Hotel Endsleigh
Hotel · Milton Abbot ·
Elegant rooms, fine cuisine, and 108 acres of stunning grounds
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Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0PQ, United Kingdom Get directions
Elegant rooms, fine cuisine, and 108 acres of stunning grounds
Hotel Endsleigh, Milton Abbot, Tavistock PL19 0PQ, United Kingdom Get directions
"At last, an English country house hotel for people who loathe both traditional English country house hotels with their whispery dining rooms, dusty chintz, equestrian prints and phlegmatic plumbing, and also the new breed of hip faux rustic boltholes where the bell-hop might confide that it was Kate Moss herself who was responsible for the cigarette burn in the night table by your bed and fire doors thump all night long. Here instead, compliments of Olga Polizzi, sister of Sir Rocco Forte and one of the world’s most brilliant hoteliers, and her daughter Alex, who runs the place, is a story-book country house hotel—friendly, discreetly stylish, comfortable, quiet, surrounded by lovely gardens and possessing a superb setting just on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon and overlooking the Tamar River, which divides Cornwall and Devon. This 16 room hotel was created from the 1812 shooting and fishing lodge of Georgina, Duchess of Bedford, and the Regency spirit of the place has been handsomely brought across by Polizzi with framed etchings, China Trade wallpaper, bamboo bit and pieces, lots of books—this is a superb destination for anyone who loves to read—and superbly comfortable beds. This place is heaven for couples where one is sporting and the other isn’t, since riding is possible, along with hiking, and there’s famously good salmon and sea-trout fishing at an adjacent club, all of which means it’s easy to leave the sedentary in peace. Chef Shay Cooper does a clever update of the sort of dishes you kind hope to find in this setting, mostly good simple old-fashioned English food like roasts and wonderful fresh salmon, and breakfast are memorably delicious. The only things, in fact, that are reminiscent of traditional English country houses are in fact quite welcome, the honor bar in the library, the full cream tea served, and the thwack of someone playing croquet on a lawn somewhere."
"What a setting! From the oak-panelled drawing room where we sit with Earl Grey tea and cream-laden scones, our gaze sweeps over a rainbow of flowering borders and a neat croquet lawn, across the Tamar, and loses itself in the dark conifer forests of the far bank: the start of Cornwall. There is not another building in sight. Immense copper beeches and Douglas firs stand sentinel over tumbling brooks, a Victorian shell grotto and an octagonal dairy house surely inhabited by pixies. It's little wonder that the Duke of Bedford, who 2 centuries ago owned a third of Devon, chose this spot for his hunting and fishing lodge. Now Grade-I listed and converted into an enchanting hideaway by Olga Polizzi and her hotel-inspecting daughter Alex, it draws a discerning, romantic clientele, who savour the fine cuisine, the private fishing, the landscaped grounds, the crackle of newspapers and fireplaces at tea time, and the deep, bucolic silence outside. In summer, those who can afford it block-book the place for lavish weekend weddings in the most idyllic of surrounds (married life, as my wife observed, could only go downhill after that). The 21 classically English bedrooms and suites are a study in painted wallpapers, roll-top bathtubs, book-lined shelves and snugly quilted beds; there's also a separate gatekeeper's cottage ideal for a couple with children. Highs A beautiful location midway between Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor; you've also got superb hiking and riding on your doostepWonderfully romantic (candles flickered throughout when we last visited), though families are warmly welcomed, tooThe beds (many of them kingsize) are blissfully comfy, and the widely spaced layout ensures total silenceWe loved the lavish afternoon teas, and lingering over pre-dinner drinks in the fire-lit lounge and librarySmiling, ever-helpful staff who are clearly passionate about the historic lodge and estate Lows The focus here is quiet refinement - it's not for those seeking a vibrant party atmosphereDinner is a set-price (though very tasty) affair, and it's a drive to other eateries if you fancy something more informalA few of the bedrooms are under the eaves or on the small side, but this is reflected in the ratesYou're as far from the sea as you can be in Devon or Cornwall (25 miles from Boscastle or Looe) - if you want seaside, try their sister hotel Tresanton" - Michael Cullen
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