Highbullen Hotel – Chittlehamholt, Devon
It may be wonderfully isolated, between Exmoor and Dartmoor, but this hotel, on its own 125-acre estate, has everything you could wish for: 18-hole golf course, tennis courts, croquet lawns, swimming pool and spa. Plus a sports simulator for children. The handsome Arts and Crafts house, built by a prominent architect from stone quarried from the estate in 1879, has steep roofs and deep porches and an intriguing marble fireplace in the drawing room. The look is traditional but stylish and supremely comfortable: the sitting rooms invite long hours reading in front of crackling fires. There are 12 plush bedrooms in the main house, plus gorgeous contemporary rooms throughout the Estate, in addition to lovely self-catering cottages. Choose from fine dining in the aptly named AA 2 Rosette Devon View Restaurant or, for a casual dining experience, head to the Cellars. In addition, this autumn sees Highbullen open a divine Laura Ashley Tea Room.
Doubles from £89
+44 (0)1769 540561; highbullen.co.uk
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SEE
Highbullen sits in Exmoor, one of the most breath taking national parks in the UK. Within the 267 square miles, there is a plethora of landscapes to see from moorland and woodland, combes and farmland to a stunning coastline too. Exmoor can be explored on foot, horseback or on bike. Be sure to pop into one of Exmoor’s famous pubs for a pit stop too.
EAT
A visit to Devon is incomplete without a traditional Devon Cream Tea. Sit in the Glassed Terrace of the Drawing Room at Highbullen and enjoy their scrumptious Afternoon Tea with sweeping views of beautiful North Devon. Highbullen’s Devon View fine dining restaurant is the place to go for something special. It is proud to offer a creative menu that serves up the very best of the local produce.
BUY
The local area is famed for its delicious Exmoor produce from honeys, cheeses, ales and meat. Pop into nearby Quince Honey Farm for a jar of their Exmoor Heather Honey.
CLAIM TO FAME
Sir Laurence Olivier inspired the name of the Sir Laurence Olivier Room – he retreated to Highbullen during Hollywood’s Golden Age to relax and enjoy the peace.
Want to find out more? Visit the hotel's website.
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