Hotel Endsleigh

Refined elegance in the Devon countryside

Sister to the much-loved Tresanton at St Mawes, Hotel Endsleigh is the country contingent of the Polizzi family’s pair of beautifully refined South West hotels.

Located on the edge of Dartmoor, the Grade I-listed former residence of the Duke of Bedford enjoys exquisite views over its stunning gardens to the Tamar Valley. The scenes from the restaurant and lounge windows are particularly lovely – especially when relished while sipping a glass of local Sharpham Estate wine.

Tempting diners’ attention away from the rolling countryside is clever cooking by head chef Thomas Ewings. Smart dishes such as venison ragu with baby turnips, pickled red cabbage and cavolo nero do justice to topnotch local ingredients. The wood-panelled dining room – complete with roaring log fire and original features – makes a fitting backdrop to the splendid cooking.

Treat yourself to an overnight stay in one of the contemporary bedrooms or spacious coach houses and luxuriate in peaceful repose in this quiet rural setting – followed by a cracking country house hotel breakfast next morning.

Trencherman’s tip: amid the 100 acres of fairy-tale gardens, wanderers may stumble upon a truly magical house paved floor to ceiling with shimmering shells.