlelit Edwardian Grill for breakfast, dinner and Sunday lunch, which focuses on using local ingredients wherever possible, and the contemporary Castle Bistro for light lunches, golf snacks and family-friendly meals all day. Even in the Edwardian Grill, the dress code is ‘smart casual’. Afternoon tea can be served in any of the
hotel’s public areas as well as the South Terrace on sunny days. The hotel’s spacious Oak Bar is perfect for a pre- or post-dinner drink. 24-hour room service is available.
skills, arts and crafts, rock climbing, ar- chery, trampoline and an adventure area – and daily chicken egg collecting with a chance to meet the Castle ferrets. Among many other activities there are
guided walks on to Dartmoor, archery, horse riding, mountain biking, cider and sloe gin making, and wine tasting. For golfers, the 1926-designed 18-hole championship course is a big magnet. Facilities: These include a gym, large indoor art deco-style swimming pool over- looking the moors and a SUNDARI spa. Bovey Castle is licensed for weddings. Lasting Impression: A beautiful country house hotel which combines the best of outdoor pursuits and indoor pleasures, with enjoyment greatly aided by excellent cuisine and wine. Recommend To: Anyone, couples or families, who enjoy country hotels but without the stuffy formality that can often be a feature. It’s perfect for those who like plenty to do but equally so for those who fancy the notion of relaxing in beautiful sitting rooms – in front of open fi res in the winter – with a good book and their drink of choice. The Cost: Room prices are from £239 while the Grand Suite is from £679, both room-only for two people including VAT.
The Verdict:
Activities: There’s a very extensive choice for adults and children alike. Every day at 10am there’s an impressive falconry display on the hotel terrace and there’s also a small mini-golf green, croquet, cricket nets and all-weather tennis courts. For children there are the Bovey Rangers
– an activity programme for seven to 14 year-old children which includes survival
Outstanding. The level of service and overall quality of the product are faultless and the hotel has an ambience of sophisticated relaxation. No agent’s client could fail to be anything but impressed with Bovey Castle. Alan Orbell
Exceptional OK
Stay Away! Love It
16 xxxxx 2011 •
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