Devon really does have it all. It has two glorious coastlines jam-packed with characterful seaside towns, pretty fishing villages and swathes of golden sandy beaches.
Inland there are Dartmoor’s granite tors, ancient woodland and miles of wilderness. And of course, across the country are delicious cream teas abound and a plethora of luxury boutique hotels.
Glebe House, Colyton
With five bedrooms and a separate dog-friendly annexe, Glebe House is Devon’s hottest boutique B&B right now after taking Instagram by storm. The 19th-century residence is run by a local family, and Glebe House is essentially a guesthouse with chefs that have serious clout, creating a true foodie experience.
Sandwiched between the Jurassic Coast’s red sandstone cliffs and the verdant Blackdown Hills, each bedroom in the manor has a very distinct look and feel.
The food is a delectable delight of Italian-influenced seasonal fare, cooked up by owner Hugo and former River Cottage chef Sam Lomas, and served in the garden room, at a table outside or in one of the two dining rooms.
The Pig at Combe, Honiton
Robin Hutson’s Pig group of unstuffy country-house hotels are renowned for their 25-mile menus (that is, with ingredients sourced from within a 25-mile radius) and abundant kitchen gardens — and this outpost in Devon’s tranquil Otter Valley is no exception.
The setting is an Elizabethan manor with a welcoming Great Hall, characterful drawing room and library, and antique-strewn, boho-style rooms that are spread across the main house and former stable yard.
Bamford spa treatments take place in the Potting Shed and, across the lawn, there’s The Folly, for wood-fired flatbreads on the terrace.
Hotel Endsleigh, Dartmoor
Hotel Endsleigh is part of the Polizzi Collection’s much-loved trio of hotels. The former fishing lodge turned luxury haven is set in 100 acres of gorgeous Humphry Repton-designed gardens overlooking the River Tamar.
Dog-friendly rooms are furnished with hand-painted wallpaper, antique bathroom fittings and pretty floral print armchairs.
Local ingredients feature heavily on the dinner menu, which is served in the elegant wood-panelled restaurant, but it’s the afternoon cream tea in the library featuring freshly-baked fruit scones that’s a real highlight.
Boringdon Hall Hotel & Spa, Plymouth
Set in a gorgeous 16th-century manor house, this refined hotel is just five miles from Plymouth and eight miles from Dartmoor National Park.
Boasting posh rooms and suites and a 3-level Royal Suite in a private turret which has a drawing room, a dining room and a hot tub, many of the rooms feature 4-poster beds.
The luxurious multi-million pound, state-of-the-art spa and pool is the perfect place to relax and recharge, while the upscale restaurant and bar is a foodie haunt in the local area having been featured in the Michelin Guide.
Gara Rock, Salcombe
Isolated on a windswept headland in south Devon, the remote Gara Rock is worth the trip along the winding roads past local estuaries for its restaurant alone, where the vast circular windows showcase the sea and even better views await out on the terrace. Seafood is the star, unsurprisingly, but giant sharing steaks get a look in, too.
Hikers on the South West Coast Path are treated to sustenance from the hotel’s refreshment truck – but the ultimate refuge comes at the spa, where treatments use organic products made nearby in Totnes, and at the cosy cinema, with velvet seats and cocktail-accommodating tables.
Read more: Guide to Visiting Salcombe
Lympstone Manor Hotel, Exmouth
Overlooking the Exe Estuary, this restored grade II listed Georgian manor house is now a relaxed contemporary country hotel owned by the chef Michael Caines, so it was no surprise that the fine-dining restaurant scooped a Michelin star within six months of opening.
Everything reflects the location, from the colour schemes of the 21 bedrooms and suites (two are dog-friendly), each based around birds, to the watercolour landscape on the stairs by the local artist Rachel Toll and the seven-course, fish-focused Taste of the Estuary menu. For a more back-to-nature feel there are a handful of shepherd’s huts in the wood.
Bovey Castle, Newton Abbott
Staying at Bovey Castle is a timeless experience. This grand stately pile on a sporting estate in Dartmoor National Park caters for every whim, whether rugged outdoor pursuits or fine dining and pampering. And it’s dog-friendly. First opened in 1930 by Great Western Railways it exudes the charm of the glorious decade it was born into.
Effortlessly elegant, from the period print wall coverings to the vaulted ceilings, intricate stonemasonry and palatial fireplaces, Bovey Castle’s dramatic location overlooking lushly wooded hills on the western side of Dartmoor National Park is superb.
With facilities galore, there’s the ESPA Spa, an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis courts, a croquet pitch, archery and rifle range, putting green, helipad and beautiful lakeside walks to be had. Every morning there’s a free falconry display on the balustraded garden terrace.
Devon Has Luxury Boutique Hotels For Everyone
Devon really does have something for every style, and every budget, when it comes to luxury boutique hotels. Whether you’d prefer to stay in a castle or a modern hotel, Devon will have it.
Stopping off in Devon on your way to/from Cornwall? Check out our favourite boutique seaside hotels in Cornwall.
