Heddon's Gate Hotel

Heddon's Gate Hotel

, Heddon Valley, Martinhoe, Devon.

The drive through the narrow Devon lanes to Heddon's Gate Hotel is not for the faint-hearted, but the destination is out-of-this-world. Enveloped in 2 acres of wooded and terraced gardens, the hotel looks out over the spectacular Heddon valley and a 20 minute walk through the woods leads to the V-shaped cove at Heddon's Mouth.

There are so many places to relax and enjoy this fine country house;  a cosy library with a wide choice of books, a large lounge, a TV room and a spacious bar, all with views of the garden and the wooded hills beyond. The main breakfast/dining room also has beautiful views.

Outside, the terraced garden faces west and is a real sun trap in the afternoon. Eight of the eleven guest bedrooms have spectacular views of the garden and the valley beyond. The variety of trees and plants is impressive; acer, wisteria, fig, rhododendron, eucalyptus, chestnut, holm oak, laurel and bamboo.

Each of the bedrooms has its own particular charm. The three rooms in the newer north wing are contemporary whereas those in the original hunting lodge are more traditional in style. They each have central heating, flatscreen television, radio, a hair dryer and hot drink facilities. All have attractive en-suite bathrooms with WC, basin and a bath and/or shower, plus a bidet in some rooms.

The Heddon Valley is at the western end of Exmoor National Park which makes it an ideal base for exploring both the moor and the charming Exmoor towns and villages of Lynton, Lynmouth, Porlock & Selworthy to the east and the traditional family and surfer seaside towns of Ilfracombe, Woolacombe, Croyde & Braunton to the west. For peace and tranquillity, wooded hillsides, beautiful scenery and coastal walks, it ticks all the boxes.